Heavyweight Barrett says his time is coming

Dean Juipe

Friday, Sept. 28, 2001 | 9:57 a.m.

Every viable heavyweight contender sees Hasim Rahman and has hope.

A year ago, Rahman was headlining at smaller venues -- such as the Hard Rock in Las Vegas -- and awaiting a break. That break came when he landed a fight with world champion Lennox Lewis, and he capitalized with a knockout victory April 21 that turned him into a multi-millionaire.

Monte Barrett, the focal point of today's 6 p.m. card at Caesars Palace and ranked as the No. 10 contender by the International Boxing Federation, can look at his own situation and see himself following in Rahman's shoes.

"It's going to happen to me," he said Thursday, preparing for a fight with Robert Davis that tops a seven-bout card promoted by Cedric Kushner.

"It's all about timing," Barrett continued. "Before, I was in a rush. Now I have the maturity to know that I'm just now ready to be as good as I can be.

"Soon, it'll be my time."

Barrett, 30, is 25-2 with 15 knockouts and owns victories over former world champions Greg Page and, last June, Tim Witherspoon. The losses on his resume were to Lance Whitaker in 1999 and Wladimir Klitschko last year.

"I feel dominant and confident and that I'm over the hump," Barrett said. "(Whereas) I once was a little off key and unsure of myself, I've learned that boxing is 80 percent mental and that the mental aspect of the sport is very important to me."

He's a minus 200 betting favorite in the sports book at Caesars Palace. Davis, who, coincidentally, has the exact same record as Barrett, is a plus 160 underdog.

"I fought him as an amateur and I expect him to be about the same," Barrett said. "He's aggressive and is a puncher and a solid opponent."

Barrett said he defeated Davis by decision after dropping him twice during an amateur bout in the early 1990s at the Ohio State Fair.

Davis, also 30, has a win over local heavyweight Charles Shufford, as well as one over Page. His losses were to Whitaker -- there's another similarity to Barrett -- and Terrance Lewis.

Barrett, a native of North Carolina who is trained by Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, said a victory would propel him into a proposed December fight with the once-beaten Clifford Etiene.

"I need to be impressive in every fight," he said. "Nothing is guaranteed, but if I can get these two wins under my belt it should put me in the championship picture."

Also scheduled on the all-heavyweight Caesars card: Reynaldo Minus, 16-8, vs. David Defiagbon, 15-0, eight rounds; Paolo Vidoz, 5-0, vs. Ronald Copeland, 7-0, six rounds; Jean Bergeron, 10-0, vs. Willie Palms, 9-0, six rounds; Todd Diggs, 4-2-3, vs. Taurus Sykes, 14-1, six rounds; Samuel Peter, 4-0, vs. Giles Knox, 4-0-1, four rounds; and Jason Heit, 1-0, vs. Kevin Gilchrist, 3-6, four rounds.