The Famous Boxer Whose Biggest Fight Was Outside of the Ring
Christy Martin was a star boxer trained by her husband, a man who tried his hardest to kill her.
Christy Martin grew up in West Virginia coal-mining country as an accomplished athlete, earning a basketball scholarship to Concord College. During that time, she entered a boxing contest and won the $1,000 prize.
She graduated with a bachelor's in education but decided to put teaching on hold and give herself six months to try boxing. Her first fight ended in a draw then she won by knockout in her second.
Christy wanted a trainer and was introduced to Jim Martin. He wasn’t interested in training a female fighter so he instructed her sparring partner to break her ribs during one session.
It didn’t happen but his dislike of female boxers changed when he saw Christy. He recognized her skill and agreed to train her.
Jim thought she was marketable and had the potential to make a lot of money. He then convinced her to marry him.
Although he was 24 years older they married in 1991. The union was filled with turmoil from the beginning.
Christy dated both men and women up to that point. In high school, she had a girlfriend but kept it…
