Sydney Sweeney Sustained Major Injury While Shooting Boxing Film
Sydney Sweeney went all in to play former boxing champion Christy Martin in her new movie Christy, and it wasn’t without some serious risks.
The 28-year-old actress revealed she gained 30 pounds for the role and trained extensively in weightlifting and kickboxing to fully embody Martin, the first female boxer inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. Sweeney wanted to make sure she looked and moved like the real fighter.
Speaking on WFAN Radio while promoting the movie, Sweeney shared that filming the boxing scenes was intense and even led to a concussion. “So this is the crazy thing — we actually did connect [land punches] in the fights on the movie. One of the first things I talked to was my fight coordinator Walt and all of my stunt girls — and some of my girls were actual fighters — and I was like, ‘Hit me. I want you to hit me and I want to connect,’” she said.
Sydney Sweeney talks about taking and throwing real punches while filming "Christy," leading to a concussion 😳 @BrandonTierney @sal_licata pic.twitter.com/TGWfLyrEGP
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) October 27, 2025
Sweeney explained that she wanted the fight scenes to feel real. “There’s so much of Christy that comes to life in these scenes of her in the ring. I don’t want it to be the back of my head because it’s a stunt double, or I don’t want to have to be cutting the scene to be super choppy, because you don’t get to see Christy’s personality shine, you don’t get to see the emotional change happening to her during these fights. So when you see us hitting each other, we’re actually connecting. There’s bloody noises, I got a concussion, it was full force.”
What does it take to become a legend? 🥊 @sydney_sweeney steps into the ring as Christy Martin in #ChristyMovie, in theaters November 7. Watch the trailer now. pic.twitter.com/XXHQRp0xSP
— CHRISTY (@ChristyMovie) September 11, 2025
After filming wrapped in November 2024, Sweeney shared her emotional experience on Instagram. “We have wrapped filming Christy Martin’s story and it has been one of the most emotional, transformative experiences of my life. Christy’s journey is so deeply inspiring, and having her by my side during this process was nothing short of surreal. There were moments on set where I’d glance over at her standing by the monitors, cheering us on, and I’d just become so emotional,” she wrote.
Sweeney added, “This story is so much bigger than just a film. It’s a testament to resilience, survival, and finding the strength to keep fighting. I can’t wait for you all to see it — not only because I’m proud of the transformation and the work I’ve poured into it, but because Christy’s story deserves to be told. And yes, you’ll get to see me kick some serious ass, but most importantly, you’ll witness a story that’s as powerful as the woman who lived it. I’ll carry this experience with me forever.”
Christy is set to hit theaters on November 7, giving audiences a chance to see Sweeney’s full dedication to portraying one of boxing’s most legendary women.
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