WHILE Ryan Garner has business to take care of tomorrow night, he equally acknowledges that a selection of lucrative opportunities could appear soon after.
One of which happens to be a potential clash with Jazza Dickens who, interestingly enough, had emerged as a mooted opponent ahead of his next assignment.
Instead, the Southampton man will face British and Commonwealth champion Reece Bellotti, headlining his second consecutive show at the Bournemouth International Centre.
Since that domestic dustup was announced, however, Dickens, 36-5 (15 KOs), has claimed the WBA interim title with a punishing fourth-round stoppage victory over Olympic champion Albert Batyrgaziev.
In doing so, the Liverpudlian has placed himself in a strong position to secure the full WBA world title, a belt that is currently held by lightweight contender Lamont Roach.
But should Roach be stripped of his 130lb strap, which most expect to happen, then it is highly likely that Dickens will be handed the all-singing and all-dancing WBA crown.
In such a case, European champion Garner, 17-0 (8 KOs), would certainly be eager to revisit the matchup which, if not for Bellotti, 20-5 (15 KOs), could have quite easily been scheduled for tomorrow evening.
“That was one of the fights that got offered to me, it was between him and Bellotti,” Garner told Boxing News. “Obviously, [Dickens is] a [WBA interim] champion now but, back then, he didn’t have nothing, whereas Bellotti has the British and Commonwealth titles.
“Potentially, that fight [against Dickens] could happen. He’s a British fighter, and it would sell [tickets], but I’ve got to get past Bellotti first.”
Indeed, Garner remains laser-focused on the task at hand, knowing that his next opponent possesses an impressive engine and explosive punching power.
It is his own crafty footwork and natural boxing brain, though, which gives the 27-year-old ample confidence that he will get the job done.
“It’s going to be the hardest fight of my career,” he admitted. “I’m under no illusion [that it’s going to be easy], in that sense. [Bellotti is] fit, he’s strong… and that can only make for a good fight.
“But I’m confident that I’m going to win. I just think that, technically, I’m a lot better than him.”
To prepare himself for such an occasion, Garner has not only worked under the watchful eye of his long-term trainer, Wayne Batten, but his sparring, in particular, has offered him a diverse range of sessions in the gym.
“Usually I don’t spar too far out [from fight night], but I was helping Nathaniel Collins prepare for the Lee McGregor fight [in May],” ‘The Piranha’ said.
“Then, towards the end of camp, I was sparring Zak Miller, who’s a good, sharp fighter. I also sparred Danny Quartermaine out in Spain for a bit, so I’ve been facing loads of different styles.”
While sharpening his tools ahead of what promises to be an enthralling super-featherweight encounter with Bellotti, Garner has rarely drifted too far away from home.
In that sense, the talented technician chooses not to lock himself away for each training camp – unlike a selection of his counterparts – but instead embrace the welcome distractions of his two daughters.
“I’ve done it in the past, where I’ve gone away for training camps, but that was before I had kids,” he said.
“So now, I prefer being at home, because it takes my mind off the training. If you go away [from home] for training, then all you’re thinking about is boxing.
“Whereas, at home, I’ve got my kids to distract me – otherwise, the training just becomes too much.”
