Banshee Barry set to become tartan terror

Jessica Barry…represents Scotland on St Andrew’s Night card

BORN in Kenilworth to Irish parents, Jess Barry represents Scotland on St Andrew’s Night in the boxing ring, writes Matt Bozeat.

“Banshee” Barry has her fourth professional fight in Cannock on Thursday, November 30.

Scott Murray’s Excelsior Sporting Club dinner show in the Premier Suite features four matches between fighters from England and Scotland. Barry explained how she has ended up representing the away team.

“I’m a big fan of Celtic,” said the 29-year-old, “so I see this as a chance to represent them.

“I’ve been going to watch them for the last few years. I’ve been going more regularly since I met my husband (Paddy). We drive up there for five or six hours, watch the match and then come home.

“It’s a long day, but it’s worth it when they win.”

Barry was a footballer herself before she found boxing. Grandfather Jim Barry set up Leamington Hibernian Football Club in the 1970s and Barry played for them until around eight years ago.

“I went to the boxing gym to get fitter for football,” she explained, “and loved the structure and discipline of it.

“I used to get annoyed when my team mates weren’t putting as much effort into it as I was and I ended up on the losing team.

“In boxing, it’s all down to you and how much you put in.”

There may have been times when Barry wishes she had stuck with football, however.

She turned pro after winning 18 of 19 amateur bouts and has found it hard to get fights, boxing only three times as several matches have fallen through.

Barry admits: “I thought I would be further on by now.” But the signs are, her luck is changing.

The Midlands Area Council have paired her with Beccy Ferguson for the vacant Midlands Area super-featherweight championship.

The fight is likely to go ahead next year and Barry said: “Women’s boxing is bigger than ever and if I can get the right fights, doors will open for me.”