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How boxing legend played by Sydney Sweeney beat cocaine addiction before surviving murder attempt by vicious hubby

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How boxing legend played by Sydney Sweeney beat cocaine addiction before surviving murder attempt by vicious hubby

WITH a bullet lodged three inches from her heart and several stab wounds, boxing champ Christy Martin lay on the floor and prepared to throw in the towel.

But then a voice in her head said it was not her time to die just yet.

Boxing champ Christy Martin beat addiction and survived a murder attempt

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Boxing champ Christy Martin beat addiction and survived a murder attemptCredit: Getty
Sydney Sweeney will play Christy in a film about her life

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Sydney Sweeney will play Christy in a film about her lifeCredit: instagram/sydney_sweeney

Showing incredible strength and de- fiance against her monstrous husband Jim Martin, who had just tried to kill her, Christy dragged herself outside, where a passing stranger took her to hospital.

Now, 14 years on, the woman who made female boxing mainstream, fought as the undercard to Mike Tyson and was the first female slugger to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated, is being played by Sydney Sweeney in a movie about her life.

This week, the actress was unrecognisable during filming on location in North Carolina.

The as yet untitled flick will show how the fighter from small- town West Virginia took the sporting world by storm, earning more than £3million during 35 undefeated bouts, only to lose herself in domestic violence and drugs.

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Christy, now 56 and happily married to a woman having divorced violent former manager Jim, is keen to make one thing clear: “It is not a boxing movie.”

She said in an exclusive interview: “That was the main thing I wanted to stress when I met the producers.

‘Not born to box’

“This is the underdog story. It’s about domestic violence, sexuality and sexual abuse.

“I’m a coal miner’s daughter from a small town and no one expected I would make it. And at the same time, I had all these other things happening in my life.

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“I hope it’s a movie that, in ten years, a father will sit down with his daughter and say, ‘These are the things I don’t ever want you to endure. I don’t ever want you pushed into a relationship’.

“I want parents to watch it then say to their children, ‘If you’re gay, we will love you no matter what’.

“I want people to know that to be a professional boxer, you don’t have to sell your soul to the devil. It’s a complex story and I hope it’s got a lot to say to lots of different people.”

It was November 2010 when Christy, following years in an abusive marriage, finally plucked up the courage to walk out the door.

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Enraged Jim stabbed his wife multiple times in the chest and shot her once with her own pink revolver.

The bullet narrowly missed her heart and her leg was cut almost to the bone.

But in a heroic effort, she managed to escape and flag down help.

Anyone But You actress Sydney, 27, signed up to play Christy despite — or perhaps because of — being famed for racy TV shows, rom coms and horror movies until now.

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Both women hail from unfashionable US towns. Sweeney is from Spokane, Washington, while Christy grew up in Mullens, West Virginia.

But while the Hollywood star, who set pulses racing in Euphoria and White Lotus, is engaged to producer Jonathan Davino, Christy spent much of her life hiding her sexuality.

Heterosexual actors playing gay roles has proved controversial in the past.

Sydney coming onboard is huge. I met her over a Zoom call the other day. She has a mixed martial arts background, so she understands combat sports. It’s not exactly the same, but she understands the mentality

Christy

But Christy said: “I wasn’t worried that a straight person would be playing the part.

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“I was more concerned how she would feel portraying a gay person. I think she will do fine. It’s acting, so you get to be whoever you want, straight or gay.

“Too much is put on that stuff. Let’s just be us and whatever happens, happens.”

She added: “Sydney coming on board is huge. I met her over a Zoom call the other day. She has a mixed martial arts background, so she understands combat sports. It’s not exactly the same, but she understands the mentality.

“I watched her in Anyone But You and I liked her. It will be interesting seeing her being me and I’m excited.

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“Sydney is an A-lister. If you ask a young guy who she is, they know her, so I think she’s pretty cool.”

Christy first boxed in college, aged 18, when she was secretly dating a woman.

Raised in America’s devoutly religious Rust Belt, her parents would not have approved and fighting was an escape.

At her current home in Austin, Texas, Christy said: “I was definitely not born to box.

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Sydney has mainly starred in rom coms and horror films in the past

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Sydney has mainly starred in rom coms and horror films in the pastCredit: Getty
Christy in the ring in 1996

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Christy in the ring in 1996Credit: Rex

“I accidentally stumbled into boxing while I was in college. I thought it would be a great challenge and I got hooked.

