Monte Barrett


Monte Barrett is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1996 to 2014. He challenged once for the WBA heavyweight title in 2006, and fought many top heavyweight champions and contenders during his career.

Amateur career

Barrett had 40 amateur fights, finishing his amateur career with 37-3 record, signed a contract with Joe De Guardia and turned pro in 1996.

Professional career

As a professional, Barrett had 21 consecutive wins before losing against Lance Whitaker on August 28, 1998. He won a heavyweight title later. Barrett fought Phil Jackson for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight title on April 3, 1999. On July 15, 2000, Barrett rose 5 times against future International Boxing Federation heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, but ultimately was knocked out after 3 knockdowns in the 7th round. He also fought contender Joe Mesi in a fight that saw both fighters go down but one in which, ultimately, Mesi prevailed by ten round majority decision. Barrett defeated prospects Dominick Guinn and Owen Beck, the latter in an elimination bout for a shot at either the IBF title or the WBC title. After Klitschko injured his back, Barrett fought Hasim Rahman for the WBC interim title and lost by unanimous decision after 12 rounds.
Despite his loss, he fought World Boxing Association heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev in October at Rosemont, Illinois. Barrett lost via technical knockout in the 11th round. Barrett was knocked down in the eighth and eleventh rounds, but managed to get up. After being knocked down for the second time in the eleventh round, his trainer, James Ali Basheer, jumped into the ring to stop the fight.
Barrett was beaten in the second round in a July 2007 bout against Cliff Couser. Barrett avenged this loss in a December 2007 rematch in which he stopped Couser in the second round. After knocking out Damon Reed, Barrett knocked out Tye Fields in the first round on June 28, 2008, his last win.
Barrett lost to former cruiserweight champion David Haye on November 15, 2008, at the O2 arena in London, by knockout at 1:28 fifth round, after being put down five times in the fight. Haye then beat Nicolai Valuev, who had beaten Monte by an eleventh round stoppage in October 2006, to win the WBA's share of the world heavyweight title.
Monte fought Odlanier Solís on October 10, 2009, but lost by second round technical knockout. He then fought Alexander Ustinov on December 12, 2009 but lost a unanimous decision after 12 rounds.
On July 17, 2010 Barrett drew against David Tua in his final fight. Tua dominated the early rounds through aggression, but Barrett took control in the later rounds and scored a knockdown in the 12th. The bout resulted in a controversial draw with two judges scoring the fight 113–113 and the third a 115–111 result to Tua. On August 7, 2010, appearing ringside at a fight card at Aviator Arena in Brooklyn, New York, in a brief interview, Barrett confirmed his retirement from the ring and his intention to take a job offered to him in private industry. On August 21, 2010, Barrett entered the ring at The Prudential Center in Newark after IBF International heavyweight champion Tomas Adamek won a decision over Michael Grant. Seeking to come out of retirement, Barrett congratulated and challenged Adamek to a 12 round bout. However, after fighting to an eight round draw in Virginia with Charles Davis in January 2011, Barrett began training for a rematch with David Tua which was held in New Zealand. On August 13, 2011, Barrett defeated Tua via unanimous decision and won the WBO Asia Pacific and WBO Oriental Heavyweight titles. In December 2011, it emerged Monte Barrett tested positive for banned stimulant methylhex-anemine following a urine test after his August 13 points decision over the Kiwi-Samoan boxer. Blair Edwards Tua'a lawyer, called for action against the 40-year-old New Yorker requesting the return of Tua's WBO Asia-Pacific and Oriental titles and restoration of ranking points.
Barrett fought New Zealander Shane Cameron on July 5, 2012 with the winner becoming the number one contender to fight NZPBA title holder Sonny Bill Williams. Days before the fight he admitted the Shane Cameron fight would be "a challenge", but that was spurring him on to win. Barrett also stated that he would look for a third fight with David Tua, after he had beaten Cameron. However he was knocked out in the 4th round with a right hand and lost the titles that he had won against David Tua the previous year.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
48Loss35–11–2 Luis OrtizKO4, 0:38Apr 3, 2014 Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
