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. Later, he won a regional heavyweight title. 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. 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
48LossLuis OrtizKO4, 0:38Apr 3, 2014Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
47Loss35–10–2Shane CameronKO4, 0:18Jul 5, 2012SkyCity, Auckland, New ZealandLost WBO Asia Pacific and WBO Oriental heavyweight titles
46Win35–9–2David TuaUD12Aug 13, 2011TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre, Auckland, New ZealandWon WBO Asia Pacific and WBO Oriental heavyweight titles
45Draw34–9–2Charles DavisMD8Jan 22, 2011The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, U.S.
44Draw34–9–1David Tua12Jul 17, 2010Tropicana Casino & Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For WBO Asia Pacific and WBO Oriental heavyweight titles
43Loss34–9Alexander UstinovUD12Dec 12, 2009PostFinance Arena, Bern, SwitzerlandFor vacant WBA International heavyweight title
42Loss34–8Odlanier SolísTKO2, 1:54Oct 10, 2009The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.For WBC International heavyweight title
41Loss34–7David HayeTKO5, 1:28Nov 15, 2008The O2 Arena, London, England
40Win34–6Tye FieldsKO1, 0:57Jun 28, 2008Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
39Win33–6Damon ReedKO2, 2:47Feb 2, 2008944 Super Village, Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
38Win32–6Cliff CouserTKO2, 2:16Dec 6, 2007Paradise Theater, New York City, New York, U.S.
37Loss31–6Cliff CouserTKO2, 2:42Jul 7, 2007The Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
36Loss31–5Nikolai ValuevTKO11, 2:12Oct 7, 2006Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois, U.S.For WBA heavyweight title
35Loss31–4Hasim RahmanUD12Aug 13, 2005United Center, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.For WBC interim heavyweight title
34Win31–3Owen BeckTKO9, 2:52Feb 5, 2005Savvis Center, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
33Win30–3Dominick GuinnSD10Mar 27, 2004Alltel Arena, Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
32Loss29–3Joe Mesi10Dec 6, 2003Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
31Win29–2Eric KirklandTKO10, 2:34Oct 3, 2003Sandia Resort & Casino Albuquerque, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
30Win28–2Robert WigginsSD10Mar 8, 2003Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
29Win27–2Terry PorterUD6Mar 8, 2003Marconi Automotive Museum, Tustin, California, U.S.
28Win26–2Robert DavisUD10Sep 28, 2001Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
27Win25–2Tim WitherspoonSD10Jun 8, 2001Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York, U.S.
26Win24–2Mario CawleyTKO9, 2:34Jan 7, 2001Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
25Loss23–2Wladimir KlitschkoTKO7, 2:40Jul 15, 2000London Arena, London, England
24Win23–1Jimmy ThunderTKO7, 0:52Feb 24, 2000Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, New York, U.S.
23Win22–1Derrick BanksUD10Jan 27, 2000Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, New York, U.S.
22Loss21–1Lance Whitaker12Aug 28, 1999The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title
21Win21–0Tim RayKO1, 1:31Jul 25, 1999Harrah's, North Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
20Win20–0Phil JacksonUD12Apr 3, 1999New Frontier Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title
19Win19–0Greg PageUD10Oct 23, 1998Trump Marina, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
18Win18–0Bryant SmithUD10Sep 11, 1998Raceway, Yonkers, New York, U.S.
17Win17–0Derek AmosTKO8 Jun 19, 1998Trump Marina, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
16Win16–0Louis Monaco6May 9, 1998Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
15Win15–0Jeff PeguesTKO1 Mar 27, 1998Trump Marina, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
14Win14–0Guy SonnenbergTKO4, 2:30Jan 16, 1998Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
13Win13–0Santiago De PaulaTKO3 Nov 21, 1997Raceway, Yonkers, New York, U.S.
12Win12–0Val SmithTKO6 Nov 1, 1997Apollo Theater, New York City, New York, U.S.
11Win11–0Billy LewisKO1 Oct 2, 1997Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
10Win10–0Kevin BristerTKO1 Jul 13, 1997Raceway, Yonkers, New York, U.S.
9Win9–0Juan QuintanaPTS6May 17, 1997Dover, New Hampshire, U.S.
8Win8–0Lee AlhassanPTS6May 1, 1997Convention Hall, Asbury Park, New Jersey, U.S.
7Win7–0Ron McCarthyPTS6Mar 14, 1997Pepsi Arena, Albany, New York, U.S.
6Win6–0Russell PerryKO1 Jan 31, 1997Raceway, Yonkers, New York, U.S.
5Win5–0Frank Grazier1 Jan 21, 1997Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
4Win4–0Mitchell Rose4Nov 8, 1996Raceway, Yonkers, New York, U.S.
3Win3–0Andre HorneTKO1 Oct 5, 1996Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
2Win2–0Scott MarcantonioTKO1 Sep 18, 1996Westbury Music Fair, North Hempstead, New York, U.S.
1Win1–0Jamal Edwards1 Aug 16, 1996Raceway, Yonkers, New York, U.S.