Sydney Sweeney’s transformation into boxing champion Christy Martin required more than just learning to throw punches. For the actress, the journey back to her kickboxing roots became an unexpected catalyst for personal growth.
Sweeney wasn’t starting from scratch. Having grown up kickboxing and grappling, she already possessed a fundamental understanding and appreciation for combat sports. This background proved invaluable when she stepped into the ring to portray Martin, though the process would push her far beyond her previous experience.
In a recent interview with talkSPORT, Sweeney opened up about the process: “I had the pleasure… of working with Christy. She actually would get in the ring with me a few times, and she would help walk me through different techniques, and also being able to watch all of the fighting footage. I was able to look at her past fights.”
Working directly with Christy Martin herself added authenticity to Sweeney’s preparation. The legendary boxer didn’t just advise from the sidelines, she actually got in the ring with Sweeney, walking her through specific techniques and sharing the nuanced details that only a champion could provide.
The commitment to authenticity extended to every frame of the film. Each combat sequence depicted in the movie mirrors Martin’s actual historical bouts, from her clash with Deirdre Gogarty to her battle with Laila Ali.
Sweeney mentioned: “I grew up kickboxing, grappling, so I was a fan of the sport as well. But what’s a cool thing is every single fight that happens in the movie is the exact fight in her real life. So like her Deirdre Gogarty fight, her Laila Ali fight, every combination you see, they’re the real combinations from her actual fight.”
She also talked about how the fight sequences were extremely detailed. The fight choreographer played a crucial role in this meticulous process, studying Martin’s combat style down to the smallest detail.
She said: “Our fight choreographer, Walt, he was absolutely amazing. Like he truly took to detail every single move of Christy’s, how she would turn her head, where her foot stances were. There was a lot of care to detail.”