“My mother wasn’t happy about it and my dad said, ‘If you are going to do it, get trained and don’t get hurt’. I trained very hard.

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“I think the instinct to go for a knockout came from the emotional turmoil within me. I knew I was gay and I knew it wasn’t going to be accepted.

“My family was very religious. When I was six, an older cousin sexually molested me and I didn’t tell anyone because I was scared. I had a lot of internal turmoil and, when you get into the boxing ring, you can be aggressive and violent and that is acceptable.

“But to learn the skills I had to spend hours in the gym on hand pads trying to improve my hook and jab. I had to work really hard. Nothing came easy for me.”

‘Prayed to survive’

The sporting star was 22 when she met Jim, who was 25 years her senior.

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They married in 1991, at a time when she was becoming a household name, on a run of 35 consecutive fights undefeated and appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1996.

The same year, she fought on the undercard to heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson in a bout promoted by Don King.

Boxing brought unimaginable riches and she estimates she made around $4million in a career that stretched from 1989 to 2012, and saw her win the WBC female super-welterweight title in 2009.

Christy with her husband and trainer Jim

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Christy with her husband and trainer JimCredit: Getty
The boxing great and her wife, Lisa Holewyne

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The boxing great and her wife, Lisa HolewyneCredit: instagram/christymartinpromotions

Meanwhile, her troubled personal life ended up bringing nothing but pain.

She said: “Jim controlled every move I made and every person I spoke with. I was his ATM machine, his only source of income, and he isolated me.

“I tried to love him and be happy, but he knew I had feelings for women and he would threaten to expose me. It was not easy to be accepted as a female boxer, and I was always worried my fans would turn against me if they found out I was gay.”

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In 2007, she began using cocaine to escape the misery and it took her three years to kick the habit.

She said: “My husband was supplying me with coke and I was snorting it. Before I even got out of bed in the morning, he would bring a line to me. If I complained I was tired after the gym, he would crush up a line before I had the chance to take my gloves off. I would be up for days — coke, coke, coke — and I was drinking a lot of beer. I wouldn’t even leave the house because I was afraid someone would see me high.

“I’m lucky I didn’t die. I looked in the mirror one night and thought, you look like an addict.

When I lay down, I was ready to die

Christy on night Jim tried to kill her

“And I had to accept, you don’t look like an addict, you are an addict.

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“It took me a couple of days to get clean, but I had to realise, this is not who I am.”

Christy’s husband had always vowed he would kill her if she left him.

And in 2010, when she finally plucked up the courage to walk out of his life, he attempted to make good on his word.

Having found the strength to fight back from the brink, Christy now lives with fellow former boxer Lisa Holewyne, 58, who she fought in Las Vegas in 2001 and married 16 years later.

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Christy said of the night Jim tried to kill her: “When I lay down, I was ready to die.

“But at some point during the attack, I told him, ‘You can’t kill me’, and I prayed to survive.

“I believe God had a plan for me, which must be talking about domestic violence and stopping others from going down that path.

“And I hope my ex spends every day of his life in jail.

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“If he ever gets out, I am convinced he will kill me and, who knows, he might. I still look over my shoulder sometimes. He always told me, ‘If I can’t kill you, I will find someone that will’.

“I get the occasional message from someone who has been in jail with him, and that shakes me up a bit.”

Jim stabbed wife Christy multiple times in the chest and shot her once with her own pink revolver

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Jim stabbed wife Christy multiple times in the chest and shot her once with her own pink revolverCredit: Alamy
Christy was the first female slugger to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated

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Christy was the first female slugger to grace the cover of Sports IllustratedCredit: Supplied

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Leeds vs Sheffield United: Get £30 in free bets to spend on Championship football with talkSPORT BET

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Leeds vs Sheffield United: Get £30 in free bets to spend on Championship football with talkSPORT BET

LEEDS and Sheffield United go head-to-head in Friday’s Championship showdown at Elland Road.

And brand new talkSPORT BET customers can claim a massive £30 in free bets when they sign-up and stake a tenner on the Yorkshire derby.

Find The Sun’s betting publishing principles here

How to claim..

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talkSPORT BET offer

  • Visit the talkSPORT BET website HERE*
  • Create your account via mobile
  • Opt-In to this promotion via the OFFERS tab
  • Place your first bet of £10 or more on any football market at odds of Evens or greater
  • You must do this within 7 days of registration
  • On settlement of your qualifying bet, you will receive £30 in free bets to spend on selected markets

talkSPORT BET: Get £30 in free betsClaim here*

No talkSPORT BET account? No Problem!

