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While a release date has yet to be shared, Sydney Sweeney has revealed that she has completed shooting her upcoming biopic on legendary boxer Christy Martin. Martin, who went 49-7-3 with 32 knockouts in her career, is often credited with being largely responsible for “legitimizing” women’s boxing.
Now, new video obtained by TMZ, shows Sydney Sweeney lightly sparring with Christy Martin. As TMZ points out, it isn’t clear if this fun sparring session is part of the film, just the two ladies goofing around, or if it was just part of a promotional shoot.
The biopic, according to Deadline, “tells the true story of Martin, who rose to fame as America’s most successful female boxer in the 1990s, at the same time as dealing with personal demons and toxic relationships behind the scenes.”
In addition to Sydney Sweeney, the film also stars Ben Foster, Emmy winner Merritt Wever, Katy O’Brian, Ethan Embry, Jess Gabor, and Chad L. Coleman. The name of the film, much like its release date, has yet to be announced.
Christy Martin, who began her professional boxing career at the age of 21 after winning three consecutive Tough Woman contests in the 1980s, fought on the undercard of some of the biggest male boxers of her era including Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Felix Trinidad and Julio Cesar Chavez.
She was also the first woman to be signed and promoted by Don King, one of the first inductees in the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame, first female boxer inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the first year that women were on the ballot.
Martin, who fought Laila Ali and Holly Holm during her boxing career, lost her final two fights, trying to reach the 50-win mark in her career. The first loss was to Dakota Stone when she broke her right hand in the fourth round and could not continue, while the second attempt was a 10-round unanimous decision loss to Mia St. John, who coincidentally also finished her illustrious boxing career with 49 wins.