By Terence Dooley
Manchester’s Pat Barrett had his move into promoting rubber-stamped by the BBBoC on Sunday afternoon. Barrett is a former British and EBU light-welterweight titlist and he unsuccessfully challenged Manny Galloway for the WBO welterweight title, he learned his trade by boxing all over the U.K. before showcasing his skills in front of his Mancunian fans. Now he hopes to provide the city’s latest generation of fighters with the opportunity to keep busy and is working with Gareth Williams, the former CEO of Hatton Promotions, to ensure that fighters who come into the pro ranks without any amateur medals or a big-name promoter behind them get plenty of opportunities.
“I’ve just had my licence granted,” said Barrett when speaking to BoxingScene on Sunday afternoon. “Now we can really start our work and make sure that there’s another outlet for up-and-coming young fighters. My main goal is to find the next Pat Barrett — a rough diamond who can be polished up by being kept active. I’m looking forward to putting something back into the sport.”
Barrett’s last fight took place in Belgium on December 25th 1994, an eight-round decision win over Marino Monteyne, and he moved into training shortly after hanging up his gloves. “The Black Flash” is based at The Collyhurst and Moston Boys Club, where he learned his trade under his former trainer Brian Hughes MBE, alongside fellow former pro Thomas McDonagh, who retired in 2010 with a 34-3-3 (7), and they hope to use Barrett’s new role to help develop their growing stable of fighters.
Barrett, though, is also keen to help out any other fighters who are struggling to get dates. He said: “We’ve got people like Steve Wood [of VIP Promotions] trying to push things forward and keep the small shows going. I want to provide opportunities as well and that’s what we’ll be trying to do now that I’ve got my licence through.”
Click on this link to read last month’s in-depth interview with Barrett: https://www.boxingscene.com/pat-barrett-gareth-williams-forge-promotional-union--68135.
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