MANCHESTER, England - In February, a sluggish Zelfa Barrett turned in an uncharacteristically flat performance and drifted to a wide 10-round decision loss to an excellent James ‘Jazza’ Dickens.

The shattering defeat was the catalyst for change.

The 31-year-old from Harpurhey made the tough decision to leave his uncle and lifelong trainer, former European junior welterweight champion, Pat ‘The Black Flash’ Barrett, and join up with 2015 Ring Magazine Trainer of the Year, Joe Gallagher, at Moss Side’s famous Champs Camp gym.

Last Saturday, the new relationship got off to a winning start as Barrett (32-3, 18 KOs) returned to the small hall scene he emerged from and stopped Mexico’s Christian Bielma (19-11-2, 7 KOs) in the third round.

A number of higher profile fights took place in Britain last weekend but - at least as far as Barrett and Gallagher were concerned - none were more important.

“I said before Zelfa's fight that it just felt like the old Manchester Arena nights,” Gallagher told The Ring.

“I know it was only in Bolton but whether it was Scott Quigg, Scott Cardle, Anthony Crolla, Hosea Burton or Callum Johnson fighting, it had that big feel, that big fight experience about it. A new start for Zelfa. Big pressure, underlying currents.

“I looked over afterwards and Zelfa was buzzing. He was holding court, telling everyone how he felt. I was stood with Maurice Core [a Champs Camp stalwart] and I said, “There you go, there's a kid enjoying it.”

“He was telling everyone that he did this and he did this and he's back. His belief in himself is back. He’s excited.”

Gallagher is also excited.

Aware of just how much untapped potential he has inherited, Gallagher has started the process of creating Zelfa Barrett 2.0.

After spending his entire professional career staying within striking distance of 130lbs, Barrett will now fight as a lightweight.

The ‘Brown Flash’ nickname he adopted in tribute to his uncle has gone and rather than his customary gladiator skirt, the 31 year-old fought in the same red and white shorts that his hero, Sugar Ray Leonard wore.

Barrett is a long-time fan of Leonard and the skills that carried him to a multitude of world titles and a place in boxing history but as well as being an incredible technician, Leonard was also a ruthless predator and a tough, no-nonsense fighter.

Gallagher saw first hand evidence of Barrett’s offensive ability when he used him as a regular sparring partner of former WBA lightweight champion, Anthony Crolla, and has been using Leonard to help unlock a different side of his game.

“Crolla was getting ready for [Jorge] Linares and [Darleys] Perez. He [Barrett] was in there and he was putting it on him. When he lets his hands go like he did the other night a little bit, he has the assortment, speed and everything,” Gallagher said.

“I've shown him the Duran 1 fight, I showed him the Hagler fight. I said, 'As soon as Hagler's about to come, he doesn't run off, he nails him. As soon as Duran's about to punch, he sits and he has it with him. He beats him to the punch'.

“We’ve built on it. I wanted him back in shorts, I said that he grew up watching Sugar Ray so go and be Sugar Ray for the night. I think in one of the combinations he did the bolo shot.

“You’ve got to understand Leonard could dig in and that's what he's been having to do, stand in the pocket and learn to fight in the pocket more and not be able to go out and run. I said, 'You’re coming out in round one and you're on the ropes. What for? We didn't put you on the ropes, you put yourself on the ropes'.

“We're working on controlling the middle of the ring with the jab and getting him to watch a lot of Linares stuff as well.”

Eight years have passed since those days spent helping Crolla and, by any standard, Barrett has enjoyed a successful career.

He won English, Commonwealth and European titles at 130lbs and dropped Shavkat Rakhimov in the early stages of an ultimately unsuccessful short notice IBF world title challenge in 2022.

After spending three months working with Barrett, Gallagher is certain that, providing things are done properly, he still has the time, ability and hunger to achieve much more.

“People say he's 31 and that he's had 35 fights now or old dog, new tricks and all that but I thought, 'Listen, this kid, there's still so much. We’ve got from age 31 to 33, 34 to do something',” he said.

“Paul Butler was a kid that came to me a bit wild, a bit gung-ho, but then he got back to his boxing. He became a little bit more tight, a bit more composed and became a very good counter puncher, boxer and puncher at the same time and he's one of the best I've ever trained. He took things on board, like Zelfa is. He’s listened to me and he's really developing.

“I said to Zelfa, 'You're using the same keys for various locks, it doesn't work. If you've got to strip an engine, you can't use the same tools that you used for a Mini for a Rolls Royce. There’s different tools and you've got them, it's just that they're unemployed. You haven't used them. Get them out of the toolbox and let's start using them'.”

A big part of Gallagher’s plan is ensuring that Barrett is in the best physical condition to use those tools.

Two months ago, Barrett was a guest at a charity evening dedicated to the memory of legendary Manchester fight figure and Champs Camp founder, Phil Martin. Barrett is never out of shape but even though he was just beginning of a new strength and conditioning programme he was already noticeably bigger.

Gallagher knows that it will take time to develop Barrett into the final product but making sure that all of their efforts were focused on making an impact at lightweight was one immediate change he could make.

“I said, 'You’re a lightweight' as soon as he walked in the gym,” Gallagher said. “The super featherweight days are gone.”

“I said, 'You were boxing as an amateur at super featherweight, 60 kilos. You can't be 15 or 16 and then age 30 being the same weight. You've got to grow and it's stunted your growth and your physical development'.

“Hence why I'm saying we need time. We’re building blocks with him. He’s doing proper strength and conditioning for the first time.

“We're building this up to show that you can operate. You’re sparring at the weight you're fighting at, you're getting a new engine. There's lots of stuff still to be done and it's going to take time but it's work in progress.”

Barrett loves being at the centre of attention and will want to get in the spotlight as quickly as possible and Gallagher believe that as long as he is moved correctly, he still has the style, skill, personality and backstory to become a figurehead of Manchester’s thriving boxing scene.

He is fully behind his fighters’ plan to get straight back into action on the undercard of the Jack Catterall - Harlem Eubank fight which takes place at Manchester’s AO Arena on July 5th and, in an ideal world, he would like that outing to be just a part of a busy year which would prepare a retooled Barrett for world level early in 2026.

“I said to him, 'Look how fast Lawrence Okolie’s year has gone with me. Yours will go just as fast but activity is key',” Gallagher said.

“It’s still got a chance to work now. He’s 31 years of age, these are his next three or four years. After his performance the other day, I'm like ‘I need three fights before we hit the big time and then we'll look at March or April next year for whatever's on the world scene’ but if we get this right we can absolutely create something, build something.

“I've said to Zelfa, it's like Golden Boy giving Freddie Roach a prospect and Freddie goes, 'Just give him three or four fights and I'll give you a world champion'.

“I've been around [long enough] now to say, 'Zelfa's not ready for a world title yet'. Don’t rush him but give him three or four fights and I'll deliver you his world championship, have a little bit of faith in what I'm doing.”

“I've not got it wrong with kids in the past. Paul Butler, Anthony Crolla, Scott Quigg, Matt Macklin, Paul Smith, Lawrence Okolie, Tasha Jonas and now Zelfa will do it. Just have faith in what we're doing. Believe in what we're doing.”