Simply register an account, deposit and stake £10 on any football market at odds of Evens or greater. Once that’s settled – your account will be credited with £30 in free bets!

You could decide to use your free bets on Friday’s Championship clash between Leeds and Sheffield United, and below is our top pick with talkSPORT BET.


Under 1.5 Goals at 12/5 with talkSPORT BET – CLAIM HERE

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All eyes will be on Elland Road this Friday, but a flurry of goals looks unlikely given the strength of both defences.

The Blades have the very best record in the Championship having conceded just three goals in their opening nine league fixtures with five successive clean sheets.

Leeds are no slouches either having shipped seven goals in total, which ranks as the fifth best in the division with two clean sheets in their last three on home turf.

Three of the last four meetings between these sides have seen a scoreline of 1-0.

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*18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10+ via mobile on any football market at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments & Apple Pay only. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly


Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

  • Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
  • Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
  • Never chase their losses
  • Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
  • Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
  • Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk

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Thomas Tuchel new England manager: How did we get here so quickly and quietly?

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Thomas Tuchel new England manager: How did we get here so quickly and quietly?

During this two-week international break interim manager Carsley gave two confusing news conferences, on Thursday, 10 October and again on Sunday, 13 October.

Both were after England games in front of the media. Both times he seemed to tie himself in knots over whether he was in the running for the full-time England job and whether he even wanted it.

BBC Sport was told by a senior FA figure 10 days ago – before the damaging Greece defeat – that the recruitment process was going “very well”.

Perhaps that was a reference to the secret talks with Tuchel.

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Maybe they had been stung by reports of inertia, or the risk of Tuchel being a target for Manchester United, who spoke to the German coach in the summer.

Could the fact United stuck with Erik ten Hag – despite their poor start to the season – have pushed Tuchel towards England?

There was a convenient theory that with Carsley’s candidacy effectively over after the defeat by Greece last week, the FA’s hand was forced.

But we now know Tuchel signed his contract with the governing body two days before that match.

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Astonishingly, in the era of 24-7 media coverage and the interest in the England role as one of the biggest jobs in world football, Tuchel’s appointment did not leak.

There were a handful of reports of ‘talks’ in German media, which were played down at the time by Tuchel’s representatives when BBC Sport approached them for comment.

BBC Sport was told Bullingham led a call to the FA board late afternoon on Tuesday, 8 October, which lasted around half an hour.

The board was told the contract was ready to be signed, and that the FA’s remuneration committee had been through all the terms and conditions with Tuchel.

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Board members were not asked for their views, but nor did anyone speak out against the appointment. The board members were told that a number of candidates had been interviewed but they were not told who they were, sources told BBC Sport.

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Di Giannantonio to skip final two 2024 MotoGP rounds for surgery

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VR46 Ducati rider Fabio di Giannantonio will miss the final two races of the year in favour of surgery on the shoulder he injured in practice for the Austrian Grand Prix in August.

The Italian will undergo an operation on his left shoulder after the Thailand Grand Prix, which follows this weekend’s round in Australia.

If all goes to plan, he will race two successive grands prix in Thailand, where the 2025 season kicks off on 2 March.

Di Giannantonio will remain with the VR46 team next year, but will be riding a factory-spec Ducati for the first time in his career.

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“We’ll do the surgery after Thailand,” said di Giannantonio. “It’s the best compromise between doing as many races as possible this year and starting next year in the best condition.

“The plan is to be as ready as possible for the Sepang [pre-season] test and then 100% in time for the first race.

“It’s not fantastic for me because it’s never good to miss races. It’s never good to finish the season a bit earlier than the others.

“But at the same time, it’s an opportunity to be 100% physically fit for next year. So we have to accept this and work with it.

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Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team

Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“I wanted to do as many races as possible. If there was the opportunity to do all the races this year before the surgery, I would have taken it. But it wasn’t possible. The doctor said the limit would be Thailand.

“We also have to work at 100% for these two races so I can finish this year with a nice vibe.”

Despite the operation plan, Di Giannantonio said pain was becoming less of an issue and was upbeat for the weekend’s racing at a circuit where he scored a podium in 2023 aboard his Gresini Ducati.

