Christy Martin (boxer)

Christy Renea Martin (born June 12, 1968) is a former American world champion boxer and currently the CEO of Christy Martin Promotions.

Early life
Martin was born in Mullens, West Virginia with the name Christy Salters.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Martin holds a record of 49 wins, 7 losses and 3 draws with 31 wins by knockout. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Professional boxing record

|-
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="9"|49 Wins (31 knockouts, 18 decisions), 7 Losses (2 knockouts, 5 decisions), 3 Draws
|- style="text-align:center; background:#e3e3e3;"
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; background:#e3e3e3;"|Res.
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; background:#e3e3e3;"|Record
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; background:#e3e3e3;"|Opponent
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; background:#e3e3e3;"|Type
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; background:#e3e3e3;"|Rd., Time
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; background:#e3e3e3;"|Date
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; background:#e3e3e3;"|Location
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; background:#e3e3e3;"|Notes
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Loss || 49–7–3 || Mia St. John || Unanimous decision || 10 || August 14, 2012 || Friant, CA, U.S. || 
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Loss || 49–6–3 || Dakota Stone || TKO Loss (6) || 6 || June 4, 2011 || Los Angeles, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 49–5–3 || Dakota Stone || Majority decision || 10 || September 9, 2009 || Syracuse, New York, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 48–5–3 || Cimberly Harris || Split decision || 6 || August 1, 2009 || Huntington, West Virginia, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| style="background:#dae2f1"|Draw || 47–5–3 || Valerie Mahfood || Draw || 8 || July 18, 2008 || Houston, Texas, U.S. || 
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 47–5–2 || Amy Yuratovac || Unanimous decision || 2  || June 2, 2007 || Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Loss || 46–5–2 || Angelica Martinez || Split decision || 10 || October 6, 2006 || Worley, Idaho, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Loss || 46–4–2 || Holly Holm || Unanimous decision || 10 || September 16, 2005 || Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 46–3–2 || Lana Alexander || KO || 2  || April 30, 2005 || Lula, Mississippi, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Loss || 45–3–2 || Laila Ali || KO || 4 , 0:28 || August 23, 2003 || Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. || 
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 45–2–2 || Mia St. John || Unanimous decision || 10 || December 6, 2002 || Pontiac, Michigan, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 44–2–2 || Lisa Holewyne || Unanimous decision || 10 || November 17, 2001 || Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 43–2–2 || Kathy Collins || Majority decision || 10 || May 12, 2001 || New York City, New York, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 42–2–2 || Jeanne Martinez || Unanimous decision || 10 || March 3, 2001 || Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 41–2–2 || Sabrina Hall || KO || 1  || December 2, 2000 || Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 40–2–2 || Dianna Lewis || Unanimous decision || 10 || August 12, 2000 || Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 39–2–2 || Belinda Laracuente || Majority decision || 8 || March 3, 2000 || Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 38–2–2 || Daniella Somers || TKO || 5 , 1:37 || October 2, 1999 || Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 37–2–2 || Jovette Jackson || TKO || 1 || April 24, 1999 || Washington, D.C., U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Loss || 36–2–2 || Sumya Anani || Majority decision || 10 || December 18, 1998 || Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 36–1–2 || Christine Robinson || TKO || 5  || September 19, 1998 || Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 35–1–2 || Cheryl Nance || TKO || 9 , 0:41 || August 29, 1998 || Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 34–1–2 || Marcela Acuña || Unanimous decision || 10 || December 5, 1997 || Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 33–1–2 || Isra Girgrah || Unanimous decision || 8 || August 23, 1997 || New York City, New York, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 32–1–2 || Andrea DeShong || TKO || 7 , 1:43 || June 28, 1997 || Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 31–1–2 || Bethany Payne || TKO || 1 , 2:59 || November 9, 1996 || Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 30–1–2 || Melinda Robinson || KO || 4 || September 7, 1996 || Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 29–1–2 || Deirdre Gogarty || Unanimous decision || 6 || March 16, 1996 || Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. || Martin recognition by the World Boxing Council as its nominal women's lightweight champion of the world
