Black Flash · Manchester
Pat Barrett“BLACK FLASH”
Former British & European Champion. Manchester boxing icon. Trainer, promoter and mentor shaping the next generation.
Former British & European Champion. Manchester boxing icon. Trainer, promoter and mentor shaping the next generation.
Pat Barrett is one of Manchester's most respected boxing figures — a former British and European light-welterweight champion who fought his way off a tough North Manchester estate to the brink of a world title, and who has spent the years since handing the same opportunities back to the city that made him.
Pat followed his older brother Michael through the doors of the Collyhurst & Moston Lads Club at sixteen — the famous gym above the old Co-op on Lightbowne Road, run by the legendary Brian Hughes. Hughes became far more than a coach: a mentor and steadying hand who guided Pat from his very first amateur bout.
He won 24 of his 26 amateur contests and sharpened the style that earned his nickname — the “Black Flash” — built on fast hands, movement and the knockout power he carried in both fists.
Turning professional in 1987, Pat suffered an early points defeat to Paul Burke and vowed never to lose again — going on a long unbeaten run that swept up the Central Area, British and European light-welterweight titles in just a few short years.
In 1990 he travelled to Salerno and knocked out Efrem Calamati to take the European crown, then defended it three times, stopping every challenger. In 1992 he boxed for the WBO world welterweight title in front of his home crowd at Manchester's G-Mex. He finished with 37 wins from 42 fights, 28 inside the distance — rated among the finest British fighters of his era.
Pat never left the sport. He returned to Collyhurst & Moston as a trainer and eventually took over the running of the historic gym, continuing Brian Hughes' legacy and working with the likes of Scott Quigg and his nephews Zelfa Barrett and Lyndon Arthur.
In 2014 he founded Black Flash Promotions, staging shows across the UK that give grass-roots fighters a platform, and in 2019 joined forces with Frank Warren's Queensberry. As one of British boxing's few Black promoters, he remains a trainer, mentor and promoter focused on developing the champions of tomorrow.
A standout professional career between 1987 and 1994, fought across Britain, Europe and beyond.
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Tickets for Pat's boxing shows, dinner events, Q&A nights and special appearances. Upcoming dates appear here as soon as they go on sale.
Tickets are available for:
Want to book Pat or ask about an upcoming show? Send a message and the team will be in touch.
Step back into the ring — classic knockouts, title fights and the story of Pat's career, straight from the archive.
More fights, interviews and behind-the-scenes footage on the Black Flash Boxing Channel.
Pat is the founder of Black Flash Promotions and remains active across British boxing — promoting shows, training fighters, mentoring young talent and developing the champions of tomorrow.
Alongside promoting, Pat is a hands-on boxing trainer and coach, working with professional and developing fighters out of the historic Collyhurst & Moston gym in Manchester. For training and coaching, bookings, appearances, media enquiries and event opportunities, contact Pat's team below.
Looking for training or coaching? Pat takes on fighters and shares decades of ring experience from the corner. You can also reach out about tickets, booking Pat for an appearance, mentoring or sponsorship — just pick an enquiry type and the team will get back to you.
