Barry, Gurung beat drum for title fights
Face to face…Gurung and Underwood Hughes. Pictures: Aidan Hewitt
TWO Warwickshire warriors beat the drum for forthcoming titles on Sunday.
But at the press conference for Scott Murray’s September 13 super-show at Chase Leisure Centre, Cannock, only one was able to indulge in the traditional “face off” for cameras.
Nuneaton’s Minaaz Gurung and Joe Underwood Hughes, who meet for the vacant Midlands super-lightweight title, went through the now obligatory theatrics, but showed respect in interviews.
Coventry’s English featherweight champ Jess Barry – fighting for an international belt on Scott Murray’s promotion – was present. Her opponent, Stevi Levy, was not.
It’s a show that merited the packed conference at Scott’s Premier Suite, Cannock. Sam Eggington headlines, there are four titles fights and still hope of increasing that tally to six. There’s English super-bantam champ Nyall Berry. There’s the UK debut of American Craig Parker, a cruiserweight who has won all his 20 bouts by knockout.
“I’d put him up against any British opponent right now,” Scott said. “If everything goes to plan, next year he will be fighting for a world title.”
The night will be a busy one for Nuneaton trainer Lee Spare. As well as Gurung, he has Ashlee Eales and Leo Fanthome on the undercard.
Gurung, unbeaten in five, informed the crowd: “I’m the only Nepalese boxer in Britain – we have a pretty big Nepalese community in Nuneaton.
Of his Beeston, Nottinghamshire, opponent, he said: “I respect him as a fighter, but I’m coming to show I’m the boy.”
Hughes admitted to knowing nothing about Gurung. “I didn’t know he was Nepalese until I sat next to him,” he said. “It’s a belt and a stepping stone to another belt – that’s why I took the fight. I came back from holiday, this was offered and I took it.”
“Banshee” Barry knows all about her opponent, Levy, the current European silver champ from Kings Lynn.
Jess Barry addresses the audience at Sunday’s press call
“We fought an exhibition,” she said, “which turned into a war. We sparred two years ago – I’m not taking too much from that because I’ve improved and I’m not sure what she’s been up to. I’ve got the next fight to get through, then I can’t see why I shouldn’t be in there (against the very best).
Jess added: “Losing is never an option. Boxing is 90 per cent in your mind, your mental attitude is one of your tools.
“I lost once (in nine fights) because I tried to change the way I box and didn’t box my game. I have to make sure the best version of me turns up on the night.”