He also successfully competed as an amateur boxer, winning a Golden Gloves title in his native Georgia and then relocating to New York City to train under Rob Rogan at Square Circe Muay Thai in Manhattan, Jason Strout for Striking at Church Street Boxing and Kelly Richardson at the Renzo Gracie Fight Academy in Brooklyn.
[1] Notable sparring partners of his include Douglas Lima, Jarrell Miller, James Besselman, Costas Philippou, Brian Stann, Gian Villante, David Branch and Eddie Walker.
[6] Barrett made his professional debut on February 22, 2013, at Take-On Muay Thai XIX, winning by technical knockout after forcing twelve fight pro Strahinja Ivanović to retire in round two.
[8][9][10] In the reserve match for the Glory 10: Los Angeles - Middleweight World Championship Tournament in Ontario, California on September 28, 2013, Barrett delivered another impressive performance as he knocked out the overmatched Robby Plotkin in the first round after flooring him earlier.
[17][18] He drew Bogdan Stoica in the quarter-finals and won via third-round knockout when he countered one of the Romanian's signature flying knees with a vicious left hook.