Wayne Barrett (born 1986) is an American kickboxer who competes in the cruiserweight division. A tall and rangy fighter, Barrett came to prominence as an amateur when he became a WKA national champion and turned professional in 2013. He signed with Glory after just one pro fight.
He defeated Simon Camaj by unanimous decision to claim the WKA Amateur United States Cruiserweight (-86 kg/189 lb) Muay Thai Championship on April 29, 2011[4][5] and had his last match in the amateur ranks on December 7, 2012, taking a unanimous decision over Quinton O'Brien.[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.[7]
Glory (2013–present)
Following this, Barrett signed with Glory as a competitor in the kickboxing organization's -85 kg/187 lb middleweight division. In his promotional debut against the previously undefeated Mike Lemaire at Glory 9: New York in New York City on June 22, 2013, it took him less than 2 rounds to establish his dominance in the ring as he scored an early standing eight count. In the second round, Barrett dropped Lemaire with a knee before stopping him with a left hook followed by a right cross that sent him crashing to the canvas face first.[8][9][10]
Taking a large step up in competition in just his fourth fight, he was matched with the Glory Middleweight Tournament Champion Joe Schilling in the main event of Glory 12: New York in New York City on November 23, 2013. Barrett struck first in the second round when he knocked Schilling down twice. The first knockdown came from a right overhand early in the round and the second from a right hook as the round ended. In the third, Schilling was able to gain some ground back when he connected with a knee that dropped Barrett, but he was able to beat the count. The fight went to the judges and Barrett was awarded a unanimous decision victory.[14][15][16]
It was announced during the Glory 15: Istanbul broadcast that Barrett would be one of eight fighters competing in the Glory 17: Los Angeles - Last Man Standing middleweight tournament in Inglewood, California on June 21, 2014.[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. In the semis, he met Joe Schilling in a rematch but was unable to replicate his prior success against the Ohio native as he lost a split decision.[19][20][21]
