JESS Barry takes something of a step into the unknown later this month when she takes part in her first overseas assignment, amateur or pro.
On Saturday, April 26, the 30-year-old English featherweight champ steps through the ropes at Salle du Mouzon, Auch, south west France.
In the opposite corner for the six rounder will be Orly’s Laela El Ksiri, a 39-year-old who has promised the French press: “It will be explosive.”
Laela does not have the statistics to suggest potential storm damage. As a pro, she has lost three of six (one draw).
In Coventry’s Barry, she faces a multi-titled champ with one loss in eight who is on top of her game.
Last time out, “The Banshee” added the Commonwealth silver belt to her collection by beating Linzi Buczynskyj in an all action 10 rounder.
The Continental contest has come courtesy of Cannock promoter Scott Murray and his links with the French promoter. Scott’s twins, Henry and Charles, are also fighting on the pro-am show.
Barry admits to knowing very little about El Ksiri, but neither she or manager Jon Pegg are losing sleep over the mystery woman.
They look on the bout as valuable “on the road experience” before titles beckon abroad.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Jess said. “My husband, Paddy, was a bit worried about it.
“He said: ‘you don’t know what it’s going to be like’. I’m not stressed about it, I’m going there to enjoy it, I look at it as the perfect experience.
“I don’t know anything about her – I don’t pay much attention to any of my opponents.
The emotions will be exactly the same and I don’t think the pressure will be as much as it has been in the last title fights.
“Here, the pressure has been higher because I’m close to the people promoting the fights, like Scott Murray – they are people I see day in, day out. They are putting in time and money to promote me and that brings a bit more pressure.”
There is also the pressure of a high-powered job away from the ring. Barry is a contract manager and sales engineer for SSC Energy Solutions and her client base includes Mercedes and Aston Martin. Her brief is to de-carbonise buildings.
That is a lot more complex than slipping a jab and countering
Pegg is matter-of-fact about next week’s match. He said: “If Jess is in the right mood, she does the job.
“Her opponent is 39, she’s lost to boxers I would expect Jess to beat, she is a super-bantamweight. Jess has every advantage.”
