Christy Martin

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Christy Martin
Christy Martin Speaks to Hope House 2024 ChristyMartinPublic.jpg
Christy Martin Speaks to Hope House 2024
Born
Christy Renea Salters [1]

(1968-06-12) June 12, 1968 (age 56) [1]
Mullens, West Virginia, U.S. [2]
Other namesThe Coal Miner's Daughter [1]
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 4+1⁄2 in (164 cm) [1]
Reach64 in (163 cm) [1]
Stance Orthodox [1]
Boxing record
Total fights59
Wins49
Wins by KO32
Losses7
Draws3

Christine Renea Salters, known as Christy Martin (born June 12, 1968) is an American former professional boxer, boxing analyst and professional motivational public speaker. 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.

Contents

Early life

Martin 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

Martin 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, and a fourth fight with Buchanan. In 1993 Martin signed a promotional agreement with International Hall of Fame Promoter Don King that would put her in the international spotlight. Her first fights in that new agreement would be against Melinda Robinson and Sue Chase on the undercard of the Julio Cesar Chavez vs Frankie Randall fight in the first ever fight card at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, NV on January 29, 1994. 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, on Showtimepay per view broadcast of the Mike Tyson vs Frank Bruno WBC Heavyweight Championship. 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 on a punch in the fourth round and could not continue. [11] [12]

Martin was among the first inductees in the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014. [13]

In 2016, she became the first female boxer inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. [14] That same year, Sports Illustrated reported that she was working two 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. [15] [16] [17] 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. [18] [19]

Professional boxing record

59 fights49 wins7 losses
By knockout322
By decision175
Draws3
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
59Loss49–7–3 Mia St. John UD10August 14, 2012 Friant, California, U.S.
58Loss49–6–3Dakota StoneTKO6 (6) Jun 4, 2011 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
57Win49–5–3Dakota StoneMD10September 9, 2009 Syracuse, New York, U.S.Won vacant WBC female super welterweight title
56Win48–5–3Cimberly HarrisSD6August 1, 2009 Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.
55Draw47–5–3 Valerie Mahfood MD8July 18, 2008 Houston, Texas, U.S.For vacant WBC–NABF female middleweight title
54Win47–5–2 Amy Yuratovac UD2 (6)June 2, 2007 Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S.
53Loss46–5–2Angelica MartinezSD10October 6, 2006 Worley, Idaho, U.S.
52Loss46–4–2 Holly Holm UD10September 16, 2005 Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
51Win46–3–2Lana AlexanderKO2 (6)April 30, 2005 Lula, Mississippi, U.S.
50Loss45–3–2 Laila Ali KO4 (10)August 23, 2003 Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.For IBA female super middleweight title
49Win45–2–2 Mia St. John UD10December 6, 2002 Pontiac, Michigan, U.S.
48Win44–2–2Lisa HolewyneUD10 Nov 17, 2001 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
47Win43–2–2Kathy CollinsMD10 May 12, 2001 New York City, New York, U.S.
46Win42–2–2Jeanne MartinezUD10 Mar 3, 2001 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
45Win41–2–2Sabrina HallKO1 (8) Dec 2, 2000 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
44Win40–2–2Dianna LewisUD10 Aug 12, 2000 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
43Win39–2–2 Belinda Laracuente MD8 Mar 3, 2000 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
42Win38–2–2Daniella SomersTKO5 (10)October 2, 1999Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
41Win37–2–2Jovette JacksonTKO1April 24, 1999 Washington, D.C., U.S.
40Loss36–2–2 Sumya Anani MD10December 18, 1998 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
39Win36–1–2Christine RobinsonTKO5 (6) Sep 19, 1998 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
38Win35–1–2Cheryl NanceTKO9 (10)August 29, 1998Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
37Win34–1–2 Marcela Acuña UD10December 5, 1997 Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S.
36Win33–1–2 Isra Girgrah UD8August 23, 1997 New York City, New York, U.S.
35Win32–1–2 Andrea DeShong TKO7 (8) Jun 28, 1997 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
34Win31–1–2Bethany PayneTKO1 (6) Nov 9, 1996 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
33Win30–1–2Melinda RobinsonKO4 Sep 7, 1996 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
32Win29–1–2 Deirdre Gogarty UD6 Mar 16, 1996 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
31Win28–1–2Del PettisTKO1February 24, 1996 Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
30Win27–1–2Sue ChaseTKO3 (6)February 10, 1996Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
29Win26–1–2Melinda RobinsonUD6January 13, 1996 Miami, Florida, U.S.
28Win25–1–2Erica SchmidlinTKO1December 16, 1995 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
27Win24–1–2Angela BuchananTKO2 (6)August 12, 1995Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
26Win23–1–2Beverly SzymanskiKO4 (6)April 1, 1995Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
25Win22–1–2Chris KreuzTKO4 (6)September 12, 1994Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
24Draw21–1–2 Laura Serrano UD6 May 7, 1994 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
23Win21–1–1Sonja DonlevyTKO1March 4, 1994Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
22Win20–1–1Susie MeltonTKO1 (6) Jan 29, 1994 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
21Win19–1–1Beverly SzymanskiKO3October 15, 1993 Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.
20Win18–1–1Rebecca KirklandTKO1 (6)August 27, 1993Punta Gorda, Florida, U.S.
19Win17–1–1Deborah CruickshankKO1 (4)May 28, 1993 Punta Gorda, Florida, U.S.
18Win16–1–1Susie HughesTKO1January 29, 1993 Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
17Win15–1–1Angela BuchananTKO1November 14, 1992 Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.
16Win14–1–1Tracy GordonTKO1September 5, 1992 Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
15Win13–1–1Stacey PrestageUD8May 30, 1992Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
14Win12–1–1Jackie ThomasTKO3 (8)January 25, 1992Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
13Win11–1–1Rose NobleTKO1January 11, 1992 Grundy, Virginia, U.S.
12Win10–1–1Shannon DavenportTKO2September 10, 1991 Princeton, West Virginia, U.S.
11Win9–1–1Rhonda HefflinKO1May 25, 1991Tennessee, U.S.
10Win8–1–1Pat WattsTKO1March 16, 1991 Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.
9Win7–1–1 Suzanne Riccio PTS5February 25, 1991Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
8Win6–1–1Jamie WhitcombTKO2 (5)January 12, 1991Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
7Win5–1–1Lisa HolppTKO1October 27, 1990Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
6Win4–1–1Jamie WhitcombPTS6September 22, 1990 Johnson City, Tennessee, U.S.
5Win3–1–1 Andrea DeShong PTS5April 21, 1990Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
4Loss2–1–1 Andrea DeShong MD5November 4, 1989Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
3Win2–0–1Tammy JonesTKO1October 21, 1989Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
2Win1–0–1Angela BuchananKO2September 30, 1989 Durham, North Carolina, U.S.
1Draw0–0–1Angela BuchananPTS5September 9, 1989 Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.

