Sydney Sweeney is stepping into the boxing ring—or more accurately, punching it—for what might be her most physically and emotionally demanding role yet. In Christy, the new biopic premiering at TIFF, the Emmy-nominated actress portrays legendary boxer Christy Martin. Sweeney, 27, committed fully to the role, even literally delivering real punches alongside her co-stars. “Every single fight you see, we are actually punching each other. We are going full force,” she told Vanity Fair—and yes, she emerged with bruises and concussions to prove it.
She’s also making her case beyond the ring: “I was blown away that her story wasn’t more known on a universal, global level,” Sweeney said of Martin, calling her “one of the most harrowing and inspiring women that I’ve ever met in my entire life.” That emotional weight is underscored by Sweeney’s physical transformation—training for months, gaining more than 30 pounds, and stepping fully into Martin’s shoes.
With production wrapped and excitement growing over Sweeney’s transformative performance, many fans are eager to know more about the film, the true story behind it, and when it will hit theaters. Find out more about the Christy Martin boxing biopic below.
Martin is a groundbreaking American professional boxer who rose to fame in the 1990s, earning the nickname “The Coal Miner’s Daughter.” She’s widely credited with bringing women’s boxing into the mainstream, becoming the first woman signed by promoter Don King and fighting on high-profile cards. Martin won the WBC women’s super welterweight title and retired with a record of 49 wins, 7 losses, and 3 draws.
Beyond her victories, Martin’s story resonated with fans for her courage outside the ring as well. In 2010, she survived a near-fatal attack by her then-husband and manager, James Martin. She later testified against him in court, and today she uses her platform to advocate against domestic violence while continuing to mentor young fighters.
The film—directed by David Michôd and co-written with Mirrah Foulkes—chronicles Martin’s rise in the 1990s, her role in breaking barriers for women’s boxing, and the deeply personal struggles she endured behind the scenes. It doesn’t shy away from her survival story after the 2010 domestic violence attack that nearly cost her life, making the biopic both a sports drama and an intimate portrait of resilience.
