Sydney Sweeney recently starred in her biographical sports drama about former professional boxer Christy Martin, and now she is reportedly expressing interest in having a real boxing match. But not a real real match, mind you – she seems to be up for something more along the lines of a charity boxing match, after having trained plenty in the sport for the film.
In a recent exclusive interview with SportsCasting, the actress confessed that, while filming, the physical training, structure, and mindset pulled her in enough to make her realize somewhere in the middle of filming that she wasn’t just acting anymore. That said, she also admitted that she is seriously considering giving boxing a try. Sweeney said,
There was a moment in the middle of filming where I was like, ‘Should I give it all up and fight because I love this?’ Christy said she’d sign me up. So, this isn’t as hypothetical as you actually think it is. Yeah, I’d totally do a charity bout, that’d be so sick.
When asked about who she might face in the same, the Immaculate actress laughed before answering, with her response hinting that something might already be in motion for her. Replying to the question, she teased,
It’s a surprise, you’ll have to wait, I’m serious. You gotta stay tuned for the pay-per-view, and you’ll see it.
Martin, who also trained with the actress and says she wants to be her promoter, backed Sweeney’s teasing words with a quiet hint of her own, saying, “I have some names that we can’t throw out yet.” Well, as intriguing as that sounds, we have one name of our own, an ex-UFC champion who could be the perfect villain for this star: Ronda Rousey!
Ronda Rousey Could Be the Perfect Villain for Sydney Sweeney
When it comes to the best opponent that Sydney Sweeney could potentially battle in the ring in a charity match, Ronda Rousey might as well be the top-notch match. This is because, while Rousey’s wrestling career is considered successful in terms of her achievements (since she became a champion in both WWE and UFC), her in-ring wrestling quality is often debated.
For those who might not know, Rousey’s career achievements span across multiple sports, including judo, mixed martial arts (MMA), and professional wrestling. This also includes an Olympic bronze medal in judo, as she became the first UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion, and even holds multiple championships in WWE.
Rousey’s feats in MMA include becoming the first female fighter signed by the UFC, the first and longest-reigning UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion, the first female inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame, as well as the Final Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion. Not to mention, she is also the first female inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame.
In WWE, too, the retired professional wrestler holds some significant achievements, including being a RAW Women’s Champion, a two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion, a one-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, and a Royal Rumble winner. Apart from this, she has also won ESPY Awards for Best Female Athlete and Best Fighter.
However, while her fans have noted her natural aptitude, natural performances, and championship success, others have found her performances underwhelming and criticized her lack of enjoyment. The fan backlash against her includes people criticizing her in-ring ability as compared to her dominant MMA career (see fan debates on Reddit).
And that’s not all, for even some fans on X have suggested Rousey as a good choice to serve as the villain against Sweeney in a potential charity match, if the actress is actually down:
Sydney Sweeney vs. Ronda Rousey.
If shes training 3 hrs a day she’d def beat Ronda Rousey in a boxing match 😂
WE WILL BE THERE 😈 If she actually got hands she should fight Ronda Rousey
Ronda but it’s a win win
That said, Ronda Rousey could arguably be a good choice to battle Sydney Sweeney in the ring – but only in a charity match, of course, and not a real one, since she may be one of the most hated women in wrestling but still has a lot more experience than the actress, who most recently trained in the sport for her film, Christy (even if she trained like a real fighter).
By the Way, Ronda Rousey Is Sydney Sweeney’s Favorite UFC Fighter!
As it turns out, there are more reasons for Sydney Sweeney to play against Ronda Rousey in a charity bout: After all, Sweeney has even trained under the same program that produced stars like Rousey! Turns out, she trained at the Gokor Hayastan gym in North Hollywood under Rousey’s coaches, and has also been pretty vocal about her love and passion for martial arts.
Talking about her history in sports, she told W Magazine,
I love sports. I love being outside. Growing up, I was on the ski team, I wakeboarded, I slalom skied, which is on the water. I was on the soccer team, the softball team. And then my parents also got me into grappling and kickboxing.
She then opened up about getting into grappling and kickboxing at a pretty young age, which even resulted in her winning tournaments as a teenager. Sweeney shared,
I was the only girl at the dojo. It was called Gokor Hayastan. I trained there from 13 until I was about 18, 19 years old. I’ve had a few grappling tournaments, which were a lot of fun. I had a few ribbons. I fought all guys. I would like to think that if sh-t went down, I might be able to step up.
Plus, in another interview with Kyle Foregard, she confessed that her favorite UFC fighter is, in fact, none other than Ronda Rousey. Recalling having lunch with the ex-UFC champion, who left MMA behind for a stint in WWE and to start a family, she candidly shared (via @jedigoodman on X),
I’ve always been a fan of Rond. I actually got to hang out with Ronda and go to lunch with her. That was f**king crazy. She really did [put women’s MMA on the map].
Kyle Forgeard asks Sydney Sweeney who her favorite #UFC fighter is. pic.twitter.com/2Y9prOQ0ac
Well, it’s settled then: If Sydney Sweeney actually wants to go for a charity boxing match, then our choice for the perfect opponent for her is Ronda Rousey. After all, if it actually ends up coming true, it would be a full-circle moment for the actress, and, well, let’s be real: Who doesn’t want to see that?!
What do you think about Sweeney’s new movie, Christy? Let us know in the comments below.
Christy is now showing in movie theaters across the US.
