Thirteen years ago, Christy Martin took her final bow. Back-to-back losses to Dakota Stone and Mia St. John finally convinced her that it was time to hang up the gloves. And so ended an outstanding journey that rose from obscurity and left an indelible mark on boxing. Hardly anyone knew about women’s boxing then, let alone offered their support. But Martin was determined to forge her way through the odds.

She fought battles inside the ring. But far greater struggles awaited her outside, at home. It took a few years before the boxing world finally understood and acknowledged Christy Martin‘s contributions. Her boxing journey and life became an inspiration for young women who want to carve a path in a sport dominated by men. However, despite what she accomplished and endured, the attempt to depict Martin’s life on screen may have faltered. Reports suggest that her biopic, Christy, starring Sydney Sweeney, is struggling after a rough opening weekend. The box-office performance may have disappointed some diehards who wanted more people to see the legendary boxer’s journey. Thankfully, a few remain undeterred by the numbers.

From gloves to screen: Amanda Serrano backs Christy Martin’s story

Amanda Serrano made her boxing debut a few months before Christy Martin won the WBC super welterweight title. Like the West Virginia-born champion, Serrano forged her own way and now sits atop the boxing world. Like Martin, Serrano is an inspiration to countless girls and women. She understands how difficult it would have been without pioneers such as Christy Martin and Laila Ali. So, hit or flop, Serrano wants her team to watch Christy.

“I’m usually not into Boxing movies but this one I’m taking my entire team to watch. @christymartin68 is a Pioneer & the one to have opened the doors for us women. I Got you Champ 🙏❤️,” the world champion wrote in response to the news about the biopic’s box-office performance.

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Despite being released in 2,011 theaters, Christy’s box-office numbers are not so encouraging. The movie reportedly had a production budget of $15 million, yet it earned only $1.3 million in total ticket sales during its opening weekend. So if one divides the total box office ($1.3 million) by the number of theaters (2,011), each theater would have made only about $649 from the movie. A very low figure, as successful wide releases typically make several thousand dollars per theater.

According to Box Office Mojo, among all movies that opened in more than 2,000 theaters, Christy ranks among the ten worst box-office openings ever. Fictionalized movies like the Rocky and Creed series featuring predominantly male superstars have generally dominated the boxing movie circuit. However, the 2004 movie featuring Hillary Swank in the lead, with Clint Eastwood in his directorial Million Dollar Baby went on to become one of the greatest boxing films ever made, winning four Academy Awards.

In terms of biopics, the movie The Fighter managed to present a real and gritty depiction of boxing brothers Dicky Eklund and Micky Ward, portrayed by superstars Christian Bale and Mark Walbergh. The movie, directed by David O. Russell, was made on a budget of $25 million, and received $129 million at the box office. Moreover, it event went on to win two Academy Awards.  While Christy’s box office returns might not paint a pretty picture, the film does have heart, with lead actress Sydney Sweeney backing the movie and the person she portrayed.

Sydney Sweeney honors her film’s lead character

Per available reports, the movie has received generally positive reviews. Rotten Tomatoes wrote, “While Christy falters in tonal cohesion and emotional impact, it remains a compelling showcase for Sydney Sweeney’s transformative performance, grounding a mythic genre in raw, personal storytelling.”

Speaking about the film, which she also produced, Sydney Sweeney posted on Instagram, “I am so deeply proud of this movie.”

“Proud to represent someone as strong and resilient as Christy Martin. This experience has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” she added before concluding, “We don’t always just make art for numbers; we make it for impact. And Christy has been the most impactful project of my life. Thank you, Christy.”

Perhaps the movie may not have performed as one might have expected. But as both Amanda Serrano and Sydney Sweeney highlighted, it remains an important work in the world of boxing cinema.

And Serrano may not be the only one rallying her support for Christy. Lou DiBella also joined in, extending his support for the biopic. Calling the film’s weak box-office performance a shame, the promoter praised Sydney Sweeney’s performance and described it as a quality film.

Perhaps, as days go by, the movie may gain traction as more word-of-mouth reviews emerge.

Have you seen Christy? If yes, what are your thoughts on it?