He was a real banger, but was found out when the competition improved. Guys like Earl Hargove, Bobby Joe Young, awesome power in that day but just not good enough in the long haul. Alex Ramos too had fearsome power but never developed as much as they predicted. For some reason managers wanted to match their prospects vs Starling around this time and saw him as a barometer. Trouble was he was better, far better than they all thought and took the 0's of Baret, Ayers and Simon Brown quite nicely.
Beret's an interesting guy to bring up, R. Had a brief moment in the spotlight. Remember him from back in NY...Think he was a PR welter or light middle -- shocking right-hand puncher. But, like so many, what shined turned out to be fool's gold.
Baret's career was simular to another up & coming big banger, who burned out quickly. DuJan Johnson, A very good fighter, but was beaten by Aaron Pryor and quickly faded.
He wasn't a good fighter at all Russell, just a big puncher. Starling took him apart with ease and that was it for him.
He did have alot of power and was winning impressivly prior to the Starling fight. he just wasn't ready for that much of a leap in competition & never recovered from that beating. But Baret was a very powerful puncher. I believe he only had around 20 fights, or less. before going against Starling.