Now Jess’ Excelsior fight is for two titles

Barry after winning the English featherweight title in December

BANSHEE Jess Barry will now have two titles on the line when she headlines Scott Murray’s glitzy St Patrick’s dinner show at the Excelsior Sporting Club, Cannock, next Thursday (March 6).

She’ll also have the chance to impress one of the game’s true legends – Barry McGuigan is a guest at the red carpet gathering.

The Coventry 30-year-old – recently crowned Midlands champion of champions by the Board of Control – was originally scheduled to face Bolton’s Linzi Buczynskyj for the Commonwealth featherweight silver belt.

It has now been announced the bout will also be a defence of the English title Jess won last December.

Barry, who has lost only one of seven, said: “That was something Linzi said she wanted when the fight was agreed.”

That granted wish is, I fear, one of the few things that will go 36-year-old Buczynskj’s way. She’s lost four of nine and may suffer another setback on Thursday.

Jess added: “I don’t think this is the kind of fight to be introducing new things. This is a fight to show what I can do, do what works for me.

“I have been working on things in sparring, making what I do better.”

A second title fight on the show has fallen by the wayside. Hereford soldier Cliff Henry – a remarkable physical specimen at 43 – was to have defended his Midlands light-heavyweight championship against Ryan Whelan. The challenger is a member of well-known Nechells fight family, the Holts.

Unfortunately, the champ has been forced to pull out through injury. Whelan will now fight in an eight-rounder, with the opponent yet to be named.