Christy Martin is an American boxer and promoter with a net worth of $500 thousand. Widely regarded as the first woman to achieve mainstream fame in boxing, Martin was a staple that helped bring women’s boxing into the national spotlight throughout the 1990s. Nicknamed “The Coal Miner’s Daughter,”

What is Christy Martin’s net worth?

she was a world champion and pay-per-view attraction on major Don King cards from 1989 to 2012. An aggressive style, knockout power, and televised bouts on both Showtime and HBO made her one of the most famous female athletes of her era. A feature film about her life titled “Christy” was released in November of 2025, with Sydney Sweeney playing Martin. The movie dramatized her rise to fame, her turbulent marriage to trainer Jim Martin, and her near-fatal 2010 shooting that she survived against all odds.

Early Life

Christy Salters was born in the little coal-mining town of Mullens, West Virginia on June 12, 1968. She grew up in a working-class household, developing the competitive spirit that would serve her well in later life-Christy was an accomplished basketball and track standout at Mullens High School. Christy was awarded a basketball scholarship to Concord College in Athens, West Virginia, where she earned a degree in education and started boxing in local “toughman” contests. Her success in those amateur bouts led her to pursue the sport professionally, even though women’s boxing was barely recognized at the time.

Professional Boxing Career

Martin turned pro in 1989 and quickly established a formidable reputation for toughness and punching power. After only one defeat in her first 21 contests, she attracted the attention of promoter Don King, who signed her in the mid-1990s. Her breakout bout came on March 16, 1996, against Deirdre Gogarty on the undercard of Mike Tyson versus Frank Bruno at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The entertaining six-round slugfest was nationally televised and received widespread critical acclaim, introducing women’s boxing to a mainstream audience for the first time.

After that fight, Martin was featured on the covers of both Sports Illustrated and TV Guide and became the first women’s boxer to ink an exclusive agreement with a big-time promoter. From 1995 through 2000, she compiled a string of victories over Mia St. John, Lisa Holewyne, and Belinda Laracuente, many times by knockout. Known for her pink trunks and non-stop style, Martin helped redefine women’s boxing and paved the way for fighters such as Laila Ali and Claressa Shields.

Championships and Accolades

Christy Martin held the WBC super welterweight title and was named the Ring Magazine Female Fighter of the Year in 1998. In her 23-year professional career, she compiled a record of 49 wins, 7 losses, and 3 draws, with 31 victories coming by knockout. She fought on several major networks and pay-per-view events, bringing in six-figure purses, something few female boxers of her generation have been able to attain.

In 2020, Martin was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame as one of the first women to ever do so. She was also enshrined in the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame and the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

Personal Life and Domestic Violence Incident

Martin’s personal life had its share of triumph and tragedy. She married her trainer, Jim Martin, in 1989; the couple had a tumultuous and abusive relationship for most of Christy’s career. In November 2010, after years of escalating violence, Jim brutally attacked and stabbed Christy in their Florida home, leaving her for dead. Remarkably, she managed to escape and flag down help on the highway, surviving the assault despite being stabbed multiple times and shot in the chest. Jim Martin would later be convicted of attempted second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison. The attack proved to be a turning point in Christy’s life. She publicly came out, stating she had suppressed her sexuality for a long period, and later declared herself gay. She gave credit for her recovery and regained confidence to her wife, Lisa Holewyne, a former opponent whom she married years later. Her story became an emblem of survival, resilience, and empowerment both inside and outside the ring. Later Career and Promoting After her injuries had healed, Martin briefly returned to the ring before her retirement in 2012. She moved into boxing promotion, forming Christy Martin Promotions, which specializes in young fighter

development and female opportunities within the sport. She has also worked as a motivational speaker, using her platform to advocate against domestic violence and to inspire survivors to reclaim their lives. Her journey from coal country to world champion—and from near-death to healing—has made her a symbol of perseverance in sports and life. “Christy” Biopic In November 2025, the astonishing life of Martin hit the big screen in the biographical drama “Christy,” played by Sydney Sweeney in the title role. The Lionsgate film follows her rise from small-town amateur fighter to world champion, the complex and abusive marriage to her trainer, and her miraculous survival after being shot and stabbed.

Her courage lifted her through it all, as captured in the film that received great critical acclaim, with Sweeney’s performance especially praised for authenticity and emotional depth. Legacy But Christy Martin’s legacy goes so much farther than the confines of a boxing ring. She broke open gender barriers in a sport that for a long time belonged to men, became a pay-per-view draw, and inspired generations of female athletes. She is an enduring advocate for survivors due to her undeniable bravery in the face of both her personal demons and her abuser. As a fighter and as a survivor, Christy Martin’s life is among the most remarkable and impactful stories in sports history.