Injury delays female champ Martin’s return to ring

In a tale of two boxing comebacks, Christy Martin is out and Tom Zbikowski is in for the undercard of the Miguel Cotto-Ricardo Mayorga WBA super welterweight title fight March 12 at the MGM Grand Garden.

Martin was to defend her WBC female super welterweight title against Dakota Stone but broke the fifth rib on her left side while sparring last week.

“It’s really, really disappointing,” Martin said Thursday after her fight was called off following an examination by Dr. Robert Voy. “I thought it was going to be a big night. Everything was there — fighting at the MGM again, going for my 50th win, fighting on Showtime. I was willing to fight, but (trainer) Miguel (Diaz) said he would not work my corner. I guess he’s looking out for me.”

Martin, 42, hasn’t fought since scoring a 10-round decision over Stone in September 2009.

On Nov. 23, Martin was shot and stabbed by her husband, Jim, during an argument at their Florida home.

Martin recovered from her near-fatal wounds and moved to Las Vegas to start her life over inside and outside the ring.

She was doing well until suffering the rib injury, which she initially tried to battle through.

“After a couple of days, the pain was still excruciating,” Martin said. “I had a flashback to when I was shot.”

Martin said she hopes to fight in May.

Her postponement will give Zbikowski, a safety for the Baltimore Ravens, a chance to return to the ring, regardless of whether NFL team owners lock out the players today.

Zbikowski, 25, boxed during his Notre Dame football career. He made his professional debut in 2006 as a cruiserweight, scoring a first-round technical knockout over Robert Bell at Madison Square Garden in New York.

He has not fought since, focusing instead on football. But with an NFL work stoppage looming, Zbikowski said he has to keep busy and stay in shape.

Top Rank is expected to announce Zbikowski’s opponent today for what will be a four-round cruiserweight bout, subject to approval by the Nevada Athletic Commission. Zbikowski’s application for a boxing license is on the agenda for Wednesday’s commission meeting.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.