With his big-screen trio of Animal Kingdom The Rover and , Australian director David Michôd has made a solid career of drawing heavy-duty drama out of problematic-dude protagonists. But boxing biopic marks an interesting shift to a feminine focus as it tackles the true life of trailblazing prizefighter Christy Martin (Sydney Sweeney).

Born in smalltown West Virginia, the teenage Martin went from entering a fight for a lark in the late ’80s to becoming big-shot promoter Don King’s first-ever female signee, hitting her professional peak during the ’90s. This arc promises – and indeed delivers – another good old-fashioned punch-the-air tale of underdog sports triumph. But, if you’re unfamiliar with Martin’s story, you should brace yourself for a pivot into some dark and har

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