Somewhere between busting drug dens as an undercover police officer in 1997, Jean Martin decided she needed a hobby.
A completely green Martin decided to sign up for the 1998 Daily News Golden Gloves to try her hand at boxing, something she’d picked up just to stay in shape and learn self-defense to assist her in the dangerous nature of her job.
The NYPD wasn’t initially pleased to learn that Martin had entered such a high profile tournament, given her undercover status, but Martin assured them they had nothing to worry about.
“I kept hearing about Denise Lutrick and how great she was. I really didn’t think I’d make it so far because she was so great,” Martin said. “Lo and behold, she moved away that year and it turned out I didn’t have to fight her… It just so happens that I won.”
Success, in fact, became a habit for Martin, who became the first female boxer in tournament history to win five titles with three-straight from 1998-2000 in the 139-pound class and two more in 2003-04 as a 145-pounder.
She also won a national Golden Gloves title in 1999 and later became the first female member of the NYPD Fighting Finest Boxing Team.
One might expect an undercover detective to be fearless in the ring, but as Martin will tell you, that was hardly ever the case.
“I was definitely nervous because I’d never been in a fight in my life, even though I was a police officer,” Martin said. “I was always sparring with the guys because my coaches would always hype me up and tell them I was so brave. Of course they’d want to knock my head off. But I was always terrified to get into the ring. I have this look on me that I’ll rip your head off, but the reality was, that coming into the ring I was scared. Until the bell rung.”
Since women were introduced to the tournament in 1995, Martin has the second-most female titles in Golden Gloves history, trailing only Christina Cruz, who leads all Gloves competitors with seven. Martin is the lone female inductee in the inaugural Hall of Fame class.
“It means so much to me to be recognized by the voting committee that I was going to be inducted with all these great fighters. I was completely surprised,” said Martin, now a sergeant in the NYPD. “There were so many other women and so many others out there that I never thought I’d be considered. I’m still in shock. It’s a great honor to be in the first class being inducted and especially be the first female inductee in the Hall of Fame. It’s just amazing to me.”
