This cheerleader became a boxing champ

GARY, Ind. -- ABC Owned Television Stations and ABC's Localish present 50 inspiring stories from around the country for Fifty/50, as part of The Walt Disney Company's monumental initiative highlighting the 50th anniversary of the passing of Title IX, the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any educational institution that receives federal funding, and gave women the equal opportunity to play. This story was originally published in February 2020.

This cheerleader became a world boxing champion!

As a teenager, Mary McGee found herself in a boxing gym.

"I walked up to the coach in my cheerleading uniform and said, 'I want to be a boxer,'" McGee said.

After giving the sport a try, training herself and winning several fights, a coach finally paid Mary some attention.

Now, Mary brought the IBF Women's Super Lightweight title to her hometown of Gary, Indiana.

"I left my hometown to go fight for a title and actually brought it back," she said.

McGee started boxing when she was a little older than 13-year-old and has now been boxing for nearly 20 years.