Christy Martin: 'I Put That Same Gun in My Mouth'

By Tris Dixon

Christy Martin had the crowds at the International Boxing Hall of Fame eating out of her hand.

She had spoken of being stabbed and shot by her ex-husband, Jim, dragging her body, blood pumping from her, into the road to flag down a car, and she was still sounding strong and defiant.

One of boxing’s first ladies, Martin talked of career highs that saw her fight in Madison Square Garden, in Las Vegas on Mike Tyson cards and under the promotional banner of Don King. She also made the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Now she is promoting events and is ambitious.

“I didn’t want to be a four-round fighter and I don’t want to be a four-round promoter,” she said.

“Boxing was my saviour,” Martin went on, discussing the years of domestic abuse she suffered from. “And when boxing was over the domestic violence in my life came to the fore.”

She said of the weapon that she was shot with, her own 9mm, “I put that same gun in my mouth many times and thought of pulling the trigger.”

She is hoping the current crop of female fighters will all meet each other to create a golden era for the sport. “It will be like the nineties but only if they are willing to fight each other,” she said.