LAS VEGAS – Frank Martin isn’t the type to disrespectfully call out potential opponents.

Instead, Martin admitted, in his own low-key way, that eventually landing a shot at a star like Gervonta Davis was part of his motivation for embracing his high-stakes, 12-round lightweight fight against Michel Rivera on Saturday night at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (Showtime; 10 p.m. ET; 7 p.m. PT). The 27-year-old Martin hopes a victory over an undefeated, highly ranked contender like the Dominican Republic’s Rivera (24-0, 14 KOs) will better position him to secure the types of career-changing chances he is confident he would exploit.

“That’s the type of opportunities that I’m looking for, those bigger opportunities,” Martin told BoxingScene.com. “To fight a guy like Tank, man, that’s what I’m trying to do. Those are the fights right there, with all the years of dedication, those are the fights that all the hard work and dedication lead you to, those bigger fights. So, that right there would be a dope fight to make happen.”

Martin considers it at least a possibility because he thinks Davis will beat Hector Luis Garcia on January 7 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., and then Ryan Garcia later next year. Ryan Garcia needs to defeat Filipino underdog Mercito Gesta in his next fight, which is expected to take place January 28, to procure his place in a long-discussed showdown with Baltimore’s Davis.

Indianapolis’ Martin (16-0, 12 KOs) predicted Davis will knock out Ryan Garcia later in their 12-round, 136-pound bout if it happens.

“It’s a good fight,” Martin said. “You know, Ryan is very explosive in the beginning. So, Tank will just have to watch out the first four, five rounds with the hooks and the straight right hands. And then after that, Ryan kinda die down. You know, the speed slows down, not so much the power as the speed. One of the advantages Ryan could have over Tank would be his height and stuff, but he don’t really use his jab.

“I don’t know. He got a new trainer [Joe Goossen], so he could be working it more. But with his length, he doesn’t use it as much as he should. But with Tank, you know, he might have a game plan of having him out on the distance and he might be using the distance. But I see that fight being a knockout, either one ‘em could get each other out of there. I favor Tank.”

Martin doesn’t envision Davis (27-0, 25 KOs) having as much difficulty dealing with Hector Luis Garcia in their Showtime Pay-Per-View main event as he’ll have with Ryan Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs). Hector Luis Garcia (16-0, 10 KOs, 3 NC) upset previously unbeaten contender Chris Colbert (16-1, 6 KOs) and former WBA super featherweight champion Roger Gutierrez (26-4-1, 20 KOs) in back-to-back bouts this year, yet Martin feels Davis’ power and speed will be too much for the Dominican southpaw.

“I feel like that’s a good fight,” Martin said. “Hector Garcia, he a good fighter, he a strong fighter. He’s had two upsets, but I just think that Tank, you know how they always say there’s levels to everything? I just think that he’s a couple steps above [Garcia]. I feel like he tough and all that, but there’s some things like his defense is not super tight. And a fighter like Tank, he gonna capitalize off of that. I see it being a tough fight, but I see Tank getting him out of there.”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.