“Merciless” Mary McGee keeps true to her nickname as she overworks the former holder of the IBF Junior Welterweight Championship.
Gary, Indiana’s McGee (26-3, 14 KOs) paced herself and wore down Ana Laura Esteche (14-6-3, 2 KOs) to enter the 140 lb mix with WBO Champion Katie Taylor of Ireland and WBA and WBC Champion Jessica McCaskill of nearby Chicago.
McGee’s jab setup some merciless hooks and uppercuts, knocking Esteche around from the 6th Round on. McGee has some serious head movement that was exciting Team Empire Management stablemate and WBA Super Middleweight Champion Alicia Napoleon-Espinoza as she commentated on UFC Fight Pass.
Esteche kept it competitive, coming forward all the way through the stoppage, even with wobbly legs.
McGee stalked and baited the former champ into tight quarters to unleash relentless combinations that led to an 8th Round knockdown and eventual stoppage.
The nearly 15 year professional truly started the holidays on Thursday with some Seasons Beatings on Esteche, pounding her after the knockdown. McGee sensed the end was coming and was out to send the message. The snapping left hook was crucial weapon.
Inside the opening 30 seconds of the 10th Round, McGee unleashed hell on Esteche. McGee went right at the Argentinian and sent relentless leather burns to close the bout. The Referee halted the action after seeing nothing but punishment.
Official Time of the Stoppage: :30 of the 10th Round
“For 20 years, I have been boxing and I never became a world champion. And finally today, my prayers have been answered through hard work,” stated the new IBF Junior Welterweight Champion, McGee.
The elated McGee continued, “I would like to thank my team: Lou DiBella for giving me this opportunity, Team Empire – Brian Cohen, my coaches Carlos Jones and Rafael Ruiz, Hammond Boxing Club, the whole city of Gary, Indiana. We have a world Champion here right now! A world champion! The first one ever!”
After the win, Team Empire’s Brian Cohen stated, “Boxing is full of fake champions. They avoid real opponents. Now, they cannot avoid us! McGee is not playing your games. We are coming for your belts!”
While vising McGee at Hammond Boxing Club last week, Trainer Carlos Jones whispered to us and did not want it published then, “Mary has been training harder than ever. She is going to stop this girl. She will win by KO.” Team McGee is a tight-nit unit and obviously knows what they are doing.
Pictures supplied by Team Empire Management:
With Taylor’s 2020 calendar sort of detailed by Matchroom with the potential and demanded rematch with Delfine Persoon, mega matchup with Amanda Serrano, and the dream bout with unified welterweight champion and top P4P contender Cecilia Brækhus, it is most probable for the new IBF Champion to be matched up with her Chicago neighbor and champion McCaskill in a 3 title unification.