Christy Renea Martin (née Salters; born June 12, 1968) is an American former professional boxer. Competing from 1989 to 2012, she held the WBC female super welterweight title in 2009. Martin was the first female boxer elected to the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in 2016, and was also elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2020, which was the first year that women were on the ballot.
Christy Martin | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Martin at an amateur boxing event in 2023 | |
| Born | Christy Renea Salters[1] June 12, 1968[1] |
| Other names | The Coal Miner's Daughter[1] |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | |
| Height | 5 ft 4+1⁄2 in (164 cm)[1] |
| Reach | 64 in (163 cm)[1] |
| Stance | Orthodox[1] |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 59 |
| Wins | 49 |
| Wins by KO | 32 |
| Losses | 7 |
| Draws | 3 |
Early life
editMartin was born Christy Renea Salters on June 12, 1968, in Mullens, West Virginia.[3][2][4] and attended Mullens High School.[5]
She played various sports as a child including Little League baseball and all-state basketball. She attended Concord College in Athens, West Virginia, on a basketball scholarship and earned a B.S. in education.[2][4]
Career
editMartin is said to be “the most successful and prominent female boxer in the United States” and the person who “legitimized” women’s participation in the sport of boxing.[2] She began her career fighting in “Toughwoman” contests and won three consecutive titles. She then began training with boxing coach, Jim Martin, who became her husband in 1991.[2]
Martin started her professional boxing career at the age of 21 with a six-round draw with Angela Buchanan in 1989. She had her first training under the direction of Charlie Sensabaugh of Daniels West Virginia. Martin won a rematch with Buchanan one month later with a second round knockout. Andrea DeShong then beat Martin in a five-round decision. Martin then had nineteen consecutive wins, including two against Jamie Whitcomb and Suzanne Riccio-Major as well as a rubber match win against Buchanan. On October 15, 1993, Martin defeated Beverly Szymansky. Martin won by knocking out Szymansky in three rounds. Martin fought to a draw against debutante Laura Serrano in Las Vegas.[4]
Martin's next fights included a rematch with Szymansky, a fourth fight with Buchanan, and bouts against Melinda Robinson and Sue Chase, winning all of them, before the fight that many credit for putting women's boxing on the sports fans' radar took place: On March 16, 1996, she and Deirdre Gogarty fought what many consider a great fight, in front of Showtime cameras. Martin got the decision, and after that bout, she began to gain more celebrity, even appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated once shortly afterwards.[4] (Specifically, on April 15, 1996, Martin became the first female boxer to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated;[6] the headline read, "The Lady Is a Champ".[7])
Martin made a special guest appearance on the television show Roseanne in season 9, episode 6, "Pampered to a Pulp".
Martin won her next eight bouts including wins against Robinson, DeShong, Marcela Acuña and Isra Girgrah. Martin lost her title in a 10-round decision loss to Sumya Anani in 1998. Martin then won her next nine fights including wins against Belinda Laracuente, Sabrina Hall and Kathy Collins. Martin won her next two fights by ten-round decisions against Lisa Holeywine and Mia St. John.[4]
In 2003 Martin fought Laila Ali and lost by a knockout in the fourth round.[4]
Martin's next fight in 2005 was a second-round knockout against Lana Alexander in Lula, Mississippi.[4]
In 2005 a fight with Lucia Rijker, titled "Million Dollar Lady", was canceled because Rijker ruptured her Achilles during training.
On September 16, 2005, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Martin lost a 10-round unanimous decision to Holly Holm. Martin was beaten by the 23-year-old southpaw, with all three judges scoring for Holm.[4]
Martin holds a record of 49 wins, 7 losses and 3 draws with 31 wins by knockout.[4] She is a frequent visitor of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame annual induction ceremonies, and an avid autograph signer. She has fought on the undercard of boxers Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Félix Trinidad and Julio César Chávez.
