Monte Barrett was born and raised in Queens and like any New York boxer has always dreamed of fighting at the Garden. That dream comes true Saturday night when he faces Joe Mesi in a heavyweight showdown that serves as the co-feature to the main event matching Vitali Klitschko against Kirk Johnson.

But while Barrett might be the hometown kid, much of the hometown love is going to Mesi, the Buffalo native, who is being billed by promoters as “absolutely the hottest young heavyweight in the division.”

It was Mesi who had the personal luncheon with Rocky Marciano’s family on Monday in Little Italy, and it’s Mesi who expects to have three to four thousand fans in from Buffalo, giving the Garden a hometown feel.

It would be understandable if Barrett felt dissed, but he doesn’t.

“I’m not getting involved in all the hype,” he said yesterday just before the final press conference before Saturday. “I’ve got to come in and do what I have to do. I know I’m Joe Mesi’s biggest test, and he’s my biggest opportunity.”

If the Mesi camp views Barrett as a stepping stone to bigger and better pay days, Barrett has the same view of Mesi, the WBC’s No. 4 ranked heavyweight. At 29-2 with 16 knockouts, Barrett has posted six straight wins since being stopped in the seventh round by Wladimir Klitschko in June of 2000.

Two months ago, Barrett knocked out Erik Kirkland in the 10th round to put himself in line for this match with Mesi (27-0, 25 KOs).

“This is redemption for all the things I’ve been through the past two years,” Barrett said. “At this point, this is the biggest fight of my life. Mesi’s a very good fighter, who is very consistent at what he does. I’m pretty sure he looked at my tape and said the same thing.

“But I’m happy they took the fight. I had six months off before my last fight and 18 months off before that one. This time I’m going right back into the ring. I’ll be much sharper and I’ll be victorious.”

Barrett, 32, spent 51/2weeks in the Catskills, sparring 92 rounds in preparation for this fight. He knows if he wins, he’ll steal much of the thunder that’s building around Mesi and put himself among those mentioned as top contenders to a heavyweight title. That has been his goal since he began boxing at age 21 after foregoing a college football career.

“This is something he never had the opportunity to do before and should have,” said Stan Hoffman, Barrett’s promoter. “With his age, his experience and his background and his readiness, I have no doubt he’s going to win this fight.”