A "long 11 months" is over for professional lightweight boxer Ryan "Blue Chip" Martin.
The 23-year-old Chattanooga native gets to fight again Saturday night at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., as part of the undercard for the HBO-televised middleweight title defense for Gennady Golovkin. Martin will face Rosbel Montoya of Mexico, who has a 16-7-1 record with 13 knockouts.
The 2011 Central High School graduate and product of the local YCAP boxing program had 13 fights and won them all, eight by knockout, in his first 15 months as a pro. But that was under contract to the SMS Promotions company owned by entertainer 50 Cent, Curtis Jackson III.
Jackson filed last July for a highly publicized bankruptcy that brought SMS to a standstill and left its boxers in limbo - unable to fight for that company and unable to go elsewhere.
Martin was one of those who ultimately filed suit to get out of the contract with SMS, and his exit finally was settled. He now is hooked to Tom Loeffler, who also promotes Golovkin and Roman Gonzalez, a flyweight also on the HBO card Saturday.
"I couldn't let myself get sidetracked by the bankruptcy," Martin's manager, Tim VanNewhouse of Westlake, Ohio, said Thursday about leading the fight to free Martin to fight again. "It's my duty to do everything I possibly can to help Ryan maximize his potential in the sport."
Martin, who went 202-22 as an amateur, won the 2010 under-19 national championship among several titles and earned a silver medal at the 2009 National Junior Olympics, has continued to develop even while unable to book fights, both he and VanNewhouse said.
"I've been in the gym consistently, developing skills and bettering my craft," Martin said. "I've just been learning under Coach Joe (Delguyd). In boxing there's always new things to learn."
Said VanNewhouse: "Ryan is developing more of a boxing IQ. He's watching more fight films with his coach now and is learning how to properly break opponents down.
"He's still growing and maturing. He is becoming more confident in himself as a pro. And that's the key in this sport, as it's 90 percent mental."
VanNewhouse said the veteran Montoya is "an opponent to get the 11-month ring rust off Ryan and see where he's at since the layoff."
Though limited to sparring, Martin has been in the ring with very good opponents. While continuing to live in the Cleveland, Ohio, area, he has worked out with Charles Conwell Jr., a 165-pound Cleveland hometown hero going to this year's Olympics. And he spent time in Las Vegas in the camp of former world champion Shawn Porter before Porter's 144-pound win late last June against Adrien Broner.
"I'm just glad to be back on track and get my career moving forward again. It's been a long 11 months," said Martin, who declines to criticize his former promoter.
"I will never forget the opportunity '50' gave me," he told ESPN boxing writer Dan Rafael. "He funded the beginning stages of my career and helped paint some of the visions I have of becoming a champion. He was instrumental in me leaving the amateur ranks to begin this journey as a prizefighter. For that I will always be thankful."
Martin has been to Chattanooga a few times during these last 11 months. One was in late February for his birthday, and one was for Thanksgiving.
"I always enjoy coming home and seeing my family and friends and the beautiful Scenic City," he said.
One of the returns was not so enjoyable, however. He came home in October for the funeral of his 19-year-old brother Kevin Albert Jr., a gunshot victim.
"That was a very sad day for me and my family," Martin said. "I've dedicated this fight to him."
Contact Ron Bush at rbush@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6291.