Martin was promoted by Don King, and was the first woman to sign with him.[8][4] He signed Martin in October 1993 following her third-round knockout win against Beverly Szymanski.[9]
Martin was nicknamed The Coal Miner's Daughter in reference to her father's occupation.[3]
Martin announced on January 19, 2011, that she would be fighting again in hopes of her 50th career win on the undercard of the Ricardo Mayorga vs Miguel Cotto Fight at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 12, 2011, against Dakota Stone in a rematch of their 2009 Fight.[10] The fight was postponed due to a rib injury to Martin. The rescheduled rematch took place June 4, 2011, at Staples Center in Los Angeles on the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs Sebastian Zbik undercard. Dakota Stone prevailed by TKO with :51 left as Martin broke her right hand in nine places on a punch in the 4th round and could not continue.[citation needed]
In 2016, she became the first female boxer inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. That same year, Sports Illustrated reported that she was working 2 jobs, as a substitute teacher and helping military veterans find work, and that she was dealing with the after effects of her career, including dealing with lack of stamina and double vision.[11][12][13] In 2020 she was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame; she was elected to it in 2019, the first year that women were on the ballot.[14][15]
Professional boxing record
edit| 59 fights | 49 wins | 7 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 32 | 2 |
| By decision | 17 | 5 |
| Draws | 3 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | Loss | 49–7–3 | Mia St. John | UD | 10 | Aug 14, 2012 | Friant, California, U.S. | |
| 58 | Loss | 49–6–3 | Dakota Stone | TKO | 6 (6) | Jun 4, 2011 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 57 | Win | 49–5–3 | Dakota Stone | MD | 10 | Sep 9, 2009 | Syracuse, New York, U.S. | Won vacant WBC female super welterweight title |
| 56 | Win | 48–5–3 | Cimberly Harris | SD | 6 | Aug 1, 2009 | Huntington, West Virginia, U.S. | |
| 55 | Draw | 47–5–3 | Valerie Mahfood | MD | 8 | Jul 18, 2008 | Houston, Texas, U.S. | For vacant WBC–NABF female middleweight title |
| 54 | Win | 47–5–2 | Amy Yuratovac | UD | 2 (6) | Jun 2, 2007 | Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 53 | Loss | 46–5–2 | Angelica Martinez | SD | 10 | Oct 6, 2006 | Worley, Idaho, U.S. | |
| 52 | Loss | 46–4–2 | Holly Holm | UD | 10 | Sep 16, 2005 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. | |
| 51 | Win | 46–3–2 | Lana Alexander | KO | 2 (6) | Apr 30, 2005 | Lula, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 50 | Loss | 45–3–2 | Laila Ali | KO | 4 (10) | Aug 23, 2003 | Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. | For IBA female super middleweight title |
| 49 | Win | 45–2–2 | Mia St. John | UD | 10 | Dec 6, 2002 | Pontiac, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 48 | Win | 44–2–2 | Lisa Holewyne | UD | 10 | Nov 17, 2001 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 43–2–2 | Kathy Collins | MD | 10 | May 12, 2001 | New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 42–2–2 | Jeanne Martinez | UD | 10 | Mar 3, 2001 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 45 | Win | 41–2–2 | Sabrina Hall | KO | 1 (8) | Dec 2, 2000 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 44 | Win | 40–2–2 | Dianna Lewis | UD | 10 | Aug 12, 2000 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 43 | Win | 39–2–2 | Belinda Laracuente | MD | 8 | Mar 3, 2000 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 38–2–2 | Daniella Somers | TKO | 5 (10) | Oct 2, 1999 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 41 | Win | 37–2–2 | Jovette Jackson | TKO | 1 | Apr 24, 1999 | Washington, D.C., U.S. | |
| 40 | Loss | 36–2–2 | Sumya Anani | MD | 10 | Dec 18, 1998 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. | |
