Barry bids for silver Commonwealth belt

Jess Barry…title chance at the Excelsior Club in March

FIRST she conquered England, now Coventry “Banshee” Jess Barry looks to the Commonwealth.

Just three months after claiming the national featherweight belt, Barry will bid for the Commonwealth silver title in the plush setting of promoter Scott Murray’s Excelsior Sporting Club, Cannock.

And Scott has really pushed the gravy boat out for his St Patrick’s dinner show on Thursday, March 6.

Jess’ clash with Bolton’s Linzi Buczynskyj is one of two, 10 round title fights on the red carpet show. The other sees Hereford soldier Cliff Henry – a remarkable physical specimen at 43 – defend his Midlands light-heavyweight championship against Ryan Whelan. The challenger is a member of well-known Nechells fight family, the Holts.

And among the special guests will be Ireland’s former world champ Barry McGuigan.

“That’s the plan,” Scott said, “to stage a title fight on every Excelsior show.”

The venue is fast becoming a home-from-home for 30-year-old Barry. This will be her third Excelsior appearance in an eight bout career. From Irish stock, she was a natural for the St Patrick’s bill.

Scott, keen to feature Jess in even bigger title contests, has been beating the drum for the Sky Blue star at the recent WBC convention in Hamburg.

“Jon (manager Jon Pegg) is obviously looking at a British title shot,” he said, “but there’s the possibility of a WBC international belt or even interim world challenge.”

Barry appears a much-improved boxer since slimming down to feather (9st). A bundle of fighting fury in the ring, she simply swamped Chelsey Arnell with powerful punches to take the English crown on December 1.

At the Holiday Inn, Birmingham Airport, Arnell showed bravery, but was soundly outpointed.

I fear the same fate awaits 36-year-old Buczynskyj who has lost four of nine, but has always stayed the distance.

She’s mixed in good company, however, and last April lost to Amy Andrew for the full Commonwealth title.

Linzi and Jess have met before, on the amateur circuit.

“We boxed in 2019 on the Christ the King (Coventry amateur club) outdoor show,” Jess said. “I won that, but it was a very competitive fight. In my head, I always wanted to fight her on a pro show. As an amateur, her style was very similar to mine – high paced and fast.

“I think it will be a good contest and exciting fight, which is what I want.”

Barry, with one loss on her ledger, isn’t allowing herself to be distracted by talk of big titles. “I’m taking it fight by fight, title by title,” she stressed. “It all builds up to the bigger picture. I need to get the experience in smaller title fights to get to the big ones.”

And those opportunities may be in the division below feather.

She added: “I think after this fight, we could be looking to drop down to super-bantam. I made that weight in the early 2020s and had to work really hard to do it.

“It’ll be difficult, but when you have a reason to make the weight it becomes easier. I’ll do it – it’s a challenge and I’m happy to take it.”

*The St Patrick’s show will also feature Cannock’s own Zach Evans and Birmingham based Bermudian Tyler Christopher.