Has Barry bagged a major stadium bout?
Jess Barry…rumours of slot on UK v America card. Pic: Michael Ault
NO statement, nothing confirmed, but good sources are whispering Jess Barry has a big stadium fight.
I understand Coventry’s “Banshee” will fight on the huge UK v USA bill, staged by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions’ bill at the bp pulse LIVE arena in Birmingham on August 29.
And one local fighter’s slot on the show has already been publicly confirmed. Kirstie Bavington, from Pensnett, has a bout on the tournament prelim card. The two-time European champ will face unbeaten Gemma Richardson. It’s a step-up for the Lincolnshire hope after four contests.
For female fighters, the platform doesn’t get much bigger. Three-weight world champion Terri Harper faces Texan Miranda Reyes on the show, televised by Sky Sports. The bill-topper sees Colorado’s Mikaela Mayer against Chantelle Cameron: on the line is the American’s WBO, WBC and WBA world light-middleweight belts.
The word is 32-year-old Barry will face Texan Reina Tellez over eight rounds, though Jess or manager Jon Pegg are yet to comment. If so, it looks Barry’s stiffest test to date.
Tellez has lost only one of 15 – and that setback came in her last fight. In January, she faced world featherweight champ Amanda Serrano at short notice and gave a good account of herself over 10 rounds.
This is the kind of opportunity Barry has craved for and deserved. She’s aggressive, entertaining and has picked up significant silverware during her 10 bout career. In June, 2024, she halted Beccy Ferguson for the Midlands super-featherweight title. In December of that year, she outpointed Chelsey Arnell for the English featherweight belt and defended it last March by beating Linzi Buczynskyj.
She’s also had to overcome adversity, with a neck injury keeping Jess on the sidelines for 11 months. Barry returned four months ago, again beating Buczynski, this time over six rounds.
When news of the injury broke, Jess told me: “It’s heart-breaking, but I’ve competed in sport since I was six and never had an injury that’s put me out before. It’s really disappointing, but this one isn’t going to put me out. There were opponents I felt I was – I am – ready to fight and I was getting down to the weight where I want to be (super-bantam).
“It is what it is, I’ve got to put it down to experience and be ready to go in February or March. I just want to get the biggest fights I can – Tysie Gallagher, the people around there.”
Her wish appears to have been granted.
The MVP show really does look mouthwatering. Yorkshire’s Terri Harper, beaten by Caroline Dubois in an April world lightweight battle, said: "I'm excited for the quick turn around and grateful to be back out on such a great card.
"It's an honour to be representing team UK alongside some of the best fighters. It's time to get back to winning ways and push for more world titles."
Northampton’s Chantelle Cameron said: "I am over the moon this fight has been made. I've always said I want the biggest fights in women's boxing, and there isn't a bigger fight right now than me against Mikaela Mayer."