 Barrett is best known for his loss to 2004 Athens Olympics silver medalist Amir Khan via a TKO in 2006; after which, he went on to fight for the British featherweight title in 2007.Barrett started boxing at the age of seven, with Thamesmead ABC.He moved to Eltham ABC aged 8, where he won schoolboy titles and class B and C NABC titles under the training of his father, Steve Barrett.