HAMMOND | Gary native Mary McGee will spend this weekend trying to rinse a nasty, unfamiliar flavor from her mouth.
For the first time in her nearly five-year professional career, McGee experienced the bitter taste of defeat when she fell to Brooke Dierdorff on Friday night in One In A Million Boxing Inc.'s "Fight Night 2010" at the Hammond Civic Center.
Returning from a 10-month layoff during which McGee (17-1, 10 KOs) lost her brother, Maurice, and former promoter, Octavius James, to unexpected deaths, she simply couldn't match Dierdorff (6-4-1, three KOs) for six rounds in their lightweight, non-title fight. McGee gave a valiant effort, though, as she rallied in the final two rounds before ultimately succumbing to a unanimous decision in favor of her opponent from Somonauk, Ill.
"Mary's used to the caliber of fighters that she can just bully and throw her combinations and nobody fights back," Dierdorff said. "I'm gonna keep coming, so that's the difference."
Dierdorff controlled the first four rounds with several hard charges that repeatedly pinned McGee against the ropes. McGee, however, opened the fifth round with a relentless attack and ended the sixth by drawing blood from Dierdorff's nose.
Still, McGee's late emergence wasn't enough in the end.
"I've always said I think Mary's a great skillful fighter," Dierdorff said. "I just didn't think she had stepped up to the caliber of fighters that she should have been fighting, and I'm a true champion."
McGee's WBC International Super Lightweight and NABC World Lightweight titles were not at stake. Dierdorff's WBC International Lightweight belt wasn't up for grabs, either, but there's no doubt each fighter's pride was on the line.
Visibly shaken by her first loss, McGee denied interview requests after the fight.
"I just want to be by myself please," she said. "I don't want to talk."
In the card's main event, Gary resident Derrick Findley (15-3, nine KOs) defeated fellow OIAMB standout and Chicago native Michael Walker (19-3-2, 12 KOs) to capture the previously vacant Indiana Boxing Association Middleweight championship. Findley won by a unanimous decision after eight intense rounds.
In the co-main event, Courtney Burton (22-6, 11 KOs) earned the previously unclaimed INBA Light Welterweight title by edging Gary's Angel Hernandez (14-4, 11 KOs) via a split decision after eight rounds.
With his win, Burton, who made his return to the ring after remaining idle since 2006, improved to 2-0 at the Civic Center. In 2003, he also prevailed against Gary native Angel Manfredy in Hammond.
In action on the event's undercard, Griffith graduate David Martin III (2-0, two KOs) defeated James Porter (5-14-1, one KO) by technical knockout 1:12 into the second round of his heavyweight bout.
"He had this lack-of-confidence look in his face," Martin said. "I kind of took that and ran with it."
Hobart-based welterweight Ed Ochoa (10-0, nine KOs) overpowered Dezi Ford (24-28-2, nine KOs) from the start and triumphed by TKO 44 seconds into the third round.
Schererville's Josh Crouch (5-1, five KOs) suffered his first career loss, falling to Cameroon native Foster Nkodo (5-0, one KO) by a unanimous decision.
Merrillville resident Orphius Waite (5-0-1, three KOs) and Lafayette's Darnell Wilson (8-1-2, six KOs) battled for four rounds en route to a draw in their middleweight bout.
PRO BOXING | "FIGHT NIGHT 2010"
