Born in West Ham, London, Barton served in the Royal Air Force and worked at Smithfield Market, and was ABA middleweight champion as an amateur, also representing Britain at the 1953 European Boxing Championships in Warsaw.
[4] In January 1955 he beat Arthur Howard in an eliminator for the British light-heavyweight title at the Royal Albert Hall.
In March 1956 he faced Albert Finch for the British light-heavyweight title at the Harringay Arena, stopping the defending champion in the eighth round.
Three months later he fought Gordon Wallace for the commonwealth title vacated by Randolph Turpin at Clapton Greyhound Track; Barton was knocked down four times but the fight went the full 15-round distance, with Wallace winning on points.
In 1983, Barton suffered a brain haemorrhage, leaving him with short term memory problems, but after 15 months off work he returned to his market job, until finally retiring aged 63.