Newark’s Jade Grierson joins the Elite as she stops Ester Konecna in round 3 of her pro boxing debut

Making her professional debut on Sunday 11 December, Suggy’s Gym’s Jade Grierson achieved something only Savannah Marshall had done before when, with a clinical and composed performance, she stopped the normally very tough, game and awkward Ester Konecna from the Czech Republic just three rounds into their bout.

“Jade looked really relaxed heading into the ring at The Magna Centre in Rotherham on Sunday as over 100 supporters cheered her out to her two walkout tracks, one for her daughter Amani and the other her usual Brown Girl in the Ring,” said her manager and coach Dean Sugden.

“Although both boxers came in on weight in the Super Welterweight division, Ester did look taller and stronger at the weight division on the scales but Jade made short work of those advantages with some slick boxing and great use of her jab.”

At the end of the first round, the 31-year-old from Newark was instructed by her cornermen to just put her foot on the pedal and try to capitalise on some of the pressure and exchanges, targeting the body of her elusive and awkward opponent to slow her down and, rather than go looking for the stoppage, to maintain the levels of skill and intensity she had already displayed.

Following all of their instructions to the letter, she did exactly that, continuing to maintain those levels of skills and intensity throughout the second round and into the third, by which time she was stalking her opponent.

Halfway through the third, she landed a really hard body shot on Ester, who appeared to be hurt. Not sure how to proceed, Jade hesitated but the referee waved her on to continue and it was not long before she closed the gap on the mobile Czech boxer.

After a heavy and sustained attack, the ref waved it off to save Ester from further and unnecessary punishment, giving Jade the win by TKO in her professional debut.

“To say I felt great after that third round TKO in my pro debut with Ester is definitely an understatement,” said Jade.

“On reflection, I do feel I could have stopped her sooner – I think I completely outboxed her and was ‘2 Slick’, dominating with flair. And although in previous bouts Ester appeared strong and confident, I think that right from the first round she realised that this bout would be a different class and her shots were wasted, hitting thin air.

“Now I’m really excited about getting back to Suggy’s Gym and preparing for 2023, boxing at a lower weight class in 6 to 8 round contests, moving up the rankings and making a name for myself.”

“This was a big statement from Jade as Ester not only never gets stopped but she always takes rounds off boxers, the most notable example being the one in which she defeated Monique Bux at Motorpoint Arena Cardiff on a Matchroom event,” added Dean.

“Jade did get caught with the occasional looping counter but that’s boxing. You can’t dodge them all and to put on a master class like this in her pro debut was exceptional.

“It was an incredible weekend of boxing for both Suggy’s Gym and Newark Amateur Boxing Club and it was definitely finished off in style by Jade ‘Greo’ Grierson. She’s already been offered a six-rounder on the card of the Stefy Bull Promotions show at Doncaster Dome on Saturday 18 March 2023, with a weigh in the day before. So, with the help of George McMillan from For Fit Sake and the generosity of Security 2, both based here in Newark, we intend to come down two weight divisions for this next one.”