Gym 01's Barry fights smart to pick up Shock N Awe success

But Gwyn Barry admitted the chance to take Calvin Reynolds to the ground and finish the fight was one he couldn't pass up.

The Gym 01 fighter delivered a first-round submission victory at Shock N Awe 28 on Saturday.

Barry locked in a tight rear naked choke, causing his opponent to tap out after 3min 23sec at Portsmouth Guildhall.

In the build-up to the contest, the University of Portsmouth graduate worked hard on developing his boxing.

But the 26-year-old quickly noticed a hole in Reynolds' game and exploited it.

And once the bout hit the mat, Barry was confident of delivering a finish.

He said: '˜I would have liked to have stayed standing a little bit longer.

'˜But he wasn't really bending his knees all that much and there was an opportunity to take him down and play to my strengths.

'˜I've been working so hard on my boxing I wanted to show it off a little bit.

'˜At the end of the day, though, you have got to fight smart.

'˜Sometimes you have to take the emotion out of it and do what's best for yourself.

'˜When it hit the ground I felt very, very confident.

'˜On the ground and taking people to the mat is my forte at the moment.

'˜But at the same time I don't want people sleeping on my stand up.

'˜It's only a matter of time until people test me there and find out what I've got.

'˜It was a good night and I'm feeling good.'

Barry's victory moved his professional record to 2-0.

It was his second submission win, after defeating Gareth Hales via armbar in April.

And Barry, who lives in Southsea, could rack up another success before the turn of the year, with a fight at Apocalypse Fight Series 7, at Bognor's Arun Leisure Centre on December 8, in the offing.

He added: '˜I'm waiting for confirmation but it's 95-per-cent certain I'll be fighting.

'˜I'm fresh and ready to go. I want to get in there and, win or lose, it's about putting that challenge in front of you and seeing what you're made of the day.

'˜Originally the plan was to have two pro fights this year so the third one will be a bonus.

'˜Now I'm looking forward to hopefully getting to 3-0 and I'd like five fights next year.'