By Scoop Malinowski

We caught up with heavyweight hopeful and all-around great guy Monte Barrett last week at the Madison Square Garden Sultan Ibragimov-Al Cole show. Here’s what the WBC mandatory had to say about the long journey from “the gutter” to where he is now, who he’d rather challenge Vitali or Chris, his pal Zab’s monster win in St. Louis and much more.

BoxingInsider.com: Were you impressed by your good friend Zab Judah’s performance in St. Louis?

Monte Barrett: “Of course. Of course I was impressed. He was more aggressive. You look at the first Spinks-Zab fight, Spinks fought the same fight. But Zab stepped his game up and he fought every round like it was the 12th round of the first fight. And I told him he had to be more aggressive with Spinks, because Spinks is an excellent boxer. I mean, I told him and the whole world told him, so it’s not like he’s been just listening to my advice. He knew what he had to do and he stepped up. I’m impressed when you’re behind the eight-ball and you gotta step up and you gotta come through. I’m impressed by that because I was in the same situation as well. He went in the hometown, he was the underdog, second or third time at undisputed. So I was impressed that he came through. Not surprised but impressed.”

BoxingInsider.com: How about your fight with Owen Beck - were you satisfied with that performance?

Monte Barrett: “I wasn’t satisfied with my performance but I was satisfied by the victory. The performance wasn’t my best - I was on an 11-month layoff and I was a little rusty - as far as my timing. And Owen was a more anticipated fight than I thought. At the same time, I was prepared, I watched a lot of tape on him - six fights. And I knew he was a better outside fighter than a lot of people gave him credit for. I wanted to take him inside. I never seen him fight inside. So he had fast hands inside, but I was landing the harder and heavier and the cleaner shots.”

BoxingInsider.com: Could Chris Byrd be next for you (though not until at least June because of the 60-day automatic suspension from the cut in the Beck fight) ?

Monte Barrett: “Yeah, Byrd, the winner of Rahman-Klitschko - it doesn’t make a difference. I’m destined to be champ. Nobody’s gonna get in my way. I tried to get somebody to get me a shot with Klitschko last year. You know, he left me hangin. But now I’m in a position - I open up my own doors. Now I’m a (WBC) mandatory (for champ Vitali), nobody’s not gonna he able to run. And I’m coming to take the belt. I don’t care who it is, I’m taking the belt.”

BoxingInsider.com: Chris Byrd seems confident he can handle you…

Monte Barrett: “It’s okay. He’s supposed to feel confident, he’s the champ. I respect Byrd as a fighter. But if he gives me a shot, I’m gonna take his belt.”

BoxingInsider.com: Talk about your long, up and down journey from the poverty you once were in, to being on the verge of the world heavyweight championship…

Monte Barrett: “My trials and tribulations in life helped me to grow. Be progressive. Have longevity in myself. Have a peace of mind. And I’m just in a different place - mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally. I feel like I can’t be stopped. And I feel like I have God on my side. I feel like I have so many things going for me, God opening doors for me to go through. And I’m just going through the doors right now. It was just written for me that way. It was written for me to fight Owen Beck and earn my mandatory. It was written for me to get cut in the 4th round. And despite…through all that adversity and coming out and knocking him out…everything was written. I could not have written a better script myself. But at the same time I’m still gonna stay focused. And like I said, I’m destined to be champ. All the trials and tribulations - I’m here now.”

BoxingInsider.com: What was the rockbottom low point?

Monte Barrett: “The low point was writin’ bounced checks, gettin car repossessed, you know, pawnin jewelry. Rock bottom is rock bottom. There is no such thing. I’ve been in the gutter, so eatin cheese sandwiches, grilled cheese sandwiches, that’s rock bottom. I took my kids to McDonalds and my daughter’s like, Daddy, I know we don’t got no money, so we can share a value pack. My kids are very sympathetic towards me and lovin and caring and affectionate. And my kids are my motivation definitely. And you can see in my eyes, if that wouldn’t break me, what you think? Anybody else gonna break me in the ring? I’m focused baby. I do what I do like I’m doing it how I’m doing it. For TV. Holla.”

BoxingInsider.com: What’s that?

Monte Barrett: I said, Holla. Holla back. Holla. That’s slang term. You gotta get with the slang talk [smiles].”

BoxingInsider.com: And Bernard Hopkins…were you impressed by Ex’s incredible 20th defense?

Monte Barrett: “I fell asleep in the fight, but I’m always impressed by Bernard. Bernard is one of my top fighters - him, Floyd and Zab are my top three guys. I don’t know how the hell - I didn’t see the fight - maybe Bernard had an off night. But he always comes out on top. I’m impressed by Bernard all the time.”

BoxingInsider.com: What round did you fall asleep in? Andrew Golota told me he fell asleep in the second round…

Monte Barrett: “I think the 9th. I still love Bernard though. He’s still my boy. He do what he do. 20 consecutive…so that’s a record. That’s history.”