Photo by: Jeff Lockhart @jefflockhartphoto /Frontproof Media
In her Super Flyweight Homecoming Bout at the Powerade Centre in Brampton, Ontario, on Saturday, Shelly Barnett (2-0) entertained her family and fans with an exciting 4-round shutout Unanimous Decision victory over Mariela Ribera Valverde (4-5, 3 KOs) of Bolivia.
Barnett stood steady and controlled, walking down her opponent for strategic advances. The jabs and double jabs were sharp.
Valverde kept backpedaling much of the 4 rounds, debilitating her ability to find a competing range.
Flurry of feisty hands landing upstairs hyped up Barnett’s hometown crowd in the 3rd Round. Valverde was able to fend off the attacks, while mounting some solid counter-punches of her own but was unable to equalize the point-counting fists of Barnett.
Official Scores: 40-36, 40-36, 40-36
Barnett spoke with us on her night: “It was a fun fight. It felt great getting to perform in front of my hometown crowd, especially my ailing father and family sitting ringside who were so proud.” She continued, “I️ really enjoyed the event and felt the promoters team did a great job making me feel almost like this event is made just for me 
. This has all just become an amazing experience!”
In self-critiquing, “Machine Gun” Shelly stated, “I️ felt a little slow starting off. It took me a little while to start finding her because she was keeping her distance.”
“By the third she did start coming with a little more which kinda put me in my comfort zone. I️ felt my offense started to come off as well I️ really started having fun by then. I didn’t quite feel finished by the end of the fourth. I️ felt ready for two more.”
“My team was wonderful. I️ felt set up with the best of best calm and ready!”
So what is next for Barnett?
“My next fight, I️ would really like to move to a six rounder. Ideally, I️ would like to fight again at the end of January and I️ would love to get the original opponent that was on Boxrec for some time – Virginia Carcamo (4-4-2 of Argentina). I️ say that because I️ have her in my head I️ trained for a month thinking I️ was fighting her. However I’ll take whatever God puts in front of me. I️ have been blessed to be able to do what I️ love as is and I️ will just keep following the direction that’s put in front of me.”
Congrats Champ!
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Jay Kemp, #NextGenChamp
Northwest Chicago Suburb native that has an aptitude for development of sports. Sports is my life, from youth to professional levels. I make things happen! I AM GOLDEN! Sports BIZness specialties include marketable presentation, public relations, sponsorship acquisition and retention, up-to-date marketing strategies, charitable projects and how they translate into positive public image. In addition to boxing, I am a nationally certified coach in the sports of lacrosse, soccer, and wrestling, with ties to many other sports. Telephone: 224-627-3777
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