47Loss35–10–2 Shane CameronKO4, 0:18Jul 5, 2012 SkyCity, Auckland, New ZealandLost WBO Asia Pacific and WBO Oriental heavyweight titles
46Win35–9–2 David TuaUD12Aug 13, 2011 TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre, Auckland, New ZealandWon WBO Asia Pacific and WBO Oriental heavyweight titles
45Draw34–9–2 Charles DavisMD8Jan 22, 2011 The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, U.S.
44Draw34–9–1 David Tua12Jul 17, 2010 Tropicana Casino & Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For WBO Asia Pacific and WBO Oriental heavyweight titles
43Loss34–9 Alexander UstinovUD12Dec 12, 2009 PostFinance Arena, Bern, SwitzerlandFor vacant WBA International heavyweight title
42Loss34–8 Odlanier SolísTKO2, 1:54Oct 10, 2009 The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.For WBC International heavyweight title
41Loss34–7 David HayeTKO5, 1:28Nov 15, 2008 The O2 Arena, London, England
40Win34–6 Tye FieldsKO1, 0:57Jun 28, 2008 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
39Win33–6 Damon ReedKO2, 2:47Feb 2, 2008 944 Super Village, Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
38Win32–6 Cliff CouserTKO2, 2:16Dec 6, 2007 Paradise Theater, New York City, New York, U.S.
37Loss31–6 Cliff CouserTKO2, 2:42Jul 7, 2007 The Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
36Loss31–5 Nikolai ValuevTKO11, 2:12Oct 7, 2006 Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois, U.S.For WBA heavyweight title
35Loss31–4 Hasim RahmanUD12Aug 13, 2005 United Center, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.For WBC interim heavyweight title
34Win31–3 Owen BeckTKO9, 2:52Feb 5, 2005 Savvis Center, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
33Win30–3 Dominick GuinnSD10Mar 27, 2004 Alltel Arena, Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
32Loss29–3 Joe Mesi10Dec 6, 2003 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
31Win29–2 Eric KirklandTKO10, 2:34Oct 3, 2003 Sandia Resort & Casino Albuquerque, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
30Win28–2 Robert WigginsSD10Mar 8, 2003 Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
29Win27–2 Terry PorterUD6Mar 8, 2003 Marconi Automotive Museum, Tustin, California, U.S.
28Win26–2 Robert DavisUD10Sep 28, 2001 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
27Win25–2 Tim WitherspoonSD10Jun 8, 2001 Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York, U.S.
26Win24–2 Mario CawleyTKO9, 2:34Jan 7, 2001 Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
25Loss23–2 Wladimir KlitschkoTKO7, 2:40Jul 15, 2000 London Arena, London, England
24Win23–1 Jimmy ThunderTKO7, 0:52Feb 24, 2000 Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, New York, U.S.
23Win22–1 Derrick BanksUD10Jan 27, 2000 Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, New York, U.S.
22Loss21–1 Lance Whitaker12Aug 28, 1999 The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title
21Win21–0 Tim RayKO1, 1:31Jul 25, 1999 Harrah's, North Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
20Win20–0 Phil JacksonUD12Apr 3, 1999 New Frontier Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title
19Win19–0 Greg PageUD10Oct 23, 1998 Trump Marina, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
18Win18–0 Bryant SmithUD10Sep 11, 1998 Raceway, Yonkers, New York, U.S.
17Win17–0 Derek AmosTKO8 Jun 19, 1998 Trump Marina, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
16Win16–0 Louis Monaco6May 9, 1998 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
15Win15–0 Jeff PeguesTKO1 Mar 27, 1998 Trump Marina, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
14Win14–0 Guy SonnenbergTKO4, 2:30Jan 16, 1998 Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
13Win13–0 Santiago De PaulaTKO3 Nov 21, 1997 Raceway, Yonkers, New York, U.S.
12Win12–0 Val SmithTKO6 Nov 1, 1997 Apollo Theater, New York City, New York, U.S.
11Win11–0 Billy LewisKO1 Oct 2, 1997 Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
10Win10–0 Kevin BristerTKO1 Jul 13, 1997 Raceway, Yonkers, New York, U.S.
9Win9–0 Juan QuintanaPTS6May 17, 1997 Dover, New Hampshire, U.S.
8Win8–0 Lee AlhassanPTS6May 1, 1997 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, New Jersey, U.S.
7Win7–0 Ron McCarthyPTS6Mar 14, 1997 Pepsi Arena, Albany, New York, U.S.
6Win6–0 Russell PerryKO1 Jan 31, 1997 Raceway, Yonkers, New York, U.S.
5Win5–0 Frank Grazier1 Jan 21, 1997 Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
4Win4–0 Mitchell Rose4Nov 8, 1996 Raceway, Yonkers, New York, U.S.
3Win3–0 Andre HorneTKO1 Oct 5, 1996 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
2Win2–0 Scott MarcantonioTKO1 Sep 18, 1996 Westbury Music Fair, North Hempstead, New York, U.S.
1Win1–0 Jamal Edwards1 Aug 16, 1996 Raceway, Yonkers, New York, U.S.