Christy Martin (boxer)

Christy Martin
Statistics
Real name Christy Renea Salters[1]
Nickname(s) The Coal Miner's Daughter[1]
Weight(s) Light middleweight[1]
Height 5 ft 4 1⁄2 in (164 cm)[1]
Reach 64 in (163 cm)[1]
Nationality American
Born (1968-06-12) June 12, 1968[1]
Mullens, West Virginia[2]
Stance Orthodox[1]
Boxing record
Total fights 59
Wins 49
Wins by KO 31
Losses 7
Draws 3
No contests 0

Christy Renea Martin (born June 12, 1968) is a former American world champion boxer.

Early life

Martin was born in Mullens, West Virginia with the name Christy Salters.[2][3]

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][3]

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 a rubber match win against Buchanan. On October 15, 1993, Martin had her first title fight against Beverly Szymansky, for the WBC women's Jr. Welterweight world championship. Martin won by knocking out Szymansky in three rounds. In her first title defense, she fought to a draw against debutante Laura Serrano in Las Vegas.[3]

Martin defended her title six more times, including a rematch with Szymansky, a fourth fight with Buchanan and defenses versus 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.[3]

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.[3]

In 2003 Martin fought Laila Ali and lost by a knockout in the fourth round.[3]

Martin's next fight in 2005 was a second-round knockout against Lana Alexander in Lulu, Mississippi.[3]

In 2005 a fight with Lucia Rijker, entitled "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.[3]

Martin holds a record of 49 wins, 7 losses and 3 draws with 31 wins by knockout.[3] 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.[3] She was nicknamed The Coal Miner's Daughter in reference to her father's occupation.

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.[4] The fight was postponed due to a rib injury to Christy Martin. The rescheduled rematch took place June 4, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles on the Julio Ceasr Chavez Jr. vs Sebastian Zbik undercard. Dakota Stone prevailed by TKO with :51 left as Martin broke her right hand in 9 places on a punch in the 4th round and could not continue.

In 2016, she became the first female boxer inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.[5][6][7]

