At age 40, Monte Barrett is in the final stage of his professional boxing career. The Queens product never won “The Big One,” but he’s usually been around the top of the division, giving hell to everyone just short of the elite level.
His career is like that of his next opponent David Tua, who Barrett faces on August 13 at the TelstraClear Pacific in Manukau City, New Zealand, in a rematch of their controversial draw a year ago. The show is called “Redemption,” but Barrett wonders who stands to be redeemed more.
“I think it’s more for me than him,” said Barrett, 34-9-2 (20 KO), who grew up in Queens, but has lived in Bayonne, New Jersey for the past two years.
“Tua and I have unfinished business. That’s why the rematch is something I wanted and he wanted as well.”
After a shaky beginning to their first fight, Barrett found his rhythm in the middle rounds, peppering Tua with punches as the Samoan fan favorite started to slow down. Barrett scored the first legitimate knockdown of the anvil-chinned Tua in the 12th and final round, which some felt was enough to earn Barrett the decision.
Should he emerge victorious in the rematch, Barrett said Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith has promised a victory parade through the Hudson County city.
Prior to the first Tua fight, Barrett had one foot in the sport and one out of it as he eyed a position with HBO Sports. Barrett said that HBO Senior Vice President of Sports Programming Kery Davis reached out to him last year and offered him a position similar to the late Arthur Curry’s – as a liaison between the fighters, executives and the community.
“I felt like I could have longevity at HBO. I’ve reaped the fruits of my labor and this would be my reward, being able to do something for boxing on the executive end,” he said. “That’s why I thought that would be my last fight.”
Barrett said the job fell through when AOL Time Warner, which owns HBO, put a freeze on new hires at HBO some time after Davis’ right hand man, Luis Barragan, left the company to enlist in the military.
With HBO on hold, Barrett’s options were simple; continue boxing and seek fights with re-emerging heavyweight Cris Arreola or a rematch with former champ David Haye.
He is considering going to pro wrestling school.
Barrett’s friend John Cena – a former WWE champion – has encouraged the 6-foot-3, 220 pound Barrett to give it a try in another sort of ring. Cena has offered to have Barrett train at WWE’s developmental program Florida Championship Wrestling in Tampa.
Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson and others have been a part of wrestling events in the past, as competitors, special guest referees and “special enforcers.”
Barrett had stopped following wrestling for a number of years, picking it up again when his son – one of Barrett’s six children – started becoming an avid follower.
Barrett, whose best weapon throughout his boxing career has been his overhand right, sometimes winged from the side, would need a more aesthetically pleasing finisher, and it’s something that he’s already given thought to.
“I thought about bringing the Cobra Clutch back, I love that by Sgt. Slaughter,” said Barrett. “I love the figure four leg-lock by Greg Valentine and Ric Flair. I love the cross-faced chicken wing by Bob Backlund. Those are my favorite moves. I’m not gonna be a Jimmy Snuka jumping off the top rope. I love the energy of the Ultimate Warrior and ‘Mr. Wonderful’ Paul Orndoff.”
WWE Hall of Fame wrestler Johnny Rodz runs “Johnny Rodz School of Wrestling” out of the famed boxing academy Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn. Rodz boasts former WWE and ECW stars The Dudley Boyz, Tazz and Tommy Dreamer among his students.
Rodz, whose real name is Johnny Rodriguez, said that a professional athlete like Barrett coming from another sport could successfully make the transition to pro wrestling, even at the age of 40. It all depends on how much Barrett is willing to commit to the training.
“If he’s been a good athlete at 40, he’s still a baby,” said Rodz. “A 21-year-old can’t do nothing if he’s a bum. You have guys who are 21 but look like they’re 40. If he’s a good athlete, then he has ten years of action left in him.”
Barrett isn’t committing to a decision.
“My whole thing always was to have options, so the only thing I’m focusing on is this fight at this point in time,” said Barrett. “After this fight and I come home then I can clear my head and think about my next move.”
For now, the only ring Barrett is concerned about is the boxing ring.
“After I beat David Tua and come back, then I’ll start weighing my options,” he said.
Ryan Songalia is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and contributes to GMA News and the Filipino Reporter newspaper in New York City. He can be reached at ryan@ryansongalia.com. An archive of his work can be found at www.ryansongalia.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ryansongalia
