Jim Martin was once known as a respected figure in the boxing community — a trainer who worked behind the scenes as women’s boxing started gaining traction in the 1990s. But his legacy is not one of mentorship or athletic excellence. Instead, Jim Martin’s name has become synonymous with manipulation, domestic violence, and attempted murder, following his abusive relationship with former world boxing champion Christy Martin. His story is one of control and criminality that ultimately ended with a prison sentence and his death behind bars.
- “Christy Martin – The Fight of Her Life”: 48 Hours Reports November 8 2025
- Who Is Christy Martin & Where Is She Now? 2025 Update & Background
Early Life and Career in Boxing
Before entering the national spotlight for the wrong reasons, Jim Martin had built a career as a boxing trainer. Little is publicly documented about his early life, but by the late 1980s, he was an established coach. It was during this period that he met a rising fighter named Christy Salters — a young athlete from West Virginia with raw talent and a drive to succeed. She was 22. He was 47.
What began as a professional relationship quickly turned personal. In 1991, Jim married Christy, setting the stage for a dynamic that would come to define both their lives. The couple moved to Apopka, Florida, opened a boxing gym, and focused on building Christy’s career. But the marriage, which appeared productive and even strategic from the outside, masked an environment of coercion and escalating abuse.
The Marriage: Control Disguised as Coaching
Behind the public partnership, Christy Martin was living in fear. Jim, who had once positioned himself as her coach and protector, became her captor. According to Christy, their marriage was less about love and more about control. He didn’t believe in women’s boxing but saw in Christy a chance to make money — and a way to anchor her under his influence.
Christy confided in Jim about her sexuality and childhood trauma, believing he was a safe person to trust. Instead, Jim used this information to blackmail and manipulate her. He threatened to expose her secrets and ruin her career. He controlled her finances, monitored her social life, and maintained a steady supply of cocaine to keep her dependent. According to Christy, Jim would physically assault her both in and out of the gym, using intimidation and isolation to maintain dominance.
Attempted Murder and Arrest
The marriage reached a tragic climax in November 2010. After reconnecting with her high school girlfriend, Sherry Lusk, Christy told Jim she wanted a divorce. His response was brutal. On November 23, 2010, Jim attacked her in their bedroom with a buck knife, stabbing her multiple times and then shooting her in the chest with her own 9mm handgun.
He left her bleeding on the floor, assuming she would die. But Christy, with life-threatening injuries and a punctured lung, managed to escape. She ran into the street and flagged down a passing motorist who rushed her to the hospital. Jim fled the scene and went into hiding. After seven days on the run, he was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Trial and Conviction
In April 2012, Jim Martin was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder. The trial revealed years of manipulation, emotional abuse, and violent threats. Christy testified about the years of torment and the events of the day she nearly lost her life. Prosecutors highlighted how Jim used knowledge of her personal history to trap her in silence and dependence.
He was sentenced to 25 years in prison, the minimum mandatory sentence for his crimes. Christy, who survived both the physical injuries and the emotional fallout, began a new chapter in her life — one focused on advocacy, healing, and empowerment.
Where Is Jim Martin Now?
Jim Martin died on November 26, 2024, while serving his sentence at the Graceville Correctional Facility in Florida. His death brought a final close to a case that had drawn national attention and underscored the hidden dangers of domestic violence, even in the most public relationships.
While Christy Martin went on to rebuild her life and use her voice to help others, Jim Martin’s legacy ended in disgrace — remembered not for training a champion, but for nearly destroying her. His life story now serves as a cautionary tale about power, control, and the devastating effects of unchecked abuse.
More “Christy Martin – The Fight of Her Life”
- “Christy Martin – The Fight of Her Life”: 48 Hours Reports November 8 2025
- Who Is Christy Martin & Where Is She Now? 2025 Update & Background
- Who Is Jim Martin & Where Is He Now? 2025 Update & Background