Former boxing champion Christy Martin, portrayed by Sydney Sweeney in the new film “Christy,” has voiced her strong opposition to transgender women competing in women’s boxing. In a recent interview with The New York Sun, Martin emphasized her belief that athletes should compete according to their biological sex.
“I 100-percent believe that if you’re born a woman, you fight women,” Martin stated. “If you’re born a man, you fight men.” Her comments come at a time when the issue of transgender athletes has become increasingly contentious, particularly in women’s sports.
The debate gained significant attention during the 2023 Paris Olympics, where athletes Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu-ting from Chinese Taipei faced disqualification from the world championships after failing gender eligibility tests. Despite these challenges, Lin recently secured a gold medal in the 60Kg division at Taiwan’s National Games, her first competition since the Olympics.
In response to the ongoing discussions, the International Boxing Association has accused the International Olympic Committee of manipulating regulations for political reasons. Meanwhile, World Boxing has called for Khelif to return her gold medal due to the controversy surrounding her eligibility.
While Martin supports individuals’ rights to transition, she draws a firm line when it comes to competition. “If you want to transgender, it’s your right,” she remarked. “But as in life, everything you do has consequences. One of the consequences you have with transgendering is you can’t compete in sports against women. You just can’t do that. If you want to compete against other transgender boxers, I think that’s fair.”
The film “Christy,” which premiered in theaters on October 20, 2023, chronicles Martin’s journey from a small town in West Virginia to the pinnacle of women’s boxing in the 1990s. It also addresses her personal struggles, including surviving an attempted murder by her husband in 2010. Jim Martin ultimately died in prison, and in 2017, Christy married former competitor Lisa Holewyne.
Martin hopes the film will elevate the profile of women’s boxing. She notes the recent surge in interest and financial backing for female fighters, largely due to the efforts of Jake Paul. The YouTube star turned professional boxer has established a promotional company that has significantly improved the pay and visibility for women in boxing, featuring athletes like Amanda Serrano and Alycia Baumgardner in prominent bouts.
“Jake Paul is like the new Don King as far as women’s boxing goes,” Martin said. “He’s given them a huge platform and he’s paying them. Sometimes I wish I was fighting now. But if I hadn’t done what I did in the ’90s to get people to take women’s boxing seriously, we wouldn’t be here today.”
In a notable display of support for women boxers, Paul recently canceled a high-profile exhibition match featuring world champion Gervonta Davis. This decision followed allegations made by Davis’s ex-girlfriend, who filed a civil lawsuit accusing him of serious offenses, including aggravated battery and kidnapping. Paul stated on social media, “If you support this man, you support the most vile sin a man can commit. I don’t want to give this woman abuser a platform to grow his fans and to grow his bank account. My company champions women.”
As “Christy” garners attention and potential accolades, Martin is eager to leverage her platform to discuss important issues such as domestic violence, sexual identity, and substance abuse. “Whenever anybody calls and I’m available, I’ll make it happen,” she concluded, reflecting her commitment to using her experiences for advocacy.