Sydney Sweeney Claps Back at Body Critics with Intense Workout Footage for Boxing Biopic

Mar. 15, 2025

Sydney Sweeney.Photo:WireImage

WireImage

Sydney Sweeneyis clapping back at her body shamers.

Her fitness footage includes shots of her flipping giant tires, lifting weight, boxing and flexing her muscular biceps.

“Well, the cat’s out of the bag thanks to some paps in bushes so here’s a little BTS from my film I’m working on right now,” Sweeney wrote inan Instagram post on Oct. 16. “Over the past few months, I’ve been immersed in training to bring to life the story of an incredible woman—a true champion who fought battles both inside and outside the ring.”

“Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and hope, and I’m honored to step into her shoes to share her powerful story with you all,” the Emmy-nominated actress — who “grappled and did kickboxing from 12-19 years old,“according to Deadline— continued.

Christy Martin, 56, rose to fame in the ’90s, becoming one of America’s most successful female boxers. She became the first woman inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in 2016 and also the first woman inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2020. She became the first female boxer to grace the cover ofSports Illustratedin 1996, with Ronda Rousey becoming the second and most recent in 2015.

Martin, who retired from professional boxing in 2012, survived an attempted murder in 2010 when her husband, James V. Martin, stabbed her several times and left her for dead. He was later sentenced to 25 years in prison. In 2017, she married one of her former boxing rivals, Lisa Holewyne.

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Sydney Sweeney.Getty Images for GLAAD

Getty Images for GLAAD

“This story is so much bigger than just a film. It’s a testament to resilience, survival and finding the strength to keep fighting,” the Instagram caption read.

source: people.com