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“Christy Martin – The Fight of Her Life”: 48 Hours Reports November 8 2025

Ryan Gill

On Saturday, November 8, 2025, 48 Hours airs an unforgettable episode titled “Christy Martin — The Fight of Her Life”, featuring reporting by David Begnaud. The broadcast told the harrowing story of Christy Martin — a groundbreaking boxing icon who survived an attempt on her life at the hands of her husband and longtime trainer, James “Jim” Martin. While Christy built a reputation in the ring for toughness and tenacity, the true battle for her life came not from an opponent under the lights, but from the man she once trusted most.

The episode pulls back the curtain on the abuse Christy had endured for decades, highlighting how deeply private suffering can remain hidden even behind a very public career. Through firsthand interviews and courtroom records, 48 Hours pieced together the full arc of Martin’s story — from her athletic fame to a violent attempt to end her life, and ultimately, to justice and recovery.

A Trailblazer in the Ring

Christy Martin rose to prominence in the 1990s as one of the few women to gain mainstream respect in boxing. Known as “The Coal Miner’s Daughter,” the West Virginia native had an aggressive fighting style and charisma that made her a fan favorite. She amassed an impressive professional record of 49 wins, including 32 knockouts, and was the first woman to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated. She was also the first female boxer signed by high-profile promoter Don King.

But while her success broke barriers for women in the sport, Christy was privately battling an abusive marriage with her coach and manager, Jim Martin. They married in 1991 when she was 22 and he was 47. Over the next two decades, he became not just her trainer, but a controlling and violent partner, using emotional, physical, and financial abuse to maintain power over her life and career.

A Relationship Marked by Control and Violence

Throughout their marriage, Jim Martin exerted complete dominance over Christy. Behind closed doors, he manipulated her with fear, threats, and drugs. He used her dependency on cocaine as leverage, controlling access to the drug to ensure her compliance. As her abuser, he isolated her from family and friends, and according to Christy’s own account, frequently threatened to kill her if she ever tried to leave or reveal her sexuality.

Despite the success of her career, Christy was trapped. Publicly, she was a pioneer in women’s boxing. Privately, she was a woman hiding her true identity and enduring daily violence. Her abuser weaponized every aspect of her identity — from her earnings and reputation to her childhood trauma and sexual orientation — to keep her under control.

The Day Everything Changed: November 23, 2010

On November 23, 2010, Christy Martin told Jim that she wanted a divorce. That same day, he attacked her inside their Apopka, Florida home. Jim stabbed her multiple times, including in the chest and leg, and then shot her once in the torso. He left her to die in their bedroom.

Despite critical injuries — a punctured lung, deep stab wounds, and a gunshot wound — Christy managed to crawl out of the house. She was eventually picked up by a passing motorist, Rick Cole, who took her to get help. Doctors said it was a miracle she survived. The bullet remained lodged in her body for weeks as part of the investigation.

Jim Martin fled and was later found in a hotel after attempting to take his own life. He was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

The Trial and Sentencing

In April 2012, Jim Martin stood trial in Florida. During the proceedings, the extent of his abuse came to light through powerful testimony from Christy and others. Prosecutors described years of intimidation, coercion, and violence that culminated in attempted murder. Christy recounted how Jim used threats of outing her sexuality and cutting her off from boxing to trap her in the marriage.

He was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder and aggravated battery. In June 2012, he received a 25-year prison sentence — the mandatory minimum for the charges. Jim Martin served time at Graceville Correctional Facility until his death on November 26, 2024.

Life After Survival

Christy Martin’s life changed forever after the attack — not just physically, but emotionally. Though she returned to boxing for a few more bouts, her focus shifted to advocacy and healing. She began speaking publicly about domestic violence, sharing her experience with survivors, students, inmates, and law enforcement. In 2017, she married former opponent Lisa Holewyne, embracing a life that was no longer defined by secrecy or fear.

She also published a memoir, Fighting for Survival, and her story inspired a 2021 Netflix documentary, Untold: Deal with the Devil, and a 2025 biopic titled Christy, starring Sydney Sweeney. The film dramatized her rise in boxing and the near-fatal relationship that nearly cost her everything.

Legacy and Continuing Impact

Christy Martin’s story is one of resilience, but it also serves as a case study in the hidden dangers of domestic abuse — particularly when an abuser exerts psychological and financial control. Her experience has shed light on why victims stay, how abusers isolate and manipulate, and how survival requires more than physical strength.

She was inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in 2016 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2020, where she was among the first women ever inducted. Today, she leads Christy Martin Promotions, using her platform to champion young fighters and raise awareness of abuse prevention.

48 Hours: Christy Martin — The Fight of Her Life doesn’t just recount a crime. It honors a survivor who continues to fight for others — not in the ring, but in the world that once tried to silence her.

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