| 39 | Win | 36–1–2 | Christine Robinson | TKO | 5 (6) | Sep 19, 1998 | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 35–1–2 | Cheryl Nance | TKO | 9 (10) | Aug 29, 1998 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 37 | Win | 34–1–2 | Marcela Acuña | UD | 10 | Dec 5, 1997 | Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 33–1–2 | Isra Girgrah | UD | 8 | Aug 23, 1997 | New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 35 | Win | 32–1–2 | Andrea DeShong | TKO | 7 (8) | Jun 28, 1997 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 34 | Win | 31–1–2 | Bethany Payne | TKO | 1 (6) | Nov 9, 1996 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 30–1–2 | Melinda Robinson | KO | 4 | Sep 7, 1996 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 29–1–2 | Deirdre Gogarty | UD | 6 | Mar 16, 1996 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 28–1–2 | Del Pettis | TKO | 1 | Feb 24, 1996 | Richmond, Virginia, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 27–1–2 | Sue Chase | TKO | 3 (6) | Feb 10, 1996 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 26–1–2 | Melinda Robinson | UD | 6 | Jan 13, 1996 | Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 25–1–2 | Erica Schmidlin | TKO | 1 | Dec 16, 1995 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 24–1–2 | Angela Buchanan | TKO | 2 (6) | Aug 12, 1995 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 23–1–2 | Beverly Szymanski | KO | 4 (6) | Apr 1, 1995 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 22–1–2 | Chris Kreuz | TKO | 4 (6) | Sep 12, 1994 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 24 | Draw | 21–1–2 | Laura Serrano | UD | 6 | May 7, 1994 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 21–1–1 | Sonja Donlevy | TKO | 1 | Mar 4, 1994 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 20–1–1 | Susie Melton | TKO | 1 (6) | Jan 29, 1994 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 19–1–1 | Beverly Szymanski | KO | 3 | Oct 15, 1993 | Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 18–1–1 | Rebecca Kirkland | TKO | 1 (6) | Aug 27, 1993 | Punta Gorda, Florida, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 17–1–1 | Deborah Cruickshank | KO | 1 (4) | May 28, 1993 | Punta Gorda, Florida, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 16–1–1 | Susie Hughes | TKO | 1 | Jan 29, 1993 | Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 15–1–1 | Angela Buchanan | TKO | 1 | Nov 14, 1992 | Greenville, South Carolina, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 14–1–1 | Tracy Gordon | TKO | 1 | Sep 5, 1992 | Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 13–1–1 | Stacey Prestage | UD | 8 | May 30, 1992 | Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 12–1–1 | Jackie Thomas | TKO | 3 (8) | Jan 25, 1992 | Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 11–1–1 | Rose Noble | TKO | 1 | Jan 11, 1992 | Grundy, Virginia, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 10–1–1 | Shannon Davenport | TKO | 2 | Sep 10, 1991 | Princeton, West Virginia, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 9–1–1 | Rhonda Hefflin | KO | 1 | May 25, 1991 | Tennessee, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 8–1–1 | Pat Watts | TKO | 1 | Mar 16, 1991 | Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 7–1–1 | Suzanne Riccio | PTS | 5 | Feb 25, 1991 | Bristol, Tennessee, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 6–1–1 | Jamie Whitcomb | TKO | 2 (5) | Jan 12, 1991 | Bristol, Tennessee, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 5–1–1 | Lisa Holpp | TKO | 1 | Oct 27, 1990 | Bristol, Tennessee, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 4–1–1 | Jamie Whitcomb | PTS | 6 | Sep 22, 1990 | Johnson City, Tennessee, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 3–1–1 | Andrea DeShong | PTS | 5 | Apr 21, 1990 | Bristol, Tennessee, U.S. | |
| 4 | Loss | 2–1–1 | Andrea DeShong | MD | 5 | Nov 4, 1989 | Bristol, Tennessee, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 2–0–1 | Tammy Jones | TKO | 1 | Oct 21, 1989 | Bristol, Tennessee, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 1–0–1 | Angela Buchanan | KO | 2 | Sep 30, 1989 | Durham, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| 1 | Draw | 0–0–1 | Angela Buchanan | PTS | 5 | Sep 9, 1989 | Bristol, Tennessee, U.S. |
Attempted murder
editOn November 23, 2010, Christy Martin was stabbed several times and shot at least once in her torso and left for dead by her husband, 66-year-old James V. Martin. The attack reportedly occurred after an argument in their Apopka home.[16] She survived the attack. On November 30, James Martin was arrested and taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center after he stabbed himself.[17] He was booked in Orange County Jail and charged with attempted first degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.[18]
