In November 1988 he beat Kevin Plant on points in his home city to win the vacant BBBofC Central Area light welterweight title.
[7] He made three successful defences of the European title, against Salvatore Nardino, Mark McCreath, and Racheed Lawal, stopping all three challengers.
In July 1992 he challenged for Manning Galloway's WBO World welterweight title at the G-Mex Centre, losing a unanimous decision, after the fight had been postponed several times, a situation that led him to leave promoter Mickey Duff to join Frank Warren's stable.
[9] Legal problems led Barrett to leave the UK and travel to the United States to work with Lennox Lewis's former trainer John Davenport in the hope of securing a multi-fight contract and a second world title fight, and in March 1994 stopped journeyman Donnie Parker in four rounds.
[11] He denied all knowledge of the gun and drugs, claiming that he was set up (he was arrested as a result of an anonymous tip off), but was sentenced to two consecutive three-month terms in prison.
[5] Barrett went on to run a security company and work as a trainer at the Moston and Collyhurst Gym, initially under Hughes, but later running the gym with Thomas McDonagh after Hughes retired, working with boxers such as Scott Quigg, Matty Hall, Matty Askin, and Barrett's nephew Zelfa.