By Darren S. Barcomb: It is easily argued that no female has had more of an impact on Professional Boxing than Christy Martin (49-5-3, 31 KO’s). Always clad in pink and not afraid to get manly brutal, she took the Boxing World by storm in the 1990’s, gaining vast popularity and fighting on the undercard of marquee shows. People were suddenly interested in Women’s Boxing. It was exciting, even flashy, and the “Coal Miner’s Daughter” became a Boxing icon. She graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, won Tough Woman Contests, and quickly became a WBC Women’s Champion. Boxing fans saw a woman who could hit hard and could take a hit back. Basically, she put Women’s Boxing on the map.
A lot has happened to Martin since her glory days, and now she has launched a comeback with the hopes of rekindling her past success. On March 12th, Martin faces off against Dakota Stone (9-8-5, 1KO) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout will be a 6 round rematch of a 2009 competition between the two.
Martin fought Stone in September of 2009, winning a 10 round contest my majority decision. That was Martin’s last fight. Stone has been inactive since as well. Now both women are getting ready for a war.
At 42 years old, the comeback is special to Martin not only for love-of-the-game reasons, but also for personal vindication. In November of 2010 Martin was shot and stabbed by her husband. The heinous crime was accompanied by serious injury, great pain, and strenuous recovery. Now it looks like she wants to take out her rage in the ring. Less than three months later, she is now healthy and cleared to fight. Injuries like she received would rule out Boxing comebacks for most fighters, but not Martin. As usual, she will get some press for the event, as it is on the undercard of the WBA Super World Light Middleweight Title bout between Ricardo Mayorga (29-7-1, 23 KO’s) and Miguel Cotto (35-2-0, 28 KO’s).
While the main event is what fans will be talking about, Boxing enthusiasts will be keeping an eye on Martin’s fight. Some skeptics have expresses doubt about her age and period of inactivity, but Martin plans to impress. It would take a lot more than a bullet, a few stab wounds, or a flurry of overhand rights to keep Christy Martin down. I predict a quick win for the “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” Don’t expect it to be a “slap-fest” or “chick-fight”, this one is going to be vicious as Martin goes for professional win number 50.
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