In April 2012, James Martin was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder.[19] He was sentenced two months later to 25 years in prison. He is currently serving his sentence at Graceville Correctional Facility in Graceville, Florida.[20][21]
Personal life
editMartin married former ring rival Lisa Holewyne on November 25, 2017.[22] Martin is the CEO of Christy Martin Promotions, a boxing promotion company that has promoted many events in North Carolina since 2016 and will be promoting boxing events in Jacksonville, Florida and in other Southern United States cities.[when?][citation needed]
Legacy
editIn 2021, Netflix released Untold: Deal with the Devil, a documentary chronicling Martin’s career and personal life.[23] In 2024, it was announced that a biopic of her life, starring Sydney Sweeney, was in production.[24]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Christy Martin". BoxRec. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e Outstanding Women Athletes: Who they are and how they influenced sports, Janet Woolum [1]
- ^ a b "Christy Martin". International Boxing Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Women's Boxing: Christy Martin Biography". Archived from the original on 2010-07-08. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
- ^ "BOXER WEARS LIPSTICK, AND SHE IS A WINNER". OrlandoSentinel.com. 29 January 1994. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ Tumin, Remy (August 17, 2022). "Famous, But Not Free". New York Times. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
- ^ "Christy Martin, Boxing Sports Illustrated Cover by Sports Illustrated". Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- ^ Feldman, Jacob (July 2016). "Where Are They Now: Former boxer Christy Martin". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
- ^ Smith, Malissa (2014-06-05). A History of Women's Boxing. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 194–209. ISBN 978-1-4422-2995-2. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
- ^ "Sports News & latest headlines from AOL". AOL.com. Archived from the original on 2011-01-24. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
- ^ "Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame to induct 11, including 1st woman". thenewstribune. Archived from the original on 2016-03-09.
- ^ "First female voted into Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame". Boxingjunkie.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Diaz, George (4 August 2016). "Christy Martin finally stands alone as boxing Hall of Famer". orlandosentinel.com.
- ^ Schilken, Chuck (2019-12-04). "Christy Martin and Bernard Hopkins headline Boxing Hall of Fame class". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
- ^ Tumin, Remy (2022-08-18). "Famous, but Not Free". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
- ^ "Female boxer Christy Martin hospitalized after attack". reuters.com. 2010-11-25. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ Prieto, Bianca (November 30, 2010). "Deputies track down, arrest Christy Martin's husband". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
- ^ "Current Inmate Database - James V. Martin". Orange County Inmate Records. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
- ^ "Boxer Christy Martin's ex guilty of attempted murder". Orlando Sentinel. April 27, 2012. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
- ^ "Inmate Population Information Detail".
- ^ "James Martin gets 25 years for trying to kill boxer Christy Martin". Orlando Sentinel. June 26, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
- ^ Morrison, Jane Ann (28 May 2011). "Boxer tells of her attack to draw attention to domestic violence". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ Untold: Deal with the Devil (2021) - IMDb, retrieved 2022-05-17
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (May 8, 2024). "Sydney Sweeney Getting Into The Ring To Portray Trailblazing Boxer Christy Martin For Director David Michôd, Black Bear & Anonymous Content; Actress Is "Itching To Start Training" For Role – Cannes Market Hot Project". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 9, 2024.