Banshee Barry: I’d love Celtic title fight

Jess Barry...back boxing in Cannock on Sunday, October 13

COVENTRY boxing “Banshee” Jess Barry is hoping promoter Scott Murray can secure a Celtic title fight for her.

She’d qualify courtesy of her Irish roots.

But before then, Jess has to deliver the goods on Scott’s public show at Cannock’s Premier Suite on Sunday, October 13.

After enduring the frustration of numerous cancelled bouts, Barry’s career is at last gaining momentum. She took the Midlands super-featherweight title last time out by impressively halting Beccy Ferguson in six.

That brought her record to five wins and a single narrow points defeat away from home. The 30-year-old who trains at Birmingham’s Eastside gym is improving with each contest.

In June, she dominated tough Ferguson from first bell to last, proving too relentless for Stoke’s reigning champ.

Jess said: “I’d love to fight for a Celtic title and I’d love it to happen on one of Scott’s shows before the end of the year.”

But her days as Midlands champ appear numbered. “Unless someone comes forward, I’ll probably vacate,” she admitted. “In any case, I’m now a featherweight.”

That’s a sensible move: she’s always looked too small for super-feather.

Jess’ appearance on next month’s Cannock show – her third on a Murray promotion - may well be a “mark time” affair while bigger bouts brew in the background. That doesn’t mean she’ll be lacking motivation.

“I love boxing, I love fighting,” she said. “Sometimes, when you have a full-on week, it can be hard when you have no fight coming up. But you can’t think like that.

“You have to treat every fight the same. Ideally, I would’ve liked to have stepped straight back in to a title fight, but I realise it doesn’t work like that.”

Barry is happy with the progress being made and the pace of her career.

“I’m sparring good girls,” she added. “They’re improving, I’m improving. It’s when I spar the girls I haven’t sparred for a while that I really see the improvements.”

Barry’s commitment to the featherweight division raises the possibility of a mouth-watering clash with Black Country Boxing’s Sian O’Toole who holds the Midlands title at 9st.

Down the line, what a statement for girl power in boxing that would be.