After suffering a tough eighth-round stoppage loss to Gervonta Davis in June 2024, Frank Martin is set to make his return to the ring. The 30-year-old lightweight contender has confirmed via social media that he’ll face former world champion Rances Barthelemy on October 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Martin vs. Barthelemy will feature on the undercard of the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) pay-per-view event headlined by Sebastian Fundora vs. Keith Thurman.
The stacked card also includes WBC super-featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster defending his title against Stephen Fulton, and a compelling middleweight matchup between Jesus Ramos Jr and Shane Mosley Jr.
Sporting a record of 18-1 (12 KOs), Martin views this fight as a chance to bounce back and move beyond the only blemish on his record. Known for his slick boxing skills and ring IQ, Martin previously impressed with a dominant win over Michel Rivera in 2022, where he scored a knockdown and cruised to a unanimous decision.
Now seemingly campaigning at 140 pounds, Martin faces a seasoned opponent in Barthelemy, 30-3-1 (15 KOs), who has only lost to top-level competition throughout his career. However, at 39 and coming off a clear points loss to Jose Carlos Ramirez, the Cuban veteran may be nearing the twilight of his career.
Barthelemy has also been inactive since that defeat, meaning both fighters will enter the ring after lengthy layoffs. Martin’s announcement comes as he looks to reset and reignite his pursuit of world championship gold.
