USA 2025
Opening September 3, 2026
Directed by: David Michôd
Writing credits: David Michôd, Mirrah Foulkes, Katherine Fugate
Principal actors: Sydney Sweeney, Ben Foster, Merritt Wever, Ethan Embry, Katy O’Brian, Jess Gabor
On a whim to win money, in 1989 the college basketball player competes in the amateur “Toughwoman” contest in Itmann, West Virginia, taking home $300. As brother Randy (Coleman Pedigo) enthuses, her parents’ icy demeanor crushes any notion of a family celebratory dinner. Mama Joyce’s (Merritt Wever) disparaging remarks about her friend Rosie (Jess Gabor) and peoples’talk is interrupted as her father John (Ethan Embry) stops conversation.
The extraordinary journey of Christine Renea Salters’s (Sydney Sweeney) rise, and command of professional boxing is depicted in this gritty real-life film. Christy’s aptitude is amazing, attitude unflinching and, unintentionally, she blazes a trail for woman by “legitimizing” women’s position in boxing. Christy’s “first-ever” include first female boxer to sign with legendary promoter Don King (Chad L. Coleman) in 1993; the first women’s boxing match on TV (pay-per-view) against Irish boxer Deirdre Gogarty; and the first woman featured on a Sports Illustrated cover with “The Lady is a Champ” headline, etc.
The amateur win leads Christy to prominent promoter Larry Carrier (Bill Kelly), leading to top class boxing coach Jim Martin (Ben Foster). Eventually, they work together; Jim’s workout schedule is arduous, while prompting personality and personal changes. Her insecurity makes it easy for Jim to run everything—her boxing coach becomes her manager, then husband. Touring, Christy Martin’s ringside team include Big Jeff (Bryan Hibbard), Jimmy “Shortdog” (Tony Cavalero), Walt (Walter 'Buddy' Carter), and Gilbert Cruz as Miguel Díaz.
Director David Michôd and fellow-Australian Mirrah Foulkes cowrote the screenplay with Katherine Fugate’s storyline. Ellen Lewis and Kate Sprance’s casting is spot on: Sweeney’s performance is extraordinary and Jim/Foster capture his character’s peculiarities, e.g., swagger. You want to pinch Mama/Wever—hard, and Coleman/Don King’s depiction oozes with innuendos. Production values are impressive: composer Antony Partos, cinematographer Germain McMicking, editor Matt Villa, and in recreating that time period Chad Keith, production design, Rachel Wilkin, set decorator, and Christina Flannery, costume designer.
That’s Why the Lady Is a Champ is more than just a sports biopic. The devil is in the details of how Christy Martin manages transitioning from a naïve college sportster, to the feisty, outspoken provocative, angry yet insecure, diffident naïve professional boxer. It is worth your while to have a ringside seat. 135 minutes (Marinell H.)