Christy Martin on seeing her life story come alive on the big screen.
The remarkable true story of boxing legend Christy Martin comes to life in “Christy.” It is a new drama from director David Michôd (The King), opening in theaters on November 7, 2025. The film stars Sydney Sweeney as the groundbreaking fighter from West Virginia who helped redefine women’s boxing, alongside Ben Foster, Merritt Wever, and Katy O’Brian. Co-written by Michôd and Mirrah Foulkes from a story by Katherine Fugate, the film chronicles Martin’s rise to fame and the painful personal battles that shaped her.
During my conversation with the real Christy Martin, it was clear how deeply personal this project is for her. “It’s not just that it’s my life,” she told me. “It’s the story behind my life that’s so important. Sydney, Ben, and the whole cast went into it wholeheartedly, and I think they put it in the film in a perfect way.”
The Highs and Lows of Seeing Her Story on Screen
For Martin, watching her life unfold on the big screen was both rewarding and emotionally draining. “The best part is the fun stuff — reliving the moments, talking smack at the fights,” she said with a laugh. “Of course, the worst part is the worst part. It’s not just what you see on screen — it’s the events that took place around it. That’s what was hard to remember.”
The movie doesn’t pull punches when it comes to showing her abusive relationship with her trainer and husband, Jim Martin — played with raw intensity by Ben Foster. Martin said those scenes were the hardest to relive, but also the most necessary. The honesty, she believes, is what makes the film resonate with anyone who’s ever had to fight back from something dark.
The Persona Behind the Gloves
Sweeney channels Martin’s signature swagger and fire in the ring — traits the real boxer admits were more armor than ego. “That swagger and bravado was all hiding insecurities,” Martin revealed. “I wanted to be a confident person. I had to be that Christy Martin persona — the fighter. It was a little bit like acting, but with that acting, I got to knock people out, and it made me happy.”
It’s easy to see why Sweeney, who also serves as a producer on the film alongside Michôd, Kerry Kohansky-Roberts, Teddy Schwarzman, and others, was drawn to the role. The transformation required grit, empathy, and an understanding of what drives someone to fight beyond the ring.
Strength Without a Walker
One of the film’s most striking scenes shows Sweeney as Christy leaving the hospital, slinging a walker over her shoulder — a bold visual of defiance drawn directly from Martin’s real life. “They gave me a walker, and there was no way in hell I was going to use it,” she said. “To me, using that walker was like Jim Martin had won. From that point on, I wasn’t letting anyone beat me again.”
It’s moments like that, full of emotion and quiet strength, that define Christy. The film captures not only the violence and spectacle of boxing but also the courage it takes to rebuild after trauma.
Breaking Barriers for Women in Boxing
Martin’s story also sheds light on how much the sport has evolved since her early days. “Back in the late ’80s and early ’90s, I was in gyms where I was told to leave,” she recalled. “I was told women weren’t allowed, not even photographers or press women. We broke down a lot of walls so that these women today can walk much easier and get to their payday faster.”
Today, her legacy stands as proof that the fight for equality — in sports and beyond — can start with one person refusing to back down.
A Fighter to the Core
As our conversation wrapped up, I told Martin that my wife wanted her to know she’s an “effing badass.” She laughed and said, “Tell your wife I’m sure she is too, and thank her.” Just like the film itself, that moment captured the essence of who Christy Martin is — fierce, funny, and fearless.
When Christy lands in theaters on November 7, audiences will see more than a boxing movie. They’ll witness a story of survival, self-worth, and strength, and a performance from Sydney Sweeney that might just be her biggest knockout yet.
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