Jessica Barry: “I said from the start I wanted to prove my level and make a statement, and I did exactly that.”

Jessica Barry: “I said from the start I wanted to prove my level and make a statement, and I did exactly that.”

It was her moment in the sun. The bright lights of a Most Valuable Promotions and Sky Sports production. Jake Paul was ringside. It was also a step up in class for Jessica Barry. Reina Tellez was in the opposite corner in Birmingham. A 23-year-old American who had only lost to Amanda Serrano. Despite coming up short on the cards after ten incredibly hard, but competitive rounds, Barry still made a point.

“My initial thoughts were, I was extremely gutted,” the 32-year-old told FightPost. “I had 100% belief that I could win the fight going into it. So with it being close and losing, I felt really rubbish. But after a bit I was happy with the outcome. I said from the start I wanted to prove my level and make a statement, and I did exactly that, so I have to take that as a positive.”

“The performance has given me a lot more confidence and belief,” Barry added. “Most of this previously came from my corner team saying that I’m good enough to be up there. But now I have proved it to myself and everyone else.”

Barry is now only looking ahead. Her profile has been elevated. A few more doubters have been convinced by her talents. There are seemingly quite a few options open to her. “There were a few title fights that had been offered to me whilst I was already in contract to fight for MVP,” Barry says. “So I think my manager is looking at pursuing one of those this side of Christmas. Next year, I would like to push for British or a WBC belt.”

The fight in Birmingham against Tellez was a far cry from the small hall circuit that Barry normally operates on. It was a relentless fight week full of media obligations. In many ways, a learning curve for Barry.

“The fighting didn’t feel any different,” Barry says of that week. “Surprisingly, I thought I’d get nervous, but I didn’t. The whole week and the media were strange. A lot of people love that stuff and that side of boxing, but I just love fighting. If more people get to see it because it’s on Sky Sports, then that’s great. Being off work for the week to do media stuff for MVP, and then going back to work the week after was proper strange, though it certainly brought me back down to earth. One thing I would say, though, is MVP look after you very well, and the whole week you feel well looked after.”

Barry had little time to enjoy and reflect on her MVP experience. “I went straight back the week after. I’m a project sales engineer and key accounts manager for SSE Energy Solutions. It’s a very stressful, high-paced career. I was a BMS engineer, but SSE allowed me to work more flexibly in this role instead. It’s not the kind of job where you just turn up and do the minimum hours.”

Many outside of the sport don’t know that most fighters don’t do it full time. Only a very few don’t have to do a day job. Only a small minority can make money from their sport. Barry has to work to supplement her boxing career.

“I actually lose out on money by being a boxer,” Barry told me. “I buy additional holidays every year, so I can take more time out to spar leading up to a fight. There are also many roles within my industry which I have spent years training and qualifying for that I can’t do because the hours and working away wouldn’t work with my boxing.

“I’ve never earned enough from a fight before this last one to even cover my yearly medicals. So, I won’t be quitting the day job anytime soon. I think when you’re asking people for sponsorship, they think it’s just going towards a lavish lifestyle, alongside your boxing purse. But the realistic side is all of your money for the first god knows how many years just gets pumped back into your investment for boxing. Well, mine has, anyway.”

Jessica Barry will hope the manner of her performance against Tellez finally brings some kind of reward for that investment. It should.

Photo Credit: Most Valuable Promotions