Barnes made his professional debut in July 2001 when at the Manchester Velodrome he stopped Trevor Smith in the second round of their four-round match.
After compiling an undefeated ledger of 12-0 he was just two years later in July 2003 given the opportunity to fight for the vacant British Welterweight title against the experienced Jimmy Vincent.
He re-entered the ring in December 2003 to defend for the first time against Scotsman Kevin McIntyre at the MEN Arena in Manchester winning when the fight was stopped after the eighth round.
The opponent at the George Carnall Center in Davyhulme was former European champion Ted Bami and Barnes ran out a comfortable points winner becoming the first man to have held the British title at welter and light welterweight.
Barnes did not fight again until 4 December 2009 when he competed in the light welterweight version of the Prizefighter series and ironically was drawn to face the man he should have defended his British title against, Colin Lynes in the quarter finals.