‘Christy’ Star Sydney Sweeney Hints at Getting in the Ring for Charity Boxing Bout

The 28-year-old actress plays history-making boxing champ Christy Martin in the biopic ‘Christy,’ out Nov. 7.

Sydney Sweeney poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Echo Valley' in London on June 10, 2025. Photo by Scott A. Garfitt/Invision/AP, File

Sydney Sweeney trained intensively for her starring role in “Christy,” packing on 35 pounds to play world champion boxer Christy Martin in the new sports biopic, out Nov. 7. But off the screen, audiences may soon be able to see the 28-year-old actress get in the ring for a very different cause.

Recounting how she fell in love with the combat sport while making the film during a recent interview with SportsCasting, Sweeney hinted at the possibility of fighting in a charity boxing match.

“There was a moment in the middle of filming where I was like, ‘Should I give it all up and fight because I love this?’” she told the publication, noting that Martin, 57, offered to sign her up.

“So, this isn’t as hypothetical as you actually think it is,” Sweeney said. “I’d totally do a charity bout, that’d be so sick.”

When asked who she'd go toe-to-toe with in the ring, the actress remained coy about the details. “It’s a surprise, you’ll have to wait, I’m serious,” she said. “You gotta stay tuned for the pay-per-view and you’ll see it.”

Martin—the first female boxer elected to the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame—served as a consultant on the biographical film, directed by David Michôd.

Actors Ben Foster, Merritt Wever, and Katy O'Brian round out the cast of “Christy,” which chronicles Martin’s rise to fame in the 1990s as well as her experience with domestic abuse.

“Fueled by grit, raw determination, and an unshakable desire to win, she charges into the world of boxing under the guidance of her trainer and manager-turned-husband,” the film’s official synopsis reads.

“But while Christy flaunts a fiery persona in the ring, her toughest battles unfold outside it—confronting family, identity, and a relationship that just might become life-or-death. Based on remarkable true events, Christy Martin’s story is one of resilience, courage, and the fight to reclaim one’s life.”

The former professional boxer was a trailblazer in women’s boxing, holding the WBC female super welterweight title in 2009. However, the following year, Martin faced one of her biggest battles, surviving an attempted murder at the hands of her then-husband, James Martin.

James Martin was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder with a firearm in 2012 and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He died in November 2024 while serving out his sentence at Graceville Correctional Facility in Florida.

“Christy, your story has completely changed me, and as we get closer to sharing this film with the world, I wanted to share something,” Sweeney wrote in an Instagram post over the weekend.

“One of the first things I watched when I got this role was this video. Her powerful testimony at her ex-husband’s hearing. The man who tried to kill her. I hope this film helps so many others.”