Monte Two Gunz Barrett, Hot and Cold Heavyweight
By Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media Correspondent
New York, NY (January 19th, 2013)–During the years I have known Monte Barrett, as both a fighter and a friend, Monte became a heavyweight who underwent a unique transformation. Monte changed from top contender to a heavyweight gatekeeper whose motivation depended on his personal motivation and where he was emotionally at the moment.
Monte Barrett versus Tye Fields on Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HubYxbbswc
To understand Barrett, one has understand the career of hot and cold heavyweight Mike ‘Hercules’ Weaver, who knocked out John Tate to win the WBA heavyweight title in 1980. Weaver had the undistinguished professional record of 21-9, and was still successfully defending a share of the world title at age 44, and lost to Larry Holmes in his final bout at the age of 49. The hot and cold Weaver fought at the highest level of competition from pillar to post, even at the bitter end of his long career. Weaver somehow figured into six world heavyweight title bouts between 1972 and 2000. Jack Johnson and Sam Langford could not match his longevity.
Hot and cold fighters like Weaver and Barrett, it must be understood, often wind up in twilight fighting the best fighters of the division for some reason, as if the next fight might or might not be the last fight, sort of a ‘whatever take another fight’ attitude, with mixed results. Where it becomes interesting is when a mega contender actually loses to the hot and cold fighter, when it was not supposed to happen.
Monte Barrett’s resume is a who’s who of every prospect who did not make it, and every champion who did. A ‘I will test you to see what you have got’ gatekeeper of the heavyweight division, Monte has consistently fought the best at every turn of the heavyweight turnpike of his up and down career. What makes Monte interesting is the results of Monte’s top notch bouts are at times as confusing as they are fantastic.
Monte went to 21-0 before losing a 12 round split decision to Lance Whitaker. In his next ten fights, Monte won eight of them, losing only a majority decision to 27-0 Joe Mesi, and incurring a seventh round stoppage to Wladimir Klitschko in which Monte was knocked down seven times.
Monte came back, beating 24-0 Dominic Guinn, and 24-0 Owen Beck rather handily. Monte then charged into two WBC title bouts against Nicolai Valuev and Hasim Rahman, lost both, then lost and won bouts against Cliff Couser. After beating Damon Reed, then scoring a spectacular first round knockout of tall Tye Fields, Monte lost in England to David Haye.
Monte then lost a WBC international title bout to unbeaten Odlanier Solis, and lost a WBA international bout to unbeaten Alexander Ustinov. After drawing in a WBO regional title bout with David Tua, and drawing with Charles Davis, Monte seemed to be at the end of the line. In August 2011, Monte decisioned David Tua in New Zealand, fair revenge for getting robbed in Atlantic City in the previous bout when he had Tua down and had won the bout fairly (or so it seemed). Incredible when you realized Tua had not been beaten in ten years while ranked in the top ten! His last previous loss was a title decision loss to Chris Byrd in August 2001! When Monte is hot, he is hot, and Tua apparently had not gotten the message.
After getting knocked out in the fourth round by Shane Cameron in a WBO regional title bout in July 2012, Monte was idle as Cameron lost a 12 round decision to Danny Green for the IBO world cruiserweight title after going down in weight.
At age 41, Monte ‘Two Gunz’ Barrett remains inside the top 50 of Boxrec world ranked heavyweights. Monte may no longer be ranked in the top ten, but he remains a factor in the division for one simple reason: you never know what to expect from Monte. If Monte could find himself once and for all and put together a significant win streak, Monte could probably give Alexander Povetkin a run for his money and win the WBA world title. To do it, Monte would have to want to win bad and make a final run for a world title with dedication and seriousness.
Whatever you make of Monte Barrett, one thing is for sure: Monte’s been around. Monte’s 35-10-2 record should be 47-0. Why it’s not, the only person who knows for sure is Monte. In 2013, I predict Monte’s still got a few good bouts left in the tank. Monte’s the type who cannot stay away from the ring too long. If Monte returns now though, it should be for a title run, not a paycheck, but he has to be motivated in the right way to accomplish it. With Monte, inspiration has to come from within.
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