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Last weekend in Las Vegas, Gervonta Davis proved why he is the face of boxing! After starting the bout slow, like he always does, and giving the first few rounds to Frank Martin, ‘Tank’ kicked things into 5th gear, as he knocked out ‘The Ghost’ in the eighth round of their fight. And now, Davis’ vanquished former rival Rolly Romero has something to say about it.

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Romero and Davis squared off against each other back in May 2022 at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, where Romero had met a similar fate as Davis had knocked him out in the sixth round. So, after Davis delivered yet another picture perfect knockout, Romero reacted to the knockout by revealing why Martin’s nickname is ‘The Ghost’. 

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The Fallout of Frank Martin’s ‘Ghost’ Nickname

Right after the fight, Romero was surrounded by a bunch of reporters vying to get his reaction about Davis’ knockout. In response, the former WBA super lightweight champion said, “You know why they call Frank the ghost…Why? because he’s de*d”. However, Rolly wasn’t alone in exploiting Martin’s nickname after the fight ended with a knockout!

In fact, Davis’ corner men came into the venue wearing shirts that had “Ghost Busters” written on them, making fun of Martin’s nickname, all while implying Davis would defeat Martin, and that’s exactly what happened during the fight. Despite his loss, however, Martin remains a promising prospect in the lightweight division, which is especially evident because of the reason he got his nickname! 

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Rising from Adversity: The Journey of ‘The Ghost’ in Boxing

Having dabbled in wrestling and football as a kid in his native Detroit, Martin moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and discovered his love for boxing. While there, he started training in the Sarge Johnson Boxing Center, where he received training from local police officer Pat McPherson, two-time Indiana Golden Gloves champ Ike Boyd, and his father Frank. However, when he competed in the 2015 Golden Gloves championship, he lost in the semifinals. 

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The very next year he returned, and it was during this time when he earned his nickname ‘The Ghost’. During his training for the 2016 Golden Gloves in his gym, the lights went out, but Martin kept his training going—as his shadow dances around in the distant wall, this got him his popular nickname. Martin would go on to win the 2016 Golden Gloves tournament at 141-pounds, defeating Vergil Ortiz in their title fight.

If that journey to win Golden Gloves in 2016 is any evidence, Frank Martin is no stranger to adversities, and would likely bounce back from the loss. But isn’t it funny, Rolly Romero, who met the same fate, is making fun of Martin? What do you think?

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Written by

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Sudeep Sinha

4,781 Articles

Sudeep Sinha is a Golf Writer at EssentiallySports, covering the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the storylines around the sport's biggest events and names. He previously spent over two years writing in the Boxing department, where his fight-night coverage was featured on Sports Illustrated, Daily Mail, and Yahoo Sports, including his reporting on Ryan Garcia's career arc. On the golf beat, Sudeep covers tour news, player form, and the season-long storylines that shape the men's and women's game, from majors to the ongoing shifts in how professional golf is structured. That same appetite for detail that made his boxing coverage stand out now shows up in how he breaks down a swing change or a schedule shakeup for hardcore and casual fans alike. Outside work, he splits his time between reading, cycling, and following combat sports.

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Snigdhaa Jaiswal

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