REECE Bellotti is by no means looking to play second fiddle, or dance to the tune of Ryan Garner, when they collide on July 26.
Rather, the electrician by trade has his own lofty desires, most of which stretch far beyond the confines of a film set.
Having always worked as a lighting technician – operating in the film industry – ‘The Bomber’ now looks to inject an extra layer of sparkle into his boxing career.
Victory over Garner would allow him to do just that, propelling him closer towards a potential shot at world honours.
But first, Bellotti must occupy the away corner once again, most likely entering a cauldron of boos at the Bournemouth International Centre this summer.
No matter which side of the fight poster he sits on, though, the British and Commonwealth super-featherweight champion will always deliver a titanic effort.
He has, after all, remained unbeaten through his last six outings, stream rolling the likes of Michael Gomez Jr and Aqib Fiaz in ruthless fashion.
But against Garner – a European champion with plenty of silky skills – the 34-year-old knows that a more measured display is needed to emerge victorious.
“Me and Ryan are very similar, in a lot of aspects,” Bellotti told Boxing News. “A lot of people will mention my power, but I don’t even look into that anymore. I’ve learned the hard way not to even think about that.
“If it’s there, it’s there. And if Ryan can’t cope with it, then that’s on him. A lot of people see just one thing on TV, and think that’s all I’ve got. But Ryan will have to adapt [to my style] on the night.”
While extending his relationship with British boxing legend and head coach Jim McDonnell, Bellotti is no stranger to a diligently structured training camp, either.
“Training is just a part of me and my life,” he added. “Maybe I’m a bit of a vain bastard, because I also like to look good. If I take my top off at the beach, I want to look in good shape.
“But I also like the competitive aspect of it. I’m always setting targets, setting times, and then you’ve got the Mac Daddy [McDonnell] who beasts you to make sure that you get those times.
“We’re always working on new things in the gym. You can’t just go out there and blast everyone out; you’ve got to have more to your game.”
Sure enough, the Londoner values each challenge that presents itself and, even at this late stage in his career, the fire in his belly burns brighter than ever.
Should he get past Garner, a world title shot would then more than likely sit at the forefront of his mind, quite possibly defining his compelling underdog story.
“[The European title] is a belt that I haven’t won yet, and I always want to be in good fights, so I said ‘yes’ to [fighting Garner] straight away,” Bellotti recalled.
“It’s a fight that progresses me onto the world scene, with a ranking [from] winning that belt. So that’s what I’m coming for.”
