Jamaica native falls to giant in title fight

ROSEMONT, IL - A veteran boxer knows how to compensate for a sizable physical disadvantage with well-executed tactics and strategy. The 35-year old Queens native, Monte Barrett, a South Jamaica product and football player at John Adams, did just that, forcing the 7-foot Russian and WBA Heavyweight champion, Nikolai Valuev, to outbox him rather than rely on brute force.
Valuev, however, proved to be more than a Don King side-show act by withstanding a couple of tentative early rounds to retain his title with a dominant 11-round TKO Saturday night at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL.
Barrett (31-5), who weighed in at 223 pounds compared to the 328-pound Valuev (45-0, 33 knockouts), adopted a punch and grab game-plan that featured full-body thrusting haymakers. The violent swings might not have staggered the champion, but they prevented him from developing a rhythm as well as creating an unbearable pace with countless stoppages by the ref. Barrett exposed Valuev's stale body movement and lackluster jab, but the 6-foot-2 challenger eventually wore down, allowing the champion to turn the aggressor.
&#8220I haven't fought in the U.S. in a long time so I was a little nervous, and I needed to settle down more,” Valuev said. &#8220I knew after the 4th or 5th round that I was going to win but I'm never truly satisfied.”
Barrett swayed from his original style in the 8th and resorted to trading blows, leading to a straight right by Valuev that flung Barrett into the ropes. That shot appeared to drain Barrett of his equilibrium. Finally able to extend his massive arms, Valuev, who won a disputed decision over John Ruiz in Berlin last December to become the largest heavyweight champion, dropped Barrett with a jab later in the round.
Barrett regained some balance in the next two rounds to assure the 13,482 an entertaining conclusion. Flailing relentlessly, Barrett, a New York Golden Gloves winner at the age of 22, fought with the urgency of an aging warrior intent on cashing in on one last shot at stardom.
But Valuev pummeled him to the corner in the early seconds of the 11th. Barrett eventually fell to the canvas twice before his trainer jumped into the ring to stop the bout at 2:12 into the round.
&#8220He's a strong guy but I had to fight this fight,” Barrett said. &#8220My feelings are hurt a bit but I'm okay.”