Frank Martin said what needed to be done to sell pay-per-views.
“Don't make any mistakes, don't hit anything,” Martin told unbeaten lightweight champion Gervonta Davis onstage. “If he makes a mistake, you're going to see Gervonta Davis get knocked out. If he goes out there and acts crazy, he's going to fall asleep.”
With fewer cameras on, Martin (18-0, 12 KOs) acknowledged that his path to victory was to outbox Baltimore’s Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) as a +450 underdog.
“Yeah, I know he gets beaten by his opponents all the time,” Martin said of Davis, who has been out of the ring for 14 months.
“Even in his last fight (knockout of Ryan Garcia), he was outboxed.
“Just 12 more rounds to go.”
Of course, that's easier said than done considering Davis has the experience advantage as a three-division champion and a reputation as one of the sport's most pure knockout artists.
As they finished posing for photos at a press conference Wednesday, Davis faked a punch at Martin, causing Martin to flinch.
Davis said he did so to keep Martin nervous and anxious about what was to come.
Martin insists he's ready.
“You have to stay awake,” Martin said. “Every round, every second. You can't let your guard down. You have to keep your eyes open.”
“Fighting is 80 percent mental and 20 percent physical. They're good at confusing their opponents mentally.”
“Everything that's happened up until now has been to mentally prepare me for what may come next. I'm ready for it. Whenever it happens, I'll be ready.”
