Christy Martin Movie is Nationwide and More News

 

By David A. Avila

Legendary Christy Martin was sighted all over the Los Angeles landscape last week from attending movie premieres to watching the World Series at Dodger Stadium with actress Sydney Sweeney.

The movie based on her book and life “Christy” will be shown nationwide on Friday Nov. 7.

If you don’t know Martin’s story you can look her up on Google, or read her book by Ron Borges “Fighting for Survival” about her rise in professional boxing and how she opened up the sport for women.

Martin’s fights drew attention to women’s boxing at a time when few people knew about the sport. Her appearance on Don King fight cards along with Mike Tyson fights drew tremendous interest. Soon other women began to follow her footsteps.

Born and raised in West Virginia she caught the interest of promoters with her ferocious fighting style and proved that women could fight. From 1989 to 2012 Martin amassed 59 pro bouts including Andrea Deshong, Deirdre Gogarty, Isra Girgrah, Sunya Anani, Kathy Collins, Mia St. John and Laila Ali among others.

Toward the end of her career she endured a horrific assault by her then husband and trainer who stabbed and shot her. Somehow, she escaped and was able to survive the ordeal.

Hollywood came calling after the success of her book and Sweeney was selected to portray Martin in the movie. “What a lot of people didn’t know she did MMA as a teen-ager,” said Martin on social media. “She has that competitive drive.”

The movie is out on Friday everywhere.

As a writer who covered the latter part of Martin’s career, one thing that stood out was her ferocity and unwavering spirit. During one of her last fights Martin suffered a fracture to her right hand during a fight against Dakota Stone at the Staples Center. Martin refused to stop and kept trying to use that same broken hand to punch. Finally, the fight was stopped but not because of her quitting. She refused to quit.

In Martin’s final bout on Aug. 14, 2012, I drove to Friant, California to watch her rematch against Mia St. John for the vacant WBC super welterweight world title. Once again Martin and St. John traded blows on a televised bout. Martin absorbed the blows with her hands down as if to tell the world that she could take anything. But after 10 rounds the judges gave the decision to St. John and Martin announced her retirement.

Today, Martin is a successful boxing promoter. She was voted into the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame in Las Vegas and also the International Boxing Hall of Fame in New York.

 

Mikaela Mayer

Last week Mikaela Mayer displayed her ever-increasing talent with an impressive win over Canada’s Mary Spencer for the WBA, WBO, WBC super welterweight world titles. Three titles in one swoop.

Right now, the boxing landscape is undergoing changes especially with television networks giving up on the sport. Now streaming services are getting involved but only DAZN is truly invested.

What direction will Mayer take. She is still signed with Top Rank.

Latest news has her headed to a showdown with Lauren Price the welterweight champion. Is that a possibility?

 

More Fight News

Argentina

Sofia Robles (3-0) beat Victoria Moreyra (1-9-2) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Nov. 1. The bantam fight was held in Villa Dominico.

Maria Sol Rodriguez (1-0) defeated Silvana Viturro (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Nov. 1. The super lightweight fight was held in Laprida.

Aldana Lopez (14-0) won  by decision after six rounds over Diana Delbono (2-3-1) on Saturday Nov. 1. The flyweight fight was held at Buenos Aires. Also, feathers Florencia Compiano (1-1-1) and Luz Cordoba (2-3-2) fought to a draw after six.

On Friday Nov. 7, super flies Maria Rodriguez (0-0) and Claudia Loza (1-3) meet four rounds at Parana.

 

Australia

On Friday Nov. 7, super flies Mai Soliman (9-1) and Jasmine Parr (8-1) meet 10 rounds at Essendon Fields. Also, feathers Stephanie Lee (9-0) and Mariah Turner (11-1) meet 10 rounds.

 

Austria

On Saturday Nov. 8, welters Dilara Yucel (16-0) and Bianka Nagy (2-6) meet six rounds at Vienna.

 

Bosnia and Herzegovina

On Saturday Nov. 8, flyweights Nina Radovanovic (19-4) and Sara Orszagi (2-10) meet six rounds at Banja Luka.

 

Canada

Mikaela Mayer (22-2, 5 Kos) defeated Mary Spencer (10-3, 6 Kos) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Thursday Oct. 30. The WBA, WBO, WBC super welterweight world title fight took place in Montreal.

Super flies Damiana Andrello (0-1-1) and Angelyris Lopez (0-0-1) fought to a draw after four rounds on Thursday Oct. 30. The match was held in Liverpool New York.

 

China

Feathers Nian Lu (0-1-2) and Wenyi Zhou (0-0-1) fought to a draw after four rounds on Saturday Nov. 1. The match took place in Shanghai.

 

Colombia

Gabriela Alaniz (18-2) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Laura Wollenmann (11-2) on Wednesday Oct. 29. The regional flyweight title match took place in Bogota. Also, super feather Elise Soto (9-0) knocked out Flor Rodriguez (9-1) in two.

On Saturday Nov. 8, super lights Michele Lopez (2-0) and Eucaris Pirela (2-5) meet four rounds at Cali.

 

Czech Republic

On Sunday Nov. 9, welters Lucie Pudlova (1-0) and Joanna Franszyck (1-1) meet four rounds at Usti nad Labern.

