Bad breaks continue for so unlucky Barry
Jess Barry...another weekend, another cancelled bout
IF Jess Barry didn’t have bad luck, she probably wouldn’t have any.
Coventry’s Midlands super-featherweight champ endured another sickener at the weekend when Scott Murray was forced to cancel his Sunday afternoon show.
With fighters pulling out and the main event falling through, Scott had no choice.
Jess, dubbed the Celtic Banshee, was part of the Cannock bill – and news the plug had been pulled adds to a near unbelievable run of proposed contests involving the boxer that have been scuppered.
As she put: “I feel my face has been on posters for more fights that haven’t gone through than have gone through, although it’s probably 50-50.”
No one’s fault, just awful look.
Since turning pro in September, 2022, Jess has fought six times (one loss) and last appeared in June when she took the Midlands title.
She was due to box two weeks before Scott’s show. That promotion was scrapped, she was then added to the Cannock card only to see that go south, too.
The 30-year-old, who holds down a top job as a projects and solutions sales manager, is understandably crestfallen.
“The hardest part is telling people who bought tickets,” Jess said. “In my head I think they’re thinking, ‘it’s a joke now’. I worry they’re losing interest. I feel so deflated.”
The emotion is understandable. Jess reduced her day-job hours to prepare which reduced her income. There’s also the hours spent with a strength and conditioning coach, the travelling, the graft put in…
“If I was fighting and not making money, I would be OK with that,” Jess said. “But I’m spending money for not fighting.
“I love the training and the (boxing) journey, but I do think, ‘when is it going to end?’ I also feel I’ve given up too much for it not to come to anything. I’ve come too far not to continue. I believe in staying positive.”
Jess has been offered a possible bout on December 1.
She added: “It’s got to the stage where I won’t believe it’s happening until I’m actually there.”