By Jake Donovan
It happens to the very best of them. What you know really well often serves as what you do, but eventually reach a point where the passion is gone and it’s simply just a job.
Veteran trainer and 1984 Olympic silver medalist Kevin Barry had been around the game for what felt like forever, but a long and expensive lawsuit and several operations kept the New Zealand-bred boxing coach away from the spotlight since 2003.
The game never quite left him, but Barry reached a point in his life where he believed he had maxed out in what he would achieve from the game. It meant bringing several fighters – most notably heavyweight contender David Tua - to the top level, but having never manned a corner in which his guy left the ring with a world title around his waist.
A messy divorce with Tua – whom Barry had managed for 12 years and trained for three before splitting in 2003 – absorbed a tremendous amount of time, energy and money, to where he thought he was done with training world-class talent.
Then came “that” phone call.
On the other end wasn’t just any other fighter, but one who has aspired for greatness from the moment he first laced ‘em up. Self-managed light heavyweight Beibut Shumenov (8-1, 6KO) has quickly proven in just two years as a pro that he’s willing to put action behind the words he speaks.
Already among a resume merely nine fights deep are wins over two former titlists, another over a former title challenger and the near miss at the title level himself when he fell short against Gabriel Campillo in a bid for an alphabet light heavyweight title last summer.
Some have contended that Shumenov deserved the nod. The fighter himself, who represented his native Kazakhstan in the 2004 Olympics, refuses to accept moral victory, and has acknowledged that more could’ve been done to remove any doubt from the ringside judges.
With that came the decision to seek an upgrade in his corner, at which point Kevin Barry’s number was dialed. They have now been together for two months heading into this weekend’s rematch with Campillo at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada (Friday, FoxSportsNet, 11PM ET/8PM PT).
However, the call came well before that. What didn’t immediately follow, was Barry accepting the job.
“Life was going well, but I wasn’t hungering for anything on this level or this commitment,” admitted Barry, who was still training, but clientele ranging from Muay-Thai fighters to aspiring boxers disguised as doctors, bankers and night club owners.
None of it carried the same rush as preparing a fighter for a championship fight, but Barry wasn’t in a hurry to return to that level, which was why he initially rejected Shumenov’s request.
He would eventually have a change of heart after realizing the potential client was no ordinary Joe. The same persistence with which Shumenov exuded in obtaining Barry’s services matched the talent and commitment to excellence he’s already displayed in just two years as a pro.
“When Beibut first came to me, I wasn’t interested. But I’m glad I signed on with him. For someone who has such high goals for himself and defeated two world champions in just eight fights, it’s bloody unbelievable how committed he is to being the best.
“There are so many other young fighters who want 10-15 easy fights; they won’t enter the ring unless a win is practically guaranteed. A path like that gives Beibut nothing to train for. He’s a terrific physical specimen and trains with huge discipline and focus. That’s what eventually sold him to me, not just that he’s one fight away from becoming a world champion.”
This weekend’s fight gives Barry one more chance at being able to say he trained a champ. He served as Tua’s manager when the Samoan tried and failed miserably in his world title bid against Lennox Lewis in 2000. Even more frustrating was whom Tua had defeated before and after the failed title bid, but that he just couldn’t put it together when a belt was at stake.
“He knocked out for world champions, but never when the title was on the line.”
Two more fighters that had once graced his stable – Robbie Peden and Maselino Masoe – went on to win belts, but after having split from Barry and losing a few times before ultimately hitting paydirt.
Shumenov was favored to win in his first fight with Campillo and reassumes that role as they prepare to tangle again this weekend. Still, he and Barry have taken nothing for granted in this training camp. Natural talent and actual achievement are two separate matters, a bitter pill the fighter was forced to swallow the first time around.
No matter how well he fared last summer and how anyone scored the fight, there’s always room for improvement. Barry spotted it immediately and began making adjustments accordingly.
He believes the finished product is one that will strap a belt around his waist by the time the night is through, but not a scenario he envisioned even three months ago.
“This was off my radar and not something I was committed to doing” Barry admits. “Tua and I broke up after 12 years in 2003 and began a six-year court battle that, millions of dollars in legal fees later, finally ended last October.”
That’s not to say he had completely distanced himself from the game or spent that entire six-year period in a courtroom, but enough had taken place over that time to leave him to believe that he needed to head in a different direction.
Multiple surgeries kept him out of the gym for most of 2004 and 2005. There was also the major setback of highly touted Yemen heavyweight prospect Omran Awadi, who ran his record to 11-0 (11KO) before a car crash left him on the injured reserve list since 2002.
He’s back in the gym now “to see if he has anything left,” but what began as a magical run is now reduced to a comeback tale, at best.
“The marketing was perfect, but obviously didn’t work out. We’ll see what comes of it.”
All of the signs pointed to his finding new means to pay the bills, with the end of the legal battle with Tua representing what he believed would be the last time his name would be attached to any major boxing headline.
That equation dramatically changed the moment he gave in to Shumenov’s pleas to take over the reins for his career.
“I didn’t have any plans for the sport after the court battle; this opportunity has electrified my life.”
If all goes well enough on Friday, Barry can also look forward to being a part of boxing history – this time for the right reasons. He forever remains the answer to the trivia question of whom Evander Holyfield fought when he was disqualified in the medal round of the 1984 Olympics.
A win gives Shumenov a major title in just his 10th pro fight, easily eclipsing Jeff Harding's feat of getting there just 15 fights into his career – not a bad way at all to claim your first championship as a trainer.
Regardless of what happens this weekend, what is all the way back is Barry’s love for the game and desire to return to the top level. All because he gave in after a fighter refused to take no for an answer – and has given Barry every ounce of himself in the gym from the moment they hooked up.
“Beibut lives the life of a professional. He’s a tremendous trainer. He hasn’t been more than five pounds overweight the entire time I’ve been with him. He’s a very gifted athlete.
“I now look forward to getting back to the gym every day and I thank Beibut for that.”
With any luck – and a lot of hard work, his “you’re welcome” will come in the form of a championship finally strapped around one of his fighter’s waist.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com .