Christy

In 1989, Christy Salters, a college basketball player from Itmann, enters a local female boxing competition and wins the match despite being untrained. James Martin, a local boxing coach, is impressed by her raw talent and decides to take her under his wing. He also brings promoter Larry into the picture to help contact Christy and launch her boxing path.

Meanwhile, Christy maintains a secret relationship with her high-school girlfriend Rosie. Rumors about her sexuality trouble her homophobic mother Joyce and create tension within the family. The unstable dynamic foreshadows the personal conflicts that will intertwine with her boxing career.

By 1993, Christy moves to Apopka, Florida with James and they open a boxing gym together. James's controlling behavior surfaces as the relationship becomes sexual despite Christy's homosexuality. They marry, which pleases her family, and a meeting with promoter Don King leads to a boxing contract.

Christy begins to rack up wins and gain recognition in the sport. She defeats Lisa Holewyne, a rival who is openly lesbian, and this public spotlight begins to blur the lines between her personal life and her career. The media attention brings scrutiny and mixed reactions as her profile rises.

Christy's profile soars as she defeats Deirdre Gogarty in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand, a landmark pay-per-view event for women's boxing. The bout marks the first time a female boxing match is shown on pay-per-view television. Soon after, she becomes the first female boxer to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Promoter Don King warns Christy about her bravado and belittling attitude toward opponents, suggesting such arrogance could undermine her career. The warning underscores the mounting pressure as fame expands. Christy weighs the advice as she navigates the spotlight.

In 2003, James persuades Christy to fight Laila Ali by appearing at a higher weight than she truly is. Lisa is hired to help train her for the bout. Christy loses to Ali, and James's controlling behavior grows more physical as the couple sink into cocaine addiction.

Christy confides in her mother Joyce about James's abuse and manipulation, which includes filming sex acts, but Joyce dismisses it as drug-induced paranoia. The cocaine addiction and control intensify as their relationship deteriorates. Jeff, Christy's ringside trainer, notices warning signs and grows concerned.

By 2010, the relationship deteriorates further as James is suspected of stealing money from Christy. The tension escalates as she seeks to leave him and turn to Rosie for support. Jeff warns her about the danger she faces as she tries to break free.

James lurches from threat to action, stabbing Christy multiple times and flaying her calf before shooting her in the chest with a pistol after she returns home. A passing bystander intervenes and rushes Christy to a hospital for emergency treatment. The brutal attack marks a turning point in her life and career.

At the hospital, Joyce blames Rosie for the attack, injecting family tension into the recovery. Lisa visits Christy, and the two reconcile after earlier hostility. Christy begins to rebuild her boxing life with support from Jeff and her staff, independent of James.

James is sentenced to 25 years in prison for attempted second-degree murder, ending the abusive relationship. Christy returns to boxing, resuming her career with renewed resolve and the support of her team. The end of this era marks a new confident chapter in her life.

Intertitles reveal that Christy and Lisa married in 2017, signaling a personal and professional rebirth. She becomes a prominent advocate for victims of domestic violence, using her experiences to help others. This chapter transforms her public life from survivor to leader and mentor.