An NFL quarterback with a 22-0 record as a starter likely would have graced a couple of Sports Illustrated covers and been prominently featured on multiple networks.
The same goes for a starting Major League Baseball pitcher with the same mark.
Ryan "Blue Chip" Martin has compiled a 22-0 record with 12 knockouts in his professional boxing career, but the 2011 Central High School graduate has been as hard to follow as he has been to defeat. A couple of his fights have been on HBO Pay-Per-View, but most haven't been available, including last weekend's win over former junior welterweight contender Breidis Prescott at the Stubhub Center in Carson, Calif., which houses the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers.
"It has been hard, because I do want to fight on TV, and I do want to fight for the casual fan," Martin said. "Unfortunately, in my career so far I haven't had that good luck. I do believe that all I have to do is keep improving, keep winning and keep impressing the media and the fans, and I am bound to be on mainstream TV."
Martin was scheduled to be on ESPN last June, when he registered a convincing decision over Marcos Jimenez, but a transformer inside the production truck overheated outside the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.
Perhaps the 25-year-old will get that opportunity with the second edition of the World Boxing Super Series, with the inaugural version having been lauded for quality matchups but also panned for the lack of a television deal in the United States. Martin has been invited in the eight-man competition at 140 pounds along with, according to ESPN reports, Regis Prograis (21-0) of Houston, Kiryl Relikh (22-2) of Belarus, Eduard Troyanovsky (27-1) of Russia, Ivan Baranchyk (18-0) of Russia and Anthony Yigit (21-0-1) of Sweden.
The second World Boxing Super Series is scheduled to start in September, and Martin learned of his invitation moments before last weekend's bout.
"I had a lot more to lose in my last fight," he said, "because if I would have lost, I would not have been selected into this."
Martin has fought only twice at 140 pounds but is quickly finding a new home in the junior welterweight - or super lightweight - class (the label depends on the sanctioning organization), where he currently owns a No. 7 ranking by the World Boxing Council.
"Those five pounds make a big difference," said Martin, who was in Chattanooga last week and was a guest of "Press Row" on ESPN 105.1 FM. "They are five pounds that I can keep instead of losing and killing myself to make 135. I feel like a sharper fighter at 140 and that I can think more clearly in the ring.
"In the seventh and eighth rounds of this last fight, it felt like I was smiling because I was moving around so well. I was feeling good, and the energy from the crowd was amazing."
As for finding a home in Los Angeles, where he relocated from Cleveland, Ohio, at the beginning of the year, Martin said there are trade-offs compared to where he was raised. The selection of food and the proximity to beaches are a plus compared to his time in Chattanooga, but the traffic is much worse.
He also misses the Southern hospitality.
"You've got to be ready for a war if you look at somebody wrong," Martin said. "You can open a door for a lady, and they won't say anything. People out there can be really rude."
ESPN and the World Boxing Super Series had discussions about this inaugural event, which is still ongoing, but the two sides could not agree on a deal. Should the second time be a charm, Martin could be on a quality stage with his largest audience.
"I've had two or three opportunities to fight on HBO Pay-Per-View, which obviously is not free," he said. "There is actually a lot more exposure in other countries compared to here. I was told that HBO International bought the rights to this last fight and streamed it to every country but here. It's something I have to leave up to my promoter, because it's all about money when it comes to fighting on TV and stuff like that.
"Hopefully I will get more TV time in America, because I do believe that fans like to see me fight."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.