 

Fiji

Aarti Hooda (3-0) won by decision after six rounds versus Laite Nanovu (0-3) on Saturday Nov. 1. The super fly match was held in Suva. Also, heavyweight Sherilyn Stevens (2-0) beat Anaseini Dakua (1-1-2) after four.

 

France

On Thursday Nov. 6, light flies Romane Moulai (6-0) and Roxana Colmenarez (12-7-1) meet eight rounds at Le Port Marly.

 

Italy

Anna Brozzi (7-4) defeated Bianca Voglino (6-1) by majority decision after 10 rounds on Sunday Nov. 2. The Italian bantamweight title fight was held in Roma. Also, super feather Alessia Mesiano (2-0) knocked out Veronika Timoshyna (1-2) in the fourth round.

On Friday Nov. 7, lightweights Pamela Noutcho (9-0) and Karen Carabajal (25-2) meet 10 rounds at Bologna. Also, Biancamaria Tessari (3-0) and Dunja Bocan (2-15-1) meet eight rounds.

 

New Zealand

On Saturday Nov. 8, super lights Sheilla Yama (4-0) and Rishon Harris (0-0) meet four rounds at Auckland.

 

Rwanda

On Saturday Nov. 8, super welters Daniela Muleketsi (2-1) and Charity Mukami (6-5-1) meet six rounds at Kigali. Also, super lights Precious Anine (0-0) and Rachael Musubika (4-5) meet six rounds.

 

South Africa

On Saturday Nov. 8, super feathers Bernie Ferreira (8-0) and Nozipho Bell (15-4-1) meet 10 rounds at Pretoria. Also, bantams Monica Mkandla (7-0) and Gabisile Tshabalala (11-6-1) meet six rounds.

 

Spain

Victoria Lomax (3-3) defeated Eva Cantos (9-22-1) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Nov. 1. The super feather fight was held in Estepona.

On Friday Nov. 7, feathers Alba Sanchez (8-3) and Sarai Umpierrez (3-3) meet 10 rounds for the Spanish title at Torrelodones.

 

Thailand

Li-ting Lien (3-1) knocked out Pornnapus Katipatee (2-4) in the second round on Sunday Nov. 2. The featherweight fight was held in Nakhon Pathom.

Peeyalux Sanpokang (11-6) knocked out Phunnakran Karnjanawong (4-9-1) in the fourth round on Sunday Nov. 2. The light fly match took place in Pathum Thani. Also, minimumweight Sothita Sittichai (13-4) beat Porwa Thamnawat (4-2) in eight; light fly Patteera Tanapornchinpong (3-4-1) beat Thidarat Merat (1-2) in eight.

Sasitorn Phanthed (2-3-1) knocked out Pinmai Photjanasuk (0-3) in the third round on Wednesday Oct. 29. The light fly fight was held in Bangkok.

 

United Arab Emirates

On Saturday Nov. 8, feathers Milena Martinou (0-0) and Nisa Mehdiyeva (0-0-1) meet four rounds at Abu Dhabi.

 

United Kingdom

Light flyweights Frances Heath (1-0-1) and Kamaljeet Kaur (3-1-1) fought to a draw after six rounds on Friday Oct. 31. The match was held in Glasgow, Scotland.

On Saturday Nov. 8, feathers Kelsey Leonard (2-0) and Beata Dudek (6-7) meet six rounds at Belfast, Northern Ireland. Also, welters Christina Desmond (1-0) and Naila Peloso (1-15-1) meet six.

On Saturday Nov. 8, super bantams Mae Astbury (2-0) and Kira Carter (0-22-1) meet six rounds at Stoke on Trent.

On Saturday Nov. 8, lightweights Chelsey Arnell (5-2-1) and Sydney Chambers (0-1) meet six rounds at Hull.

 

USA

Catherina Aiura (6-1-1) and Helen Lucero (0-5-1) fought to a draw after six rounds on Saturday Nov. 1. The lightweight fight took place in Hammond, Indiana.

Maryguenn Vellinga (5-5-2) won by decision after four rounds versus Leanna Martinez (4-5) on Saturday Nov. 1. The light fly fight was held in Owingeh, New Mexico.

Shera Mae Patricio (6-0) knocked out Randi Lynn Morales (5-7) in the fourth round on Saturday Nov. 1. The super bantam fight was held in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

On Wednesday Nov. 5, welters Jade Wong (2-0) and Brandi Robinson (4-0) meet six rounds at Richmond, Virginia.

On Friday Nov. 7, feathers Janaisa Morandin (0-2) and Tarrethia Dixon (2-7) meet four rounds at Hallandale, Florida.

On Friday Nov. 7, super bantams Lia Lewandowski (2-0) and Chantal Sumrall (1-1-1) meet six rounds at Atlantic City.

On Saturday Nov. 8, super feathers Lauren Michaels (2-5) and Micky OG Rampage (0-0-1) meet four rounds at Johnstown, Pa.

On Saturday Nov. 8, minimumweights Amanda Sendejo (2-0) and Rubi Gutierrez (5-3-1) meet six rounds for a regional title at San Antonio, Texas.