Christy Martin
Self - Professional Boxer
Overview
Christy Martin broke boundaries and noses as she rose in the boxing world, but her public persona belied personal demons, abuse and a threat on her life.
Cast
11 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Gloves Come Off
I’ve watched a lot of boxing documentaries—enough to know that most of them follow a familiar rhythm. The underdog story, the training montage, the big fight, the triumph or the tragedy. Untold: Deal with the Devil doesn’t break that mold so much as it deepens it, carving out a space where the sport’s usual narratives collide with something far more personal. This isn’t just about Christy Martin’s right hook or her 49 wins in the ring.
It’s about the cost of being the first woman to punch her way into a world that didn’t want her.
The film opens with a shot that feels almost like a punch to the gut: grainy footage of Martin in her prime, gloves up, eyes locked on an opponent. There’s a ferocity there, but also something else—something guarded. (I’ve seen that look before, not just in athletes but in women who’ve learned to armor themselves against the world.) The documentary wastes no time in establishing her as a pioneer, the woman who helped legitimize female boxing in the 1990s when the sport was still a boys’ club.
But what Ready Steady Cut called her “rise and fall” isn’t just about wins and losses. It’s about the way her public persona—tough, unbreakable, the “Coal Miner’s Daughter” of boxing—clashed with the private hell of her marriage to Jim Martin, her manager and eventual would-be killer.
The attempted murder in 2010 is the pivot point, the moment the film can’t look away from. The details are harrowing: Jim Martin stabbing her, shooting her, leaving her for dead. The documentary doesn’t sensationalize it, but it doesn’t shy away either.
Audience Opinions
Audience 7.4/10
"A gripping and raw documentary that shines a light on Christy Martin’s groundbreaking career and personal struggles."
Viewers appreciate the unfiltered look at Christy Martin’s life, highlighting her impact on women’s boxing and the challenges she faced. The documentary’s emotional depth and candid interviews resonate, though some note it could delve even deeper into certain aspects of her story. latestnetflix.com's read is that the inclusion of high-profile figures like Mike Tyson and Don King adds weight to the narrative.
What viewers praise
- Powerful storytelling The documentary effectively captures the highs and lows of Christy Martin’s career and personal life, making it emotionally compelling.
- Candid interviews Interviews with Christy Martin and other key figures provide an authentic and unvarnished perspective on her journey.
- Historical significance Highlights Christy Martin’s role as a pioneer in women’s boxing, offering insight into the sport’s evolution.
- Star-studded contributions Appearances by notable figures like Mike Tyson and Don King add credibility and depth to the narrative.
Common complaints
- Limited depth in places Some viewers feel certain aspects of Christy Martin’s story could have been explored in more detail.
- Pacing issues A few note that the documentary’s pacing occasionally drags, particularly in the middle sections.
Recommended for
Documentary enthusiasts Boxing fans Fans of sports biographies Those interested in women’s sports history Viewers who enjoy raw, emotional storytelling
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reports"Untold: Deal with the Devil" – The Dark Side of Christy Martin’s Boxing Glory
Netflix’s Untold docuseries has a knack for uncovering the raw, unfiltered stories behind sports legends—and Deal with the Devil (2021) is no exception. Directed by Laura Brownson, this 77-minute episode peels back the layers of Christy Martin’s trailblazing boxing career, revealing a life marked by triumph, manipulation, and survival. With appearances from heavyweights like Mike Tyson, Don King, and Gloria Allred, latestnetflix.com argues, the film doesn’t just chronicle Martin’s rise; it exposes the toxic underbelly of a sport that chewed her up and spat her out.
The Rise of a Boxing Pioneer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjRLhSTo7lk
Christy Martin wasn’t just a boxer—she was a revolution. From 1989 to 2012, she racked up a staggering 49 wins, proving women could dominate a sport long dominated by men 
. The documentary highlights her relentless work ethic and the barriers she shattered, but it also makes clear that her success came at a cost. Promoter Don King, a central figure in her career, is portrayed as both a mentor and a master manipulator, a duality the film leans into heavily .
Martin’s rivalry with Deirdre Gogarty, another female boxing icon, is given significant screen time. Their 1996 bout, often called the "female Fight of the Century," wasn’t just a career-defining moment—it was a cultural one. The documentary frames it as a turning point, proving women’s boxing could draw crowds and command respect . But behind the scenes, the pressure to perform—and the men pulling the strings—took a toll.
A Deal with the Devil
The title isn’t just dramatic flair. Martin’s relationship with her husband and trainer, Jim Martin, is the film’s darkest thread. Clips and interviews suggest a marriage built on control, where Christy’s career was both her salvation and her prison . The documentary doesn’t shy away from the abuse she endured, framing it as the "devil’s bargain" that allowed her to stay in the ring but nearly destroyed her off it.
Mike Tyson, George Foreman, and Laila Ali—all featured in the film—offer perspective on the era, but their cameos feel secondary to Martin’s own story. Tyson, in particular, is used sparingly, his presence more about lending gravitas than stealing the spotlight . Meanwhile, Gloria Allred’s involvement hints at legal battles that may have unfolded behind the scenes, though the documentary stops short of diving deep into specifics .
The Aftermath and Legacy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_hkaKkXAYE
What makes Deal with the Devil more than just a sports doc is its focus on survival. Martin’s story doesn’t end with her retirement in 2012; it’s about reclaiming her life after years of exploitation. The film includes interviews where she reflects on her career with a mix of pride and pain, making it clear that her legacy is as much about resilience as it is about wins and losses .
The documentary’s 7.4/10 rating on SensCritique suggests audiences appreciated its unflinching approach, though some may have wanted even more detail on the legal and personal fallout . Still, for a 77-minute runtime, it packs a punch—both as a sports story and a cautionary tale.
What’s Missing?
For all its strengths, Deal with the Devil leaves some questions unanswered. How much did Martin earn during her peak? What were the specifics of her legal battles? The documentary teases these threads but doesn’t pull them fully. Rumors of behind-the-scenes tension between Martin and her former team also linger, though the film doesn’t confirm them .
Jack Nicholson and Jay Leno’s appearances are name-drops that feel more like Easter eggs than substantive contributions. Their roles are so minor they barely register, leaving viewers to wonder why they were included at all .
The Bottom Line
Untold: Deal with the Devil is a gripping, if incomplete, portrait of Christy Martin’s life. It’s not just about boxing—it’s about the cost of greatness, the price of survival, and the men who tried to own her story. For fans of the Untold series, it’s another win. For those new to Martin’s legacy, it’s a brutal but necessary introduction.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.