Professional boxing record

49 Wins (31 knockouts, 18 decisions), 7 Losses (2 knockouts, 5 decisions), 3 Draws[1]
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
Loss49–7–3Mia St. JohnUnanimous decision10August 14, 2012Friant, CA, U.S.Retired after this match.
Loss49–6–3Dakota StoneTKO Loss (6)6June 4, 2011Los Angeles, U.S.Broke her right hand, could not continue in 6th Round.
Win49–5–3Dakota StoneMajority decision10September 9, 2009Syracuse, New York, U.S.Won the vacant WBCWomen's Super Welterweight title.
Win48–5–3Cimberly HarrisSplit decision6August 1, 2009Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.
Draw47–5–3Valerie MahfoodDraw8July 18, 2008Houston, Texas, U.S.Bout was for the vacant NABF Women's Middleweight title.
Win47–5–2Amy YuratovacUnanimous decision2 (6)June 2, 2007Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S.
Loss46–5–2Angelica MartinezSplit decision10October 6, 2006Worley, Idaho, U.S.
Loss46–4–2Holly HolmUnanimous decision10September 16, 2005Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Win46–3–2Lana AlexanderKO2 (6)April 30, 2005Lula, Mississippi, U.S.
Loss45–3–2Laila AliKO4 (10), 0:28August 23, 2003Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.Bout was for Ali's IBA Women's Super Middleweight title.
Win45–2–2Mia St. JohnUnanimous decision10December 6, 2002Pontiac, Michigan, U.S.
Win44–2–2Lisa HolewyneUnanimous decision10November 17, 2001Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win43–2–2Kathy CollinsMajority decision10May 12, 2001New York City, New York, U.S.
Win42–2–2Jeanne MartinezUnanimous decision10March 3, 2001Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win41–2–2Sabrina HallKO1 (8)December 2, 2000Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win40–2–2Dianna LewisUnanimous decision10August 12, 2000Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win39–2–2Belinda LaracuenteMajority decision8March 3, 2000Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win38–2–2Daniella SomersTKO5 (10), 1:37October 2, 1999Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win37–2–2Jovette JacksonTKO1April 24, 1999Washington, D.C., U.S.
Loss36–2–2Sumya AnaniMajority decision10December 18, 1998Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Win36–1–2Christine RobinsonTKO5 (6)September 19, 1998Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Win35–1–2Cheryl NanceTKO9 (10), 0:41August 29, 1998Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win34–1–2Marcela AcuñaUnanimous decision10December 5, 1997Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S.
Win33–1–2Isra GirgrahUnanimous decision8August 23, 1997New York City, New York, U.S.
Win32–1–2Andrea DeShongTKO7 (8), 1:43June 28, 1997Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win31–1–2Bethany PayneTKO1 (6), 2:59November 9, 1996Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win30–1–2Melinda RobinsonKO4September 7, 1996Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win29–1–2Deirdre GogartyUnanimous decision6March 16, 1996Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Martin recognition by the World Boxing Council as its nominal women's lightweight champion of the world
Win28–1–2Del PettisTKO1February 24, 1996Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Win27–1–2Sue ChaseTKO3 (6), 0:27February 10, 1996Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win26–1–2Melinda RobinsonUnanimous decision6January 13, 1996Miami, Florida, U.S.
Win25–1–2Erica SchmidlinTKO1December 16, 1995Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Win24–1–2Angela BuchananTKO2August 12, 1995Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win23–1–2Beverly SzymanskiKO4April 1, 1995Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win22–1–2Chris KreuzTKO4September 12, 1994Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Draw21–1–2Laura SerranoDraw6May 7, 1994Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win21–1–1Sonja DonlevyTKO1March 4, 1994Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win20–1–1Susie MeltonTKO1 (6), 0:40January 29, 1994Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win19–1–1Beverly SzymanskiKO3October 15, 1993Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.
Win18–1–1Rebecca KirklandTKO1August 27, 1993Punta Gorda, Florida, U.S.
Win17–1–1Deborah CruickshankKO1May 28, 1993Punta Gorda, Florida, U.S.
Win16–1–1Susie HughesTKO1January 29, 1993Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Win15–1–1Angela BuchananTKO1November 14, 1992Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.
Win14–1–1Tracy GordonTKO1September 5, 1992Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
Win13–1–1Stacey PrestageDecision8May 30, 1992Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
Win12–1–1Jackie ThomasTKO3January 25, 1992Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
Win11–1–1Rose NobleTKO1January 11, 1992Grundy, Virginia, U.S.
Win10–1–1Shannon DavenportTKO2September 10, 1991Princeton, West Virginia, U.S.
Win9–1–1Rhonda HefflinKO1May 25, 1991Tennessee, U.S.
Win8–1–1Pat WattsTKO1March 16, 1991Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.
Win7–1–1Suzanne RiccioDecision5February 25, 1991Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
Win6–1–1Jamie WhitcombUnanimous decision5January 12, 1991Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
Win5–1–1Lisa HolppTKO1October 27, 1990Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
Win4–1–1Jamie WhitcombDecision6September 22, 1990Johnson City, Tennessee, U.S.
Win3–1–1Andrea DeShongDecision5April 21, 1990Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
Loss2–1–1Andrea DeShongDecision5November 4, 1989Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
Win2–0–1Tammy JonesTKO1October 21, 1989Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
Win1–0–1Angela BuchananKO2September 30, 1989Durham, North Carolina, U.S.
Draw0–0–1Angela BuchananDraw5September 9, 1989Bristol, 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.[8] She survived the attack. On November 30, James Martin was arrested and taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center after he stabbed himself.[9]He was booked in Orange County Jail and charged with attempted first degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.[10]

In April, 2012, James Martin was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder.[11] He was sentenced two months later to 25 years in prison.[12]

Personal life

Christy was happily married to Lisa Holewyne on November 25th, 2017..[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "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 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Women's Boxing: Christy Martin Biography".
  4. ↑ "Sports News & latest headlines from AOL". AOL.com.
  5. ↑ "Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame to induct 11, including 1st woman". thenewstribune. Archived from the original on 2016-03-09.
  6. ↑ "First female voted into Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame". Boxingjunkie.
  7. ↑ Christy Martin finally stands alone as boxing Hall of Famer - Orlando Sentinel
  8. ↑ "Female boxer Christy Martin hospitalized after attack". reuters.com. 2010-11-25. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
  9. ↑ Prieto, Bianca (November 30, 2010). "Deputies track down, arrest Christy Martin's husband". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Current Inmate Database - James V. Martin". Orange County Inmate Records. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Boxer Christy Martin's ex guilty of attempted murder". Orlando Sentinel. April 27, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  12. ↑ "James Martin gets 25 years for trying to kill boxer Christy Martin". Orlando Sentinel. June 26, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  13. ↑ 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.


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