Ryan Garner’s bid to become Southampton’s first-ever world champion takes a significant step forward on June 20.
‘The Piranha’ will headline at St Mary’s Stadium, home of Southampton Football Club. The 32,384-capacity venue will be transformed into a boxing arena for one night when Garner (19-0, 10 KOs) challenges Michael Magnesi (26-2, 13 KOs) for the WBC interim super-featherweight title.
Victory would place Garner in a strong position to challenge for the full world title, currently held by American slickster O’Shaquie Foster. Foster and Magnesi are levels apart, which makes this a winnable opportunity for the 28-year-old.
Italian job
Magnesi, nicknamed ‘Lone Wolf’, hails from Lazio in Italy—another region famed for its football heritage. By the time fight night arrives, Garner may also know whether Southampton have returned to the promised land of the Premier League. Tonda Eckert’s side currently sit sixth in the Championship, in the play-off places and within touching distance of the automatic promotion spots.
Garner has rebuilt both his life and career after personal issues threatened to derail him in 2017. At 19, he crashed his car while driving under the influence of cocaine. He avoided prison but was suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control.
Since then, he has matured significantly. Now with a young family, Garner has impressed both in and out of the ring, beating British rivals Liam Dillon, Archie Sharp, and Reece Bellotti. Victory over Bellotti earned him the British and Commonwealth titles, while also retaining his European crown.
Dream come true
In a Queensberry Promotions press release, Garner spoke of his delight at landing a fight of this magnitude in his hometown.
“This has been my dream all along and now it is coming true. Frank promised me he would make it happen and he has always delivered for me right from the beginning.
“I believe this will be one of the biggest single sporting events ever to take place in the city and I know that I’ve got the Southampton people behind me. It will be an amazing occasion, but I have got a job to do against a tough opponent so I can make sure we can do this again and again.
“I am thrilled that we are sticking to the WBC title and, when I win this one, the champion will have no place to hide.”
Magnesi will be no pushover. His only two defeats have come against high-level opposition in Anthony Cacace, the current WBA 130lbs champion, and world-rated Japanese contender Masanori Rikiishi. Both losses came on points, underlining the aggressive Italian’s durability and resolve.
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