Some battles aren’t won in the ring.
For Christy Martin, a true legend in women’s boxing, the fight of her life didn’t involve gloves or a referee — it unfolded inside her own home.
Her tale of survival after a brutal domestic attack now serves as a powerful reminder of resilience, strength, and hope.
A Nightmare That Refuses to Fade
It’s been nearly 15 years since Christy Martin was violently attacked by her then-husband, Jim Martin — a man who had once been her coach and manager.
That terrifying night in November 2010 still lingers in her mind as if it happened yesterday.
“I could hear my lung gurgling,” she recalled in an emotional interview, describing how she lay bleeding on the floor, struggling to survive after being stabbed and shot.
A Real-Life Horror Scene
What unfolded that day sounds like something from a thriller movie.
Just two days after Christy asked Jim for a divorce, he lashed out in a fit of rage.
He stabbed her multiple times — a knife slicing through her torso, breast, and leg — then pulled a pink pistol and shot her in the chest.
Thinking he had finished her off, Jim calmly went to shower and clean himself up.
But Christy wasn’t done fighting.
Clinging to life, she dragged herself out of the house, managed to flag down a passing car, and got rushed to the ER.
The bullet had lodged into her back, barely missing her heart.
More Than a Champion: A Survivor With a Purpose
Christy didn’t just survive — she found purpose in her pain.
Since that day, the boxing icon has become a vocal advocate for victims of domestic abuse.
Her courage to speak out and share her story is helping others break free from silence.
A Marriage Built on Control, Not Love
The roots of Christy’s relationship with Jim Martin were troubling from the start.
They met in 1989 — she was 22 and chasing boxing glory, he was a 47-year-old coach with big talk and shady tactics.
Within two years, they married, not out of love, Christy admits, but for what seemed like a strategic career move.
Jim manipulated her emotionally, convincing her that her family would abandon her if she pursued a relationship with a woman.
“He was a master manipulator,” she said. “I loved boxing — not him.”
Abuse Hidden Behind the Cameras
While Christy was thriving professionally — winning titles, earning millions, and even appearing on national TV — she was trapped in a controlling and toxic home life.
Jim isolated her from friends and family, controlled her finances, and even introduced her to cocaine, using it as a method of control.
For 20 years, he threatened to kill her if she ever left.
At first, Christy brushed it off.
But over time, she realized the threat was very real.
A Glimmer of Hope: Reconnecting With an Old Flame
Eight months before the near-fatal attack, Christy began reconnecting with Sherry Lusk, a woman she had once dated in high school.
Their reconnection started on Facebook, and it quickly became clear to Sherry that Christy was in danger.
When the two met in person, Christy had already told Jim she was leaving.
But she knew the cost.
“I was saying goodbye to people without them realizing it,” she said.
“I knew he was going to kill me.”
Living Through the Unthinkable
Jim almost succeeded — but Christy’s will to survive was stronger.
After stabbing her, shooting her, and believing he had killed her, he casually took a shower.
That moment gave Christy her chance.
She limped outside and collapsed in the street, where a passerby helped save her life.
Justice in the Courtroom
Jim Martin was convicted of attempted second-degree murder in 2012 and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
During the trial, Christy delivered a powerful closing statement directly to him: “I hope you rot in hell.”
Jim denied everything, offering bizarre theories to explain Christy’s injuries.
But the jury didn’t buy it.
Years into his sentence, he died in prison at the age of 80 — a bitter end for the man who tried to silence her forever.
A New Chapter: From Trauma to Triumph
Though justice was served, Christy says part of her still feels unresolved.
She wishes she had one last conversation with Jim — not for closure, but to ask one haunting question: what was he planning to do with her body?
“I wish he had lived longer, just so he could suffer more,” she admitted.
“But now he has to face God.”
From Survivor to Silver Screen Inspiration
Christy’s incredible journey is now being transformed into a feature film.
The upcoming biopic stars Sydney Sweeney, who underwent intense training and a demanding diet to embody the boxing legend.
“She took the role very seriously,” Christy said, praising the actress for her commitment.
Sweeney even joined her at the 2025 International Boxing Hall of Fame Parade, where the two waved to fans together — a powerful visual of the past and present colliding.
Finding Love and Peace After the Storm
Christy’s story doesn’t end with tragedy.
In 2017, she married Lisa Holewyne — a former opponent she once defeated in the ring.
Their bond, forged in competition and now blossoming in love, marks a full-circle moment for the fighter who once swore off relationships.
“Lisa just came into my life at the right time,” Christy laughed.
“And I didn’t give anyone a chance to talk me out of it.”
An Underdog’s Legacy
Christy Martin’s life has been anything but ordinary.
From her rise as a boxing pioneer to her harrowing brush with death, and finally to finding love and healing — her journey is a powerful testament to endurance.
Her message is clear: No one should suffer in silence.
“If I can make it out, so can you,” she says.
“There’s always someone out there who can help — you just have to reach out.”
And now, through a major motion picture, Christy hopes her painful past will inspire others to take back control of their lives — one brave step at a time.