THE stage is set and the waiting is almost over for Ryan ‘The Piranha’ Garner and Reece ‘Bomber’ Bellotti, who clash this Saturday evening in Bournemouth. The European, British and Commonwealth titles are on the line in this super-featherweight domestic clash.
“It’s good to be headlining in Bournemouth again. This fight is for all the domestic marbles, and I have to get through it to get to world level,” stated Garner, 27, who is on the hunt for world honours.
First task: add Bellotti’s British and Commonwealth belts to his legacy whilst on home soil. On the other hand, Bellotti, 34, is coming for the upset after turning around a three-fight losing skid towards obscurity.
Following a stoppage defeat to Ray Ford, he has gone on to win his next six fights, including a stoppage win over Michael Gomez Jnr and wins over Liam Dillon and Aqib Fiaz.
That type of form shows what Garner is up against ahead of this next step up in competition on his route to the peak of boxing. Bellotti may have already fought at world level, but ‘The Piranha’ is ready to showcase that this is where he belongs.
Speaking at today’s final press conference, Garner revealed: “When I was younger, he [Bellotti] was fighting on Sky Sports bills. I was watching him fight. It’s the hardest fight of my career. He’s fought and beaten a lot of great names, and he has my utmost respect.”
The stakes could not be higher for both men, but especially Garner, who has his sights set on a football-based homecoming. In an interview with Dan George, Garner’s promoter Frank Warren said two more wins for Ryan and at the end of next year’s football season, a headliner at St. Mary’s Stadium, home of Southampton football club, is on the cards.
“I’ve been with Frank Warren since I was 18,” agreed Garner, “he’s been there for the mistakes I’ve made in my career, hopefully I can repay him and get one step closer to St Mary’s.”
Bellotti, meanwhile, is prepared to halt those plans on Saturday night. “This is a title (European) I’ve always wanted to have. I’m here to win this fight,” assured the Watford man.
There is a lot of respect shared between these two fighters. They both feel their styles will gel to create a superb main-event clash, with Bellotti saying that there doesn’t have to be bad blood to create a good fight.
