Christy Martin (boxer)

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Christy Martin (born June 12, 1968) is a female boxer. Martin, who is married to her manager and trainer Jim Martin and promoted by Don King, is nicknamed The Coal Miner's Daughter. Martin grew up in Mullens, West Virginia where Martin's father, John, was a coal miner, and her mother, Joyce, is a homemaker.

Following high school, Christy received a basketball scholarship to Concord University in Athens, WV, where she earned a BS in Education. While at Concord she entered and won a "Tough Woman" contest.

Martin was born in Bluefield, West Virginia in 1968. Martin started her professional boxing career at the age of 21 when she drew in six rounds with Andrea Buchanan in 1989. A rematch one month later had Martin the winner by a two round knockout. One more win followed and then she faced Andrea DeShong, who beat her by a decision in five rounds. Nineteen wins in a row followed, including two wins over Jamie Whitcomb, a win against top rated Suzanne Riccio-Major and a first round knockout in a rubber match with Buchanan. Then, on October 15, 1993, her first world title shot came, against Beverly Szymansky, for the WBC's version of the women's Jr. Welterweight world championship. Martin became a world champion by knocking out Szymansky in three rounds. In her first defense, she defended her title against debutant Laura Serrano, who held her to a six round draw 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.

Martin kept her winning ways for eight more bouts, beating the likes of Robinson and DeShong once again, Marcela Acuña and Isra Girgrah before her luck ran out and she lost her title on a 10 round decision to Sumya Anani in 1998. After that, she reeled off nine more wins in a row, beating such boxers as Belinda Laracuente, Sabrina Hall and Kathy Collins.She has also defeated Lisa Holeywine by a decision in ten, and, in her last bout, on December 7, 2002, she beat Mia St. John, also by a decision in ten.

On June 30, 2003, it was announced she would fight Laila Ali on August 23 of that year. She lost to Ali by knockout in round four.

On April 30, 2005, after a year and a half without a fight, she returned, in Lula, Mississippi, knocking out Lana Alexander in the second round.

A fight with Lucia Rijker titled "Million Dollar Lady" was scheduled for July 30, 2005, but Rijker ruptured her Achilles on July 20, 2005 and the bout was canceled.

On September 16, 2005, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she lost a 10-round unanimous decision to Holly Holm. Martin was easily beaten by the 23-year-old southpaw, with all three judges scoring for local girl Holm by 100-90 (twice) and 98-92.

She currently holds a record of 46 wins, 4 losses and 2 draws with 32 wins by knockout. She is a frequent visitor of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame annual induction ceremonies, and an avid autograph signer. She has fought on the undercards of such boxers as Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Félix Trinidad and Julio César Chávez, to name a few.