Sydney Sweeney Offers an Intimate First Look as Boxing Legend Christy Martin
Sydney Sweeneyis trading in the glam for gloves in her most transformative role yet — stepping into the shoes and ring of legendary boxerChristy Martinin the upcoming biopicChristy. The film, directed by David Michôd, is already stirring serious awards buzz ahead of itsTIFF 2025world premiere, not just for the intensity of Martin's real-life story, but for Sweeney's full-bodied physical and emotional transformation.
Once dubbed 'The Coal Miner's Daughter,' Martin became one of the first women to gain mainstream recognition in a sport long dominated by men. Her 1996 undercard fight on a Mike Tyson bill became a flashpoint moment for women's boxing, leading to mainstream visibility and a 49-7-3 career record, with 31 knockouts. But her story wasn't confined to the ring. After surviving a brutal assassination attempt by her abusive husband and former trainer Jim Martin — who was later sentenced to 25 years in prison — Christy became a vocal advocate for domestic violence survivors and founded Christy's Champs, a nonprofit supporting victims.
The film doesn't shy away from the weight of her story. It dives deep into the highs and lows: from magazine covers and championship belts to addiction battles, closeted identity, and near-death recovery. At its core, Christy is about power — lost, reclaimed, and redefined.
Sweeney reportedly trained for months to inhabit Martin's frame, building muscle and reshaping her body to match the boxer's strength and grit.
She shared viaWMagazine,
'I didn't fit in any of my clothes. I'm usually a size 23 in jeans, and I was wearing a size 27. My boobs got bigger. And my butt got huge. It was crazy! I was like, Oh my god.' Sweeney laughed. 'But it was amazing: I was so strong, like crazy strong.'
The script, penned by Michôd and Mirrah Foulkes, is said to balance raw personal trauma with sports-world spectacle — anchoring the narrative in Martin's unwavering will to survive. With Martin herself involved in the filmmaking process and Sweeney co-producing through her Fifty-Fifty Films banner,Christyis shaping up to be both a portrait of a fighter and a gut-punch of a biopic. The film is set to premiere in September 2025 at the Toronto International Film Festival, with a global release date still yet to be announced.
Take a first look of Sydney Sweeney playing as Christy Martin below.
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