Beibut Shumenov © Gene Blevins - Hoganphotos/Golden Boy

Not only was the former New Zealand Olympic medalist accessible to everyone interested in telling his tumultuous training story prior to Friday’s WBA light heavyweight fight between Beibut Shumenov and incumbent champion Gabriel Campillo… he’s been an equally stand-up guy afterward.

For those unaware, Shumenov became Barry’s first world championship client with a split 12-round decision over Campillo in the Fox Sports Net-televised main event from Las Vegas, though the verdict has been roundly criticized almost immediately since it was announced.

The Kazakhstan native won the belt by taking counts of 117-111 and 115-113 on the misguided scorecards of Patricia Morse-Jarman and Jerry Roth, while judge Levi Martinez rightfully saw Campillo a 117-111 superior.

For the record, I had it 118-110 on my card – giving Campillo all but the first and 10th rounds.

“I haven’t seen the reaction to the judging yet, though I’m sure they thought they won,” Barry said Monday. “I thought we had rounds 1 to 3, maybe 5, then a good finish in 10 and 11 and possibly 12. I knew it was close and I expected more, although it was a lot to do in only two months.”

Barry took over Shumenov’s corner after the youngster’s previous fight, a majority decision loss to Campillo last August that he claimed to have scored once for Shumenov, once for Campillo and once dead even upon reviewing the tape three times.

He said Shumenov – a 2004 Olympian now 9-1 as a professional – will return for a mandatory WBA defense against No. 2-ranked Ukrainian contender Vyacheslav Uzelkov by May 29, before possibly meeting Campillo in a rubber match.

“It hit me that we have a lot of work to do if he is to successfully defend his title,” Barry said. “I am thrilled more for Beibut, my wife and my parents. I know he is much better than he showed.”