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 28–1–2 || Del Pettis || TKO || 1 || February 24, 1996 || Richmond, Virginia, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 27–1–2 || Sue Chase || TKO || 3 , 0:27 || February 10, 1996 || Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 26–1–2 || Melinda Robinson || Unanimous decision || 6 || January 13, 1996 || Miami, Florida, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 25–1–2 || Erica Schmidlin || TKO || 1 || December 16, 1995 || Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 24–1–2 || Angela Buchanan || TKO || 2 || August 12, 1995 || Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 23–1–2 || Beverly Szymanski || KO || 4 || April 1, 1995 || Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 22–1–2 || Chris Kreuz || TKO || 4 || September 12, 1994 || Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| style="background:#dae2f1"|Draw || 21–1–2 || Laura Serrano || Draw || 6 || May 7, 1994 || Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 21–1–1 || Sonja Donlevy || TKO || 1 || March 4, 1994 || Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 20–1–1 || Susie Melton || TKO || 1 , 0:40 || January 29, 1994 || Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 19–1–1 || Beverly Szymanski || KO || 3 || October 15, 1993 || Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 18–1–1 || Rebecca Kirkland || TKO || 1 || August 27, 1993 || Punta Gorda, Florida, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 17–1–1 || Deborah Cruickshank || KO || 1 || May 28, 1993 || Punta Gorda, Florida, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 16–1–1 || Susie Hughes || TKO || 1 || January 29, 1993 || Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 15–1–1 || Angela Buchanan || TKO || 1 || November 14, 1992 || Greenville, South Carolina, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 14–1–1 || Tracy Gordon || TKO || 1 || September 5, 1992 || Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 13–1–1 || Stacey Prestage || Decision || 8 || May 30, 1992 || Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 12–1–1 || Jackie Thomas || TKO || 3 || January 25, 1992 || Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 11–1–1 || Rose Noble || TKO || 1 || January 11, 1992 || Grundy, Virginia, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 10–1–1 || Shannon Davenport || TKO || 2 || September 10, 1991 || Princeton, West Virginia, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 9–1–1 || Rhonda Hefflin || KO || 1 || May 25, 1991 || Tennessee, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 8–1–1 || Pat Watts || TKO || 1 || March 16, 1991 || Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 7–1–1 || Suzanne Riccio || Decision || 5 || February 25, 1991 || Bristol, Tennessee, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 6–1–1 || Jamie Whitcomb || Unanimous decision || 5 || January 12, 1991 || Bristol, Tennessee, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 5–1–1 || Lisa Holpp || TKO || 1 || October 27, 1990 || Bristol, Tennessee, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 4–1–1 || Jamie Whitcomb || Decision || 6 || September 22, 1990 || Johnson City, Tennessee, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 3–1–1 || Andrea DeShong || Decision || 5 || April 21, 1990 || Bristol, Tennessee, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Loss || 2–1–1 || Andrea DeShong || Decision || 5 || November 4, 1989 || Bristol, Tennessee, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 2–0–1 || Tammy Jones || TKO || 1 || October 21, 1989 || Bristol, Tennessee, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Win || 1–0–1 || Angela Buchanan || KO || 2 || September 30, 1989 || Durham, North Carolina, U.S. ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| style="background:#dae2f1"|Draw || 0–0–1 || Angela Buchanan || Draw || 5 || September 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. She survived the attack. On November 30, James Martin was arrested and taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center after he stabbed himself.He was booked in Orange County Jail and charged with attempted first degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

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

Personal life
Christy was married to former ring rival Lisa Holewyne on November 25th, 2017. Salters Martin currently is the CEO of Christy Martin Promotions a boxing promotion company that has promoted 13 events in North Carolina since 2016 and will be promoting boxing events in Jacksonville, Florida.

References

External links
Official website
Christy Martin Female Boxer Biography

Category:1968 births
Category:Living people
Category:American shooting survivors
Category:American women boxers
Category:Concord University alumni
Category:Lesbian sportswomen
Category:LGBT sportspeople from the United States
Category:LGBT people from West Virginia
Category:People from Apopka, Florida
Category:People from Mullens, West Virginia
Category:Sportspeople from Florida
Category:Boxers from West Virginia
Category:LGBT boxers