It is now official that Frank Martin vs Rances Barthelemy will be lifting the free PBC Prime Video preliminary card for the Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz vs. Lamont Roach event on December 6, 2025, at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. The free portion of the event begins at 5:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM PT.
Martin (18-1, 12 KOs) will be a year and a half layoff since his eighth round knockout loss to WBA lightweight champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis on June 15, 2024. ‘The Ghost’ Martin got a big payday in that fight. So it is not surprising that he has been inactive for the past 16 months. Lose to the
Preliminary card begins at 5:30 PM ET
- Frank Martin vs. Rances Barthelemy
- Isaac Lucero vs. Roberto Valenzuela Jr
- Luis Nunez vs. Hector Sosa
The Cruz vs. Roach fight headlines PBC Pay-Per-View Prime Video. The main card begins at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT.
Losing to the 39-year-old Barthelemy (30-3-1, 15 KOs) would be brutal for Martin. It will be hard to come back from a loss against him, especially if he chooses to keep taking long breaks between fights.
Prior to Martin’s fight against Tank Davis in June 2024, he had been inactive for 11 months since his narrow 12-round unanimous decision victory over Artem Harutyunyan on July 15, 2023. Martin had to rally to defeat Harutyunyan by scores of 115-112, 115-114, 314, 112 and 114.
Main card starts at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT
- Isaac Cruz vs. Lamont Roach Jr.
- Erislandy Lara vs Janibek Alimkhanuly
- Stephen Fulton Jr. vs. O’Shaquie Foster
- Jesus Ramos Jr. vs. Shane Mosley Jr.
“I’m excited to be back after people tried to rush me for taking one loss. I learned that as a lesson, and I’m mentally and physically back at the top of my game. Rances will have to deal with everything I’ve been through, and he’ll feel it on every punch. I’m back and I’m nasty and dangerous,” says Frank Martin.
Barthelemy has lost two of his last three fights against these fighters:
- Jose Ramirez (April 27, 2024) – 12-round unanimous decision loss
- Gary Antuanne Russell (July 30, 2022) – TKO loss in the sixth round
It is understandable why PBC chose the Martin vs. Place Barthelemy fight on the provisional card. Neither of them have done enough to be on the main card lately. Between Martin’s loss and Rance’s recent losses, it doesn’t make sense for them to cut the main card.
“December 6th is the night I remind everyone who Rances Barthelemy is. Frank Martin is a talented fighter, but I’ve been in deep waters before, and experience counts when the lights are brightest,” Barthelemy said.
“I come with new hunger, sharper focus and the fire of a man chasing another world title race.”
Last updated on 11/03/2025
