Tellez will tell us just how good Barry is

Jess Barry…all smiles at the press conference. Picture: Julie Lockley

FOR Jess Barry, the big time – truly big time – is a mere 16 minutes of action away.

For Barry, August 29 represents a leap into world class after a four year career spent collecting silverware at domestic level. From small halls, the 32-year-old will step on the very big stage at Birmingham’s BP Pulse Live arena as part of MVP’s ambitious UK v USA female tournament.

With Sky Sports cameras trained on her, Coventry’s “Banshee” will face former world featherweight title challenger Reina Tellez, a Texan who has lost only one of 15.

After beating Linzi Buczynski – a gritty Bolton performer who has lost 11 of 17, Jess is taking the kind of rise in levels that could give a boxer the bends.

And she refreshingly admits the arena battle is a step into the unknown. “I have no idea how I’ll cope with it on the night,” Barry told me during the press conference to publicise the lavish show.

That’s where Eastside gym’s Jon Pegg and Paul “Soggy” Counihan, both veterans of major, televised bills, will play a key part.

“I deal with the small hall shows well,” Barry said. “With a promoter and manager investing a lot of money to put you on small hall shows, there’s more pressure because you feel you need to win for everyone else. People expect you to win, but you can have a bad night.

“With this fight, most people don’t expect me to win, I’m the underdog and think I’ll thrive on that.”

The bottom line is, we’ll find out exactly what Barry, who has lost only one of 10 and collected Midlands, Commonwealth and English honours, brings to the table. We’ll discover her level.

She’s aggressive and all action, but will those fiery traits play into the hands of Tellez, who is equally come forward?

Tellez, at 23, nine years younger than Barry, last fought in January. She faced Puerto Rico’s world featherweight champ Amanda Serrano at short notice in San Juan and gave a very good account of herself.

Serrano took a clear decision over the unusual distance of 10, three minute rounds – women are usually restricted to two minutes, but ended the contests marked up. She was dragged into a battle.

Barry, after a career hampered by injury and fight cancellations, has earned her chance. For the 32-year-old, the step-up could not wait much longer: there isn’t time to tread water.

“I don’t think I could walk away,” she said, “but if it didn’t happen now, I’d question my reasons for going on. I do think I’d have to start thinking about my family needs more than my boxing needs.”

Understandably, she and her husband want children.

At one point, Barry’s future in the sport was questioned after a string of serious injuries, yet she grafted to overcome the setbacks and after nine months away from the ring came back with the win over Buczynskyj in March.

“I think I’ve improved immeasurably, even with the injuries,” she said. “I’m sparring better than I ever have. I have to concentrate on what I do well, I haven’t changed my style.

“I’ve been sparring with very aggressive boxers to get used to boxing more on the back foot.”

If Barry wins, she’s in world class and within touching distance of big names, big opportunities: as she put it: “I’ve shown I deserve to be there.”

But she added: “I don’t even look at the future, I look at the fight. I look at the small success knowing they always lead to bigger successes.”

Tellez turned pro after an outstanding amateur career, the long list of honours including gold at the 2015 and 2017 National Junior Olympics, winning the 2018 National Golden Gloves championships, striking silver at the 2018 and 2019 National Junior Olympics.

She warned: “On August 29, I’ll step into that ring with one purpose, to show the world that I’m an elite fighter.

“I respect Jessica Barry for accepting the challenge, but when that bell rings, respect gives way to determination.

“I’m coming to represent the USA with pride, fight with heart, and leave everything in the ring. Because I have plenty of time to get ready for this fight, I’ll be on another level. Expect fireworks, expect me to be at my best, I’m coming with everything I got.”

For female fighters, the BP Pulse Live 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.

Barry has the major venue, she has the mass audience. Now it’s time to show she belongs in that setting.