Barry blazes her way to six round title win

Jess Barry clutches the Midlands title belt. Pic: Jack Perry

COVENTRY “Banshee” Jess Barry unleashed a blizzard of blows to overwhelm Beccy Ferguson – and collect the first title of her short career.

At the city’s Sports Connexions last night, Ferguson, the defending Midlands junior-lightweight champ (I’m old school and avoid the modern super-feather title), was simply swamped by leather.

With each round, the fire Barry brought into the ring burned with greater intensity – and Ferguson melted.

It was one-way traffic from the off – and a succession of heavy right hands prompted the Stoke boxer’s corner to signal surrender at 55 seconds of the sixth.

Barry, on the biggest night of her six bout career, fought like the Duracell bunny on acid. The Potteries titleholder attempted to fend her off with counters, but it was akin to flinging ping-pong balls at a Chieftain tank.

Barry (9st 2lbs 10oz) now rules the Midlands at 9st 4lbs, but told me afterwards her reign will be short-lived. The 29-year-old plans to move down to featherweight.

“Moments like this last for three seconds,” Jess told me, “then it’s on to the next. I want bigger titles – at feather.”

Of the fight itself, Barry said: “I was having fun. I knew she was tough and I had to make sure I didn’t get involved.

“I started fast and stayed on her chest. The plan was to go to the body and break her down.”

That, in essence, was the story of the fight.

Stoke’s Ferguson, far more experienced with 16 contests and three 10 rounders under her belt, tried to steady the ship with southpaw counters, but was under intense pressure from the opening moments.

Barry blazed away with punches from both hands in the second and, by the third, the sound of her clumping shots to head and body resounded around the hall.

By the end of that session, brave Beccy (9st 3lb 10oz) appeared dejected in her corner. And things only got worse for the champ.

Barry feinted with her feet, rolled under Ferguson’s long punches and beat a savage rhythm to face and torso.

The spirit was seeping from Ferguson. After she was nailed by a succession of heavy rights in her own corner, the towel was waved by her team.

Ferguson told me afterwards: “I knew it was going to be tough.”

I doubt she expected it to be that tough.