LAS VEGAS – Frank Martin apologized to his team after falling short in his eighth-round loss to Gervonta Davis.
The Detroit native handed the southpaw Martin his first career loss at 18-1 (12 KOs) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. After a decent start, Davis eventually caught up with Martin.
“I let the team down,” Martin said. “At the end of the day, I played great, but it just wasn't there. I took a shot that I didn't see. The ball came down from underneath me and it just changed things from there.”
“I'll come back better. I'll watch the footage and improve.”
“I was too relaxed on the ropes. Derrick [James, my trainer] “That's something he's been telling me for a while now in training camp. Don't feel complacent just because you caught the shot. I feel like I was pushed too far into the corner.”
Martin knew Davis well, having sparred with him many years ago, and had a strong opinion of the WBA lightweight champion from Baltimore.
“He's got power,” he added, “he's got good punches and he knows how to land his shots, so he's good at landing punches and hitting guys at the button and taking them out there.”
“He's got good traps, good set-ups, good traps. The traps that got me were traps I knew could happen. He can box, he can punch. I feel he's adaptable and can adapt to different styles.”
Martin said his night was marred by not being able to stick to his strategy and getting sucked into Davis' game.
“I got so wrapped up in it that it took me away from the game plan,” he said. “It wasn't part of the game plan. Derrick didn't want me to get wrapped up in it. I was wrapping up in it and I was trying to see what I was looking for, but I just couldn't find what I was looking for.”
