Frank Martin leans on Buddy McGirt as frank martin pursues 140lbs rebound

frank martin, the 31-year-old junior welterweight who was knocked out by Gervonta “Tank” Davis in 2024 and returned nearly 18 months later to stop Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy, will meet Nahir Albright, 17-2 (7 KOs), in a ten-round test this Saturday in Las Vegas. The fight sits on a DAZN pay-per-view card that includes multiple 140lbs names and a headliner between Mario Barrios and Ryan Garcia, and it matters because Martin is chasing a run back toward the divisional titlists.

Buddy McGirt in Martin’s corner draws on a long, comeback-filled career

Martin will be cornered by Buddy McGirt, an International Boxing Hall of Fame member who spent 15 years and 80 fights in the ring. McGirt lost his 140lbs belt to Meldrick Taylor, then responded with 17 consecutive wins and captured the WBC welterweight title three years later; he later lost twice to Pernell Whitaker but remained active and victorious. McGirt told Martin that when you suffer a loss, what determines who you are is how you come back from it.

Frank Martin expects early pressure to force the issue and shape the fight

Martin, 19-1 (13 KOs), believes early contact will force Albright off his spot and decide whether the bout becomes a trade or a chase. At the final press conference he said, "We going to see, once I get to touching on him, " and warned, "You might have to move around a lot. It's a big ring. It's perfect for you. " He told Albright, "You a tough [fighter]. Our styles going to clash. It's going to be a good fight. " Martin has also said the 140-pound weight sits better for him and that he feels stronger at the division.

Nahir Albright will not concede the center on words alone

Albright, 17-2, pushed back in his own remarks. "We can do it whatever way, " he said. "Anyway. Let's do it. I can stay in the pocket with you. I can box. " Promoters and press will get microphone bravado, but both men and the coverage note that the pocket looks different once leather lands. Albright defeated Kelvin Davis in June, an outcome that triggered a physical altercation backstage; Kelvin is the brother of Keyshawn Davis, who has said he would love a crack at Albright.

Card context: WBA ranking, titlists and potential paths

Martin is ranked No. 7 by the WBA behind Premier Boxing Champions stablemate Gary Antuanne Russell, and he has expressed interest in fighting Richardson Hitchins, the IBF 140lbs titlist, who will defend his belt against third-ranked Oscar Duarte. The Saturday DAZN pay-per-view card also lists Richardson Hitchins and Gary Antuanne Russell among 140lbs titlists on the show, which is headlined by Mario Barrios defending the WBC welterweight title against Ryan Garcia. Martin said a win could position him to be chosen for higher-stakes matchups later in the year, but it would need to be "for something. For a title. " He attended Madison Square Garden last month to watch Keyshawn Davis defeat Jamaine Ortiz.

Weight, style and timing: ten rounds and a midfight test

Martin says the move to 140 has given him "more snap on the punches, better legs, stronger base when I set my feet. " He added, "I feel a lot stronger at 140. Strength, speed, everything. I feel more comfortable with the weight. " The bout is scheduled for ten rounds, a distance where pace and conditioning usually get tested after the fourth. Analysts writing in the build-up note that if Martin can set his feet and punch with authority without draining himself, he can break posture and make an opponent circle; if his power carries the way he believes it does, Albright may be forced to cover real estate by the middle rounds.

• Fight timing: Saturday, local 6: 00 pm; USA ET 6: 00 pm; UK 11: 00 pm.
• Records: Frank Martin 19-1 (13 KOs); Nahir Albright 17-2 (7 KOs).