According to Christy, she and James never had a magical love story. Christy started boxing and eventually met her ex-husband when she was 22 years old and he was 47. According to CBS, Christy said that their marriage was more of a business deal and that she openly identified as a lesbian.

The boxing legend opened up about identifying as gay and dating women throughout high school, but Christy's family was not (at the time) accepting of their daughter dating girls.

James knew about Christy's queer identity and "used it to control her," according to CBS. James made Christy believe that no other manager would work with her if they knew that she liked women, per Sports Illustrated.

"I felt threatened from the day of the marriage,” she explained (via SI). “I’d never been knocked out except by Jim.” Christy revealed that her ex acted as a “puppet master” and limited who she could contact. She was being abused mentally and physically by her husband but could not walk away.

Eventually, Christy found a spark in her life and reconnected with her former high school girlfriend, Sherry Lusk. The two decided to meet up and spend the night together.

When the boxer eventually returned home the next day, Nov. 23, 2010, James entered their bedroom with a buck knife behind his back and stabbed Christy three times in the chest, and slashed her leg.

James proceeded to beat her with Christy's pink nine-millimeter gun, then shot her in the chest. When she regained consciousness, Christy eventually made her way outside and flagged down a person to drive her to the local hospital.