From the peaks of standing as the Boxing Writers Assn. of America trainer of the year in 2022, Derrick James has traveled a turbulent path since.
Following the losses of his top fighters, Errol Spence Jr., and Jermell Charlo, within a three-month period last year, James is poised to return to elite events with his fighters Ryan Garcia and unbeaten lightweight Frank Martin.
James told BoxingScene Thursday at Garcia’s news conference with April 20 foe Devin Haney that he also has Martin (18-0, 12 KOs) in his Dallas area gym beginning preparations for his showdown against unbeaten WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis (29-0, 27 KOs).
While Davis-Martin has not been formally announced by Premier Boxing Champions, the target date for the bout is June 15, BoxingScene has learned.
“We have Frank Martin working out,” James told Boxing Scene. “Things have been said about that. It’s a big deal, yeah.”
Martin caused an uproar by withdrawing from negotiations to fight unbeaten Shakur Stevenson of rival promoter Top Rank in November. He’s now landed a more high-profile date against the Baltimore slugger who last year generated 1.2 million pay-per-view buys in his stoppage victory over Garcia.
James has also worked with former three-belt heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, who next weekend in Saudi Arabia will fight former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou after a camp spent in England under Tyson Fury’s former trainer, Ben Davison.
“It’s easiest for (Joshua) to train over there,” James said.
Following Joshua’s dominant showing in his Dec. 23 fifth-round stoppage of Otto Wallin, James was asked if he expects a convincing triumph over the ex-UFC champion.
“There’s no such thing as easy money,” James said. “The only walk in the park in boxing is when you’re actually going for a walk in the park.”
As for the career-boosting possibilities of leading Garcia and Martin into these underdog-role bouts, James said he is eager to restore the way many in the sport viewed him after the years it took to direct former three-belt welterweight champion Spence and formerly undisputed 154-champion Charlo to their heights.
“I like me in this fight,” James told Boxing Scene. “I believe in Ryan. I believe in myself. And I believe in his abilities. That’s what it’s all about.
“It’s about being diligent about who you are and focusing on what your abilities are, and that’s what gets you what you want.”