Introduction
Today, fight fans tune into the latest UFC events or the Oktagon to follow the top female fighters. Celebrities in their own right, today’s female combatants owe a deep debt of gratitude to two of the toughest females to step into the ring, Christy Martin and Laila Ali. Well before the age of social media and sports betting, this is how Christy and Laila put female boxing and combat sports on the map.
Christy Martin: The Hammer
Before her college freshman year, Christy Martin, nicknamed “The Coal Miner’s Daughter” for her West Virginia roots, never laced up a pair of boxing gloves. Still, Martin’s legendary boxing journey started when she entered a Toughman contest. According to Martin, the goal was to prove a point that females could hold their own in a combat sport.
Little did Christy know that it would be the opening round of a professional boxing career that would take her to 59 fights with 49 wins, 7 losses, and 3 draws. Martin’s hard-hitting style led her to 32 knockouts, with her entry in the Toughman contest becoming the opening scene in her biopic, titled “Christy.” Sydney Sweeney stars as Martin, with the film set to debut in American theaters in November.
Throughout her 23-year career, Martin shocked and won over the hearts of boxing fans, men and women, with her tremendous punching power. In an era of heavyweight hard hitters like George Foreman, Mike Tyson, and Riddick Bowe, Christy Martin’s fights became staples on the undercard, with fans buying pay-per-view events in the 90s to also see Martin knock out her opponents.
Before the internet, state-of-the-art live betting at new betting sites, and social media, pay-per-view was the popular way to see professional fights. With that alone, Martin paved the way for today’s UFC fighting events that draw millions of viewers. However, Martin was more than just a hard puncher; she could also take a punch. She was notorious for taking hard punches to knock out her opponents and suffered numerous broken noses. Martin was just as tough outside the ring.
Martin fought on behalf of LGBTQ rights as well as being a fierce advocate against domestic violence. Martin’s toughest opponent came outside of the ring. She miraculously survived being stabbed several times and shot in the torso by her future ex-husband.
Laila Ali: Boxing Royalty
It’s tough enough being the child of not only a sports legend, but “The Greatest of All Time.” However, Laila Ali smoothly carved her own place in boxing lore while upholding the legendary Ali name. Having such a famous father meant that she lived under a large shadow. Laila combines power with smooth technique to confuse opponents and to glamorize female boxing.
It also helped that Laila was taller than most opponents at 5’10, giving her an incredible reach advantage. While her father was famous for floating his jabs, Laila wasn’t afraid to drop the boom, finishing with an incredible 24-0 record, with 21 coming by knockout. Ali has won several world titles: IBAs Super Middleweight World Champion, WIBA Super Middleweight World Champion, and WBA Super Middleweight World Champion. She has won many titles across different weight classes, demonstrating her versatility.
Outside of the ring, Laila inspired young girls to chase their dreams. She broke barriers for women and promoted women’s empowerment. Known for her charity work, Laila has fought passionately for children’s health, including childhood obesity.
The Dream Fight: Ali vs. Martin
On August 23, 2003, boxing fans tuned in to the dream bout, Ali vs. Martin. From the first bell, it was a slugfest between these two proud champions and female boxer pioneers. Even though the championship fight was scheduled for ten rounds, it didn’t make it past the fourth. Martin, giving up six inches, was battered repeatedly. Unable to make up for Laila’s reach advantage, Ali knocked Martin down towards the end of the fourth round, and she didn’t get up.
Conclusion: Looking Ahead
Today, we have instant odds for upcoming female boxing matches and UFC events. We live in a 24/7 news cycle where we can follow our favorite celebrities on social media, down to what they ate for lunch. While Laila Ali and Christy Martin didn’t get the nonstop coverage or multi-million-dollar contracts, they are the first female boxing superstars always to have a place in the squared circle or the Octagon.