Christy Martin (boxer)
| Christy Martin | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Christy Renea Salters |
| Nickname(s) | The Coal Miner's Daughter |
| Rated at | Light middleweight |
| Height | 5 ft 4 1⁄2 in (164 cm) |
| Reach | 64 in (163 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
June 12, 1968 Mullens, West Virginia |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 57 |
| 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.
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.
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.
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