Christy Martin knows what it takes to make it in the world of boxing, and she’s taking four fighters on a path that runs through Plant City.
Martin, a former world champion with 49 wins, a Sports Illustrated cover and the title of first woman in the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, is working with a group of fighters from Charlotte, North Carolina to prepare for her namesake boxing promotion’s Feb. 23 fight card. This week, North Carolina lightweight champion Stevie Massey, Joe Jackson, Jamaal Gregory and Michael Williams Jr. are training in Plant City and sparring at Plant City Boxing Gym with local promotion Fire Fist Boxing.
“Stepping outside and getting some tougher, better quality sparring in, and see what’s out there in the real world. That’s why we’re here,” Martin said.
Martin will be inducted into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame in June and the Boxing Writers Association of America named its inaugural Female Fighter of the Year award after her in December. World No. 1 Cecilia Braekhus is the award’s first recipient.
"It’s been pretty cool, a little bit overwhelming … in 20 years, 30 years, somebody’s going to get that award and they’re gonna have to Google Christy Martin to find out who she was, what did she do and why was it named after her," Martin said. "Hopefully it’ll last a long time."
Fire Fist is set to host an event March 3 in Clearwater. William Silva, who signed with the local promotion in the fall, will fight Rogelio Casarez in the main event as both men try to win the IBO Continental North American Lightweight Championship and the National Boxing Association World Lightweight Championship.