LAS VEGAS – The beaten man who looks deep inside himself and returns to glory often is the more compelling figure in combat sports.

Frank Martin, who you likely know best for getting knocked out by former WBA lightweight titleholder Gervonta “Tank” Davis in 2024, returned nearly 18 months later and impressively knocked out Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy.

And Saturday, cornered by an International Boxing Hall of Fame member in Buddy McGirt, who knows well the fulfillment of redemption, Martin, 19-1 (13 KOs), will seek to post another stirring 140lbs victory, over Nahir Albright, 17-2 (7 KOs), and further reclaim his world title mission statement.

“I can definitely do that. The way I’ve been training …” Martin told BoxingScene, calling Albright “game, a tough opponent. I expect him to come out and do what he does. He’s a boxer who throws big shots when he can. I’m going to have to figure him out.”

The matchup has intrigue on multiple levels.

It was Albright who in June defeated Kelvin Davis, the brother of top-rated WBO welterweight Keyshawn Davis, triggering a physical altercation backstage. While Keyshawn has said he would love a crack at Albright, a Martin victory could make him the choice.

“It can possibly happen. Everybody’s been calling for that fight,” said Martin, who last month was in attendance to watch Keyshawn Davis “do his thing” in a victory over Jamaine Ortiz at Madison Square Garden. “By the end of the year, it can happen – but it has to be for something. For a title.”

And with 140lbs titlists Richardson Hitchins (IBF) and Gary Antuanne Russell (WBA) also on Saturday’s DAZN pay-per-view card headlined by Mario Barrios’ defense of his WBC welterweight title versus Ryan Garcia, Martin could rise toward those titlists.

Martin is ranked No. 7 by the WBA behind Premier Boxing Champions stablemate Russell and he is most interested in fighting Hitchins, who will defend his belt against third-ranked Oscar Duarte.

“That’s who I want [Hitchins],“ Martin said. “We’ve had words the first time we ran into each other at [The Ring] awards, but I think that’s going to be a cordial type of match. We’re actually cool.”

First, Martin, 31, has to continue the narrative of his restoration.

He said he has watched boxing – and life – long enough to know that the truest measure of a man is seen in how he responds to being decked.

“That’s something that’s got to be in a guy,” Martin said. “Some guys can lose, and they never come back because it can stay in their head. With me, it was more like I understood what was going on, and I understood when you get into those types of fights versus those types of champions, you might come up short on the other end of the stick.

“I did. But I can’t beat myself down about it and not come back. I am who I am. I’m a dog, so I took the ‘L.’ But my bounceback game is going to be a lot more crazy.”

McGirt’s influence has been pivotal.

“I got myself back, my style, my athleticism,” Martin said. “They let me be me.”

During his 15-year, 80-fight career, McGirt responded to losing his 140lbs belt to Meldrick Taylor by winning 17 consecutive fights and capturing the WBC welterweight title three years later. He would later lose twice more to fellow Hall of Famer Pernell Whitaker, but he remained active and victorious.

McGirt said he touched on his story with Martin “to make him understand that when you suffer a loss, what determines who you are is how you come back from it.

“Today, everybody wants to protect that zero, but sometimes shit happens to make you a better fighter and a better person, and sometimes you need that to elevate to the next level. Look at Joe Louis after he lost to Max Schmeling. He went on a run. After Ray Robinsonn lost to Jake LaMotta, he went on a run. Sometimes it takes a loss to open your eyes to certain things and the changes you’ve got to make – within yourself and everyone around you. [Martin will] definitely [rise to become a world champion]. If not, I wouldn’t be here wasting my time.”

McGirt said his work with Martin is akin to a car tuneup.

“Just the simple things, nothing major,” McGirt said. “Using his jab more. Addressing little mistakes. … The key is to correct them and have him grow confidence in his abilities.

“Because he doesn’t realize how good he is and how good he can be. Once he realizes it 100 per cent … he’ll be a world champion.”

Lance Pugmire is BoxingScene’s senior U.S. writer and an assistant producer for ProBox TV. Pugmire has covered boxing since the early 2000s, first at the Los Angeles Times and then at The Athletic and USA Today. He won the Boxing Writers’ Association of America’s Nat Fleischer Award in 2022 for career excellence.