Husband of abused boxer Martin arrested ( Update ) Report: Female boxer Martin was leaving husband for woman

Betallsports · Dec 1, 2010

The husband of boxer Christy Martin, who allegedly shot and stabbed her at their Orlando home last week, was arrested Tuesday after allegedly knifing himself, TMZ reported.

Christy Martin, 42, was shot and stabbed in the torso and left leg, and told deputies the injuries were caused by her husband, James "Jim" Martin, 66.
James Martin had not been seen since the attack, but the entertainment website reported that police in Apopka, Florida got a tip about his whereabouts earlier Tuesday — so they sent a K-9 unit and a helicopter into the area to track him down.

Officials said they found the wanted man in the woods behind his home, wielding a knife — and suffering from what appeared to be a self inflicted stab wound. He was taken to the Orlando Regional Medical Center for treatment, Central Florida News reported.

Deputies said he will be charged with attempted murder of his wife.
Still recovering in hospital, Christy Martin, nicknamed "The Coal Miner's Daughter," is known for her toughness in the ring, and is widely regarded as the most successful female boxer in the US.

Betallsports · Dec 2, 2010

Report: Female boxer Martin was leaving husband for woman

The brutal attack on female boxer Christy Martin was prompted by the revelation she was leaving her husband for a woman, according to sheriff’s office records obtained by the Orlando Sentinel.

According to the records, which the Florida newspaper made public Wednesday, Martin was returning home after spending two days at a hotel following recent marital problems between the couple, possibly with a woman described as a longtime friend with whom she was in a romantic relationship.

Martin says her husband and trainer, James “Jim” Martin, confronted her when she returned home and then stabbed and shot her.

Martin was able to escape after flagging down a motorist who drove her to a hospital. Martin has been hospitalized since the attack.
The records also show Jim Martin might have been stalking his wife, spying on her and threatening to “destroy” her career and reputation by releasing videos on the Internet.

Jim Martin was arrested Tuesday after running from authorities for a week. Deputies found Martin hiding in a shed in the Apopka neighborhood near the couple’s home.

Martin, 66, is accused of stabbing and shooting his wife on Nov. 23. He faces charges of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Christy Martin, who was born Christy Salters in 1968 in Bluefield, W.Va., is credited with being a key figure in legitimatizing women's participation in the sport of boxing. She began fighting at 21 and gained fame in the 1990s with a long string of wins, even appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Martin had a career record of 49-5 with three draws and 31 knockouts. Her last fight was on Sept. 2, 2009, when she won a majority decision over Dakota Stone in 10 rounds.