Professional boxing stardom is still beyond the horizon, but Ryan Martin clearly seems to be on his way.
Martin's next hurdle is tonight in Houston's Minute Maid Park, where the 22-year-old Chattanooga native and Central High School graduate fights on the card that will have HBO televising the top end. He's 12-0 and survived a brawler's head-butting in his last fight, when Martin beat Puerto Rico's Miguel Soto by knockout in the third round on April 11 in Soto's home country.
That was the first time Martin was cut in a fight, but the three stitches he required only briefly cast doubt on his availability for tonight. However, scheduled opponent Daniel Maldonado (24-2) had to pull out and has been replaced by Ivan Zavala (7-9-2) of Mexico.
Martin's ability and personality are his main assets, but he also has a remarkably strong support group for a boxer of his experience. He's backed by famed entertainer Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson's SMS Promotions, and manager Tim VanNewhouse of Cleveland, Ohio, has put together an "A team" that includes Joe Delguyd as head trainer, Bob Kaleal for strength and conditioning and now well-regarded cut man Russ Anber.
"I've been in boxing for almost two decades," said VanNewhouse, who as a lightweight Olympic hopeful trained in Chattanooga for a couple of years before winning by knockout in his only professional fight. "Ryan certainly is a special boxer compared to other fighters I've worked with. I spend most of my days just focusing on him: his development, schedule, public relations, and I recently started helping with his branding.
"I met Ryan in the (Chattanooga) Y-Cap program when he was just 11 years old. I spent a lot of time with him and eventually grew to love him."
Martin is very cooperative in his training and is "making improvements every day," VanNewhouse said.
"As a team we all have huge expectations for him. He has the height and reach to become a multidivisional world champion. He's very humble and charismatic, which are star-like qualities. He's a year-and-a-half professional and we aren't in any rush to get him to the top, but his coach projects Ryan will cross over from being a prospect into a contender sometime next year."
Said Delguyd: "When Ryan came to me, he was a very young man who was an amateur boxer. Today he's developing rapidly into an explosive professional fighter -- the kind whose power, speed and quick smile will make him a crossover star who will appeal not only to the hardcore boxing fan but to the mainstream sports fan."
Martin wants his friends and former coaches and teammates in Chattanooga to know he's "making tremendous strides" as he follows the unified "vision" of his team.
"I've dedicated most of my life to this sport, and I really feel like I'm learning the science of it," he said. "I'm learning from every opponent. Each one has taught me something new.
"I've been fortunate to be showcased on a few HBO cards. Although I'm not on TV, I'm in front of the network. I've met Peter Nelson (director of HBO boxing programmer) a couple of times. It's a good feeling knowing he's in attendance and watching me progress as a professional."
Contact Ron Bush at rbush@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6291.