From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)

Ike Barrett was a porter before he became a welter-weight boxer in Louisville, KY. He was not listed as a boxer in the city directory. His fights were reported in the newspapers starting in the early 1890s. Barrett was said to be a good boxer, but he lost many of his fights.

One of Barrett's early fights was a loss to Jim Watts in the first round in 1893. Three years later, in 1896, Barrett fought Kid Johnson at the Pasttime Club that was managed by Jim Watts in Louisville. The following year, Barrett lost his fight against Tom Collins from Bardstown, KY. The fight took place in Bardstown on January 26, 1897. Barrett was knocked out in the 6th round. The fight was refereed by David Tutt.  

In April of 1897, Barrett was scheduled to fight Fred Lang. In October of 1897, Barrett was scheduled to fight Lucus Siefker on November 1, 1897. The fight took place on November 4, and Ike Barrett was knocked out in the third round. There were 50 in attendance at the fight held one mile south of the Jockey Club racetrack in Louisville.

In April of 1898, Barrett was scheduled to fight S. Paeralto in Boston, MA. Later that year, Ike Barrett was defeated by Steve Crosby on September 30th at the West End Athletic Club in Louisville. Barrett was knocked out in the 5th round. In 1900, Barrett was fighting at the middle-weight level, and was scheduled to fight John Larue. On November 20th, Larue knocked out Barrett in the first round. As late as 1904, Ike Barrett was in Indianapolis, IN, trying to get a match with Young Walcott. Nothing more is known about Ike Barrett's boxing career at this time.

Isaac "Ike" Barrett was born in Hartford, KY, the son of Alfred and Annie Wickliffe Barrett. He was a hospital janitor and doorman during his later years. Ike Barrett died in the Louisville Red Cross Hospital in 1959. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Louisiville. 

Sources: Caron's Directory of the City of Louisville for 1891, p.187; "There was good sport last night ...," The Courier-Journal, 05/07/1896, p.8; "Land and Barrett matched," The Courier-Journal, 04/01/1897, front page; "An event in the colored circles ...," The Nelson Record, 01/29/1897, p.5; "Lucus Siefker and Ike Barrett ...," The Courier-Journal, 10/14/1897, p.11; "Knocked out in three rounds." The Courier-Journal, 11/05/1897, p.6; "Ready to fight," The Boston Globe, 04/04/1898, p.9; "Crosby defeats Barrett," The Courier-Journal, 10/01/1898, p.4; "Noted black fighter in town." The Buffalo Courier, 08/16/1900, p.9; "Barrett and Larue matched." The Courier-Journal, 11/05/1900, p.6; "Fight: failed to come off." The Enquirer (Cincinnati, OH), 11/20/1900, p.4; "Ring chatter," The Indianapolis News, 08/16/1904, p.4; see Isaac Bartlett's Kentucky death certificate file #59-16944, Registrar's #5138 (Ancestry).