Christy Martin<\/strong>\u2019s life story is getting the big screen treatment in the movie Christy<\/em><\/a>, starring Sydney Sweeney<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Martin is a legendary boxer who paved the way for women in the sport. She earned the nickname \u201cThe Coal Miner\u2019s Daughter\u201d due to her father\u2019s occupation. While Martin is known for her success in the ring, she has also suffered from tragic events, including struggling with her sexuality at a young age and enduring abuse.<\/p>\n Christy almost died in 2010 after her ex-husband and former coach, Jim Martin<\/strong>, whom she wed in 1991, attempted to murder her after she tried to leave him. Christy survived the attack and testified against Jim. In 2012, Jim was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison.<\/p>\n Keep scrolling for what to know about Christy ahead of her biopic:<\/p>\n Christy started boxing professionally in 1989. Her breakout match was against Angela Buchanan<\/strong>, where they had a six-round draw. Two years later, she started training with Jim.<\/p>\n In 1993, Christy made history as the first woman to be signed by promoter Don King<\/strong>. King\u2019s connections led to Christy being able to fight on undercards of some of the biggest stars in men\u2019s boxing, including Julio C\u00e9sar Ch\u00e1vez<\/strong> vs. Frankie Randall<\/strong> and Mike Tyson<\/strong> vs. Frank Bruno<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Chrisy\u2019s 1996 win against Deirdre Gogarty<\/strong> skyrocketed her popularity and helped bring attention to women\u2019s boxing. She also went on to face off against Sumya Anani<\/strong>, Laila Ali<\/strong> and more. In 2009, Christy won the WBC Super Welterweight title.<\/p>\n In 2012, Christy retired from boxing after sustaining multiple injuries. In her career, Christy earned 49 wins, with 31 of those being knockouts.<\/p>\n Christy was inducted into the International Women\u2019s Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014. Two years later, she became the first woman to be inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n When the International Boxing Hall of Fame decided to allow women on the ballot in 2019, Christy was included and inducted the following year.<\/p>\n In 2010, Christy was stabbed several times and shot in her torso by Jim. Jim attacked her after she attempted to leave him following an alleged argument. Christy survived the attack.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a fighter and that\u2019s what I do,\u201d Christy said in a 2011 interview with ESPN<\/a> after recovering from her injuries. \u201cThat\u2019s all I know how to do, is fight.\u201d<\/p>\n Jim died in November 2024 while serving his sentence at Graceville Correctional Facility in Graceville, Florida.<\/p>\n In her career, Christy faced off against Holewyne multiple times The pair had their first match in 2001 and Christy got the win in a unanimous decision after 10 rounds.<\/p>\n \u201cWe fought each other in 2001. She\u2019s a world champion. She was inducted into the Women\u2019s Boxing Hall of Fame,\u201d Christy recalled to The Guardian<\/em><\/a> in 2022. \u201cSo we met and then we sparred a couple of times, and she was sort of in my circle of people, one of the adjacent friends.\u201d<\/p>\n After news broke about her attack, Holewyne reached out to Christy to check on her. Their friendship eventually turned romantic.<\/p>\n \u201cA few months after everything happened, and the trial with Jim, she started to call and check on me,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd then she came to one of my fights that I was promoting in Charlotte and we\u2019ve been together since.\u201d<\/p>\nChristy Martin Put Women\u2019s Boxing on the Map<\/h2>\n
Christy Martin Is in the Hall of Fame<\/h2>\n
\n Christy Martin<\/span> Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nChristy Martin\u2019s Ex-Husband Tried to Kill Her<\/h2>\n
Christy Martin Is Married to Former Rival Lisa Holewyne<\/h2>\n
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\n Christy Martin<\/span> Isaiah Trickey\/FilmMagic<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n