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“I’m actually feeling better already, but inside the shoulder it’s a bit weak. That’s the main reason for the surgery. I hope I can ride with fewer pain killers this weekend!

“This track is just amazing, I love the island vibe and the country too. Last year was super good for us so the goal is to try and get the same feeling on the bike as last year. I really hope to back fighting for the top five and maybe for the podium.”

Di Giannantonio’s best 2024 result thus far has been a fourth place at the Dutch Grand Prix and he sits level on points with his VR46 team-mate Marco Bezzecchi in 10th.

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Luke Littler follows in footsteps of darts legends like Eric Bristow as he signs major TV deal after success on the oche

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Luke Littler follows in footsteps of darts legends like Eric Bristow as he signs major TV deal after success on the oche

DARTS ace Luke Littler will be the guest player on the Bullseye reboot.

The World Championship runner-up will join new host Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff and throw for charity on the Christmas special of the revived quiz show.

Darts ace Luke Littler will be the guest player on the Bullseye reboot

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Darts ace Luke Littler will be the guest player on the Bullseye rebootCredit: Getty
Legends including Eric Bristow threw darts on the programme in its 1980s heyday

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Legends including Eric Bristow threw darts on the programme in its 1980s heydayCredit: Rex Features
Littler will join new host Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff on the show

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Littler will join new host Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff on the showCredit: PA

Excitement surrounding Luke’s surge to the final as a 16-year-old is said to have inspired ITV bosses to consider reviving the programme.

Professional darters were regular guests on the original series where they tried to score as many points as possible to bag money for charities chosen by the competing pairs of amateur player plus quizzer.

A TV insider said: “Luke wasn’t even born when Bullseye was on our screens with original host, Jim Bowen.

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“But Luke knows this is a plum role to have landed.

“As he steps up to the Bullseye oche he knows he’s following in the footsteps of legends including Eric Bristow and Jocky Wilson who all threw darts on the programme in its 1980s heyday.

“It’s also a coup for the makers of the new Bullseye as Luke is now one of Britain’s best-known players.

“Producers moved swiftly to sign him shortly after the programme was recommissioned by ITV.

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“It all adds to the huge sense of excitement for the programme to return.” 

Luke, from Runcorn, Cheshire, who is now 17, was beaten by Luke Humphries in the world final. Both players have since helped raise the sport’s profile with younger fans.

The Sun exclusively revealed this month that Bullseye was returning with Freddie fronting the show, made by 12 Yard Productions.

The ex-England cricketer and former Top Gear presenter, 46, said at the announcement: “Bullseye was one of my favourite shows as a kid. I can’t quite believe I’ll get to host this.”

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A date has yet to be revealed for his festive edition.

It is hoped the show will prove so popular that it could be turned into a full series next year.

The original Bullseye, known for its often-naff prizes, aired on ITV for 15 series from 1981 to 1995.

Host Bowen made it cult viewing with a string of catchphrases although he claimed he never used the most frequently quoted — “Super, smashing, great!”.

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From series five in 1985 onwards, the professional who recorded the highest score during the charity segment of the show would be presented with a Bronze Bully trophy — a statuette of the programme’s bull mascot.

Past winners included five-time world champ Bristow, triple world champ John Lowe and “Limestone Cowboy” Bob Anderson.

The pro stars also featured in the animated opening titles of the show travelling in a bus driven by Bully.

It is hoped that if Bullseye is picked up for a full series, Littler, Humphries and other pros will take turns in the fundraising slot.

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Bullseye's original host Jim Bowen made it cult viewing with a string of catchphrases

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Bullseye’s original host Jim Bowen made it cult viewing with a string of catchphrasesCredit: Rex
The original show aired on ITV for 15 series from 1981 to 1995

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The original show aired on ITV for 15 series from 1981 to 1995Credit: ITV

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Yankees vs. Guardians ALCS Game 3 Preview: Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz | MLB on FOX

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Yankees vs. Guardians ALCS Game 3 Preview: Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz




Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz previewed the Game 3 matchup in the ALCS between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians.



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Riccardo Calafiori: Arsenal defender on learning English and scoring against Man City

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Riccardo Calafiori: Arsenal defender on learning English and scoring against Man City

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori tells Roman Kemp why he joined Arsenal, how he is adapting to London life and how he felt after scoring THAT goal against Manchester City.

Watch Football Focus on Saturdays from 12:00 BST on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

Available to UK users only.

Get all the latest Arsenal news and views

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