Attempted murder

On 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. [20] She survived the attack. On November 30, 2010, James Martin was arrested and taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center after he stabbed himself. [21] He was booked in Orange County Jail and charged with attempted first degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. [22]

In April 2012, James Martin was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder. [23] He was sentenced two months later to 25 years in prison. Jim Martin died on November 26, 2024 while serving his sentence at Graceville Correctional Facility in Graceville, Florida. [24] [25]

Personal life

Martin married former ring rival Lisa Holewyne on November 25, 2017. [26] 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

In 2021, Netflix released Untold: Deal with the Devil , a documentary chronicling Martin’s career and personal life. [27] In 2024, it was announced that a biopic of her life, starring Sydney Sweeney, was in production. [28]

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Christy Martin vs. Deirdre Gogarty was a women's boxing match that took place on March 16, 1996, between American Christy Martin and Irishwoman Deirdre Gogarty. The contest was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada, on the Las Vegas Strip, as part of the undercard of a pay-per-view championship match between Mike Tyson and Frank Bruno with 1.1 million buys. Surprising viewers with the participants' ferocity, strength, and technical skill, Martin vs. Gogarty is often called the fight that "put women's boxing on the map", or "the bout that made women's boxing". The fight was won by Martin, who was bleeding profusely, in a six-round unanimous decision, and led to her being the first female boxer featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Christy Martin". BoxRec . Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Outstanding Women Athletes: Who they are and how they influenced sports, Janet Woolum
  3. 1 2 "Christy Martin". International Boxing Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Women's Boxing: Christy Martin Biography". Archived from the original on July 8, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2009.
  5. ↑ "BOXER WEARS LIPSTICK, AND SHE IS A WINNER". OrlandoSentinel.com. January 29, 1994. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  6. ↑ Tumin, Remy (August 17, 2022). "Famous, But Not Free". New York Times . Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Christy Martin, Boxing Sports Illustrated Cover by Sports Illustrated". Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  8. ↑ Feldman, Jacob (July 2016). "Where Are They Now: Former boxer Christy Martin". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  9. ↑ Smith, Malissa (June 5, 2014). 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.
  10. ↑ "Sports News & latest headlines from AOL". AOL.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Martin Breaks Hand, Stone Wins By TKO". womenboxing.com. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Dakota Stone Stops Christy Martin in Six Rounds". Boxing Scene. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  13. ↑ "First International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame 2014 Inaugural Induction Ceremony". iwbhf.com. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame class of 2016 announced". ESPN. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame to induct 11, including 1st woman". thenewstribune. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016.
  16. ↑ "First female voted into Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame". Boxingjunkie.[ permanent dead link ]
  17. ↑ Diaz, George (August 4, 2016). "Christy Martin finally stands alone as boxing Hall of Famer". orlandosentinel.com.
  18. ↑ Schilken, Chuck (December 4, 2019). "Christy Martin and Bernard Hopkins headline Boxing Hall of Fame class". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  19. ↑ Tumin, Remy (August 18, 2022). "Famous, but Not Free". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Female boxer Christy Martin hospitalized after attack". reuters.com. November 25, 2010. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  21. ↑ Prieto, Bianca (November 30, 2010). "Deputies track down, arrest Christy Martin's husband". Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved December 1, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Current Inmate Database - James V. Martin". Orange County Inmate Records. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
  23. ↑ "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.
  24. ↑ "Inmate Population Information Detail".
  25. ↑ "James Martin gets 25 years for trying to kill boxer Christy Martin". Orlando Sentinel. June 26, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  26. ↑ Morrison, Jane Ann (May 28, 2011). "Boxer tells of her attack to draw attention to domestic violence". Las Vegas Review-Journal . Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  27. ↑ Untold: Deal with the Devil (2021) - IMDb , retrieved May 17, 2022
  28. ↑ 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.
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