Christy Martin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christy Martin |
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|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Christy Renea Salters |
| Nickname(s) | The Coal Miner's Daughter |
| Rated at |
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| Height | 5 ft 4+1/2 in |
| Reach | 64 in |
| Born | June 12, 1968 Mullens, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 59 |
| Wins | 49 |
| Wins by KO | 32 |
| Losses | 7 |
| Draws | 3 |
Christy Martin (born June 12, 1968) is a famous American former professional boxer. She is also a boxing expert and a public speaker who inspires others. Christy boxed from 1989 to 2012 and even held the WBC female super welterweight title in 2009.
Christy Martin made history as the first female boxer to be chosen for the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in 2016. She was also elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2020. This was a very special year because it was the first time women were even considered for this honor!
Contents
Early Life and Beginning in Sports
Christy Renea Salters was born on June 12, 1968, in Mullens, West Virginia. She went to Mullens High School.
Growing up, Christy loved playing sports. She played Little League baseball and was an all-state basketball player. She even went to Concord College on a basketball scholarship and earned a degree in education.
Her Amazing Boxing Career
Many people say Christy Martin is "the most successful and important female boxer in the United States." She helped make women's boxing a respected sport. She started her fighting journey in "Toughwoman" contests, winning three titles in a row. After that, she began training with boxing coach Jim Martin.
Christy started her professional boxing career when she was 21 years old in 1989. Her first fight was a six-round draw (a tie) against Angela Buchanan. She won a rematch against Buchanan just one month later with a knockout.
Christy then had an amazing streak of nineteen wins in a row! This included victories against tough opponents like Jamie Whitcomb and Suzanne Riccio-Major. On October 15, 1993, Christy knocked out Beverly Szymansky in three rounds.
Becoming a Star
In 1993, Christy signed a deal with famous boxing promoter Don King. This helped her become known around the world. She fought on big boxing events, including the first-ever fight card at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas in 1994.
A very important fight for women's boxing happened on March 16, 1996. Christy fought Deirdre Gogarty on a pay-per-view TV show. Many people believe this fight helped women's boxing become popular with sports fans. Christy won the fight and became even more famous. Soon after, she made history again by being the first female boxer to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine! The headline on the cover said, "The Lady Is a Champ."
Christy even made a special appearance on the TV show Roseanne in 1996.
More Big Fights and Challenges
After her famous fight with Gogarty, Christy won her next eight fights. She beat boxers like Marcela Acuña and Isra Girgrah. In 1998, she lost her title to Sumya Anani. But Christy didn't give up! She went on to win her next nine fights, including victories against Belinda Laracuente and Kathy Collins. She also won two more fights against Lisa Holeywine and Mia St. John.
In 2003, Christy fought against another famous boxer, Laila Ali, and lost by knockout in the fourth round. In 2005, she had another big fight against Holly Holm in New Mexico, but she lost that one too.
Christy Martin finished her boxing career with an impressive record of 49 wins, 7 losses, and 3 draws. She won 31 of her fights by knockout! She often visits the International Boxing Hall Of Fame and is happy to sign autographs for fans. She has fought on the same events as boxing legends like Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Félix Trinidad, and Julio César Chávez.
Christy was the first woman to sign a promotional deal with Don King, which happened in 1993. She was nicknamed The Coal Miner's Daughter because her father worked as a coal miner.
In 2011, Christy fought Dakota Stone. During the fight, Christy broke her right hand, and the fight had to stop.
Hall of Fame Inductions
Christy Martin has been recognized for her amazing career many times:
- In 2014, she was one of the first people to be inducted into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame.
- In 2016, she became the first female boxer to be inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.
- In 2020, she was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. She was chosen in 2019, which was the first year women were even on the ballot for this honor.
After her boxing career, Christy has worked as a substitute teacher and helped military veterans find jobs. She also deals with some of the lasting effects from her boxing career, like sometimes having double vision.
Professional Boxing Record Summary
| 59 fights | 49 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 32 | 2 |
| By decision | 17 | 5 |
| Draws | 3 | |
Life After Boxing
Christy Martin is now the CEO of Christy Martin Promotions. This is a company that organizes boxing events. She has promoted many events in North Carolina since 2016 and plans to promote more in other Southern United States cities.
Legacy
In 2021, Netflix released a documentary called Untold: Deal with the Devil. This film tells the story of Christy Martin's boxing career and her personal life. In 2024, it was announced that a movie about her life is being made, and actress Sydney Sweeney will play Christy Martin.
Images for kids
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Christy Martin Speaks to Hope House 2024.jpg
Martin at an amateur boxing event in 2023
