THE super-featherweight scene is packed with British talent. Anthony Cacace, Leigh Wood, and Jazza Dickens, along with other less experienced contenders from the United Kingdom, are eyeing up world title success.
Yet again, it seems as though the U.K. has birthed a new player at the weight in undefeated Ryan Garner, 16-0 (8 KOs), who has risen through the rankings and stepped up in levels of late, with the ‘Piranha’ now seeking to build further momentum in a challenge for the vacant EBU European title against Spain’s Salvador Jimenez, 14-0-1 (6 KOs).
A former European amateur champion, Garner was snapped up by Frank Warren before his professional debut and kickstarted his career with four straight knockout wins. However, a spell of just six rounds in two-and-a-half years during the COVID-19 pandemic stalled his progression.
Nevertheless, in 2023 we saw Garner return to form, scoring two stoppage victories before noticeably increasing the level of his opposition and registering back-to-back career-best wins against Liam Dillon and Archie Sharp over the course of 2024, emerging as one of the standout domestic talents in the 130lb division.
With the aid of the WBC international strap, Garner now finds himself ranked at #15 in the world rankings with both the WBC and the IBF, but before too much attention can be focussed on a surge up in the ratings, the 27-year-old has cast his eyes toward the vacant European crown.
Standing between Garner and the EBU title is Jimenez, who won and vacated that same belt in 2023 after outpointing Alex Rat before unsuccessfully challenging countryman Juanfe Gomez for the marble in November of the same year in a majority draw.
Last year, Jimenez ended a run of three fights without a knockout to string together consecutive wins inside of the distance and earn both a third European super-featherweight title fight and a first bout outside of Spain, travelling to the Bournemouth International Centre in the hopes of leaving ‘Piranha’ Garner gutted.
Garner proved he can overcome a variety of styles when trumping the polar-opposite approaches of Dillon and Sharp last year and looks a force to be reckoned with in the division. Here, we expect him to dominate the contest but ultimately rely upon the judges in what will be a first 12-rounder for the Brit, an experience that should serve him well down the line.
On the undercard, fans eagerly await the return of Joe Joyce, 16-3 (2 KOs), who will be desperate to build his confidence after a catastrophic two years as he gears up to take on Dillian Whyte in four weeks’ time by first colliding with Germany’s Patrick Korte, 22-4-1 (18 KOs) in an eight-round affair.
The full Bournemouth card, which also features British light-heavyweight champion Lewis Edmondson, 10-0 (3 KOs), and amateur sensation Luke McCormack, 2-0 (2 KOs), will be available to watch live on TNT Sports on Saturday night, as Garner hopes to tee up a future event at St. Mary’s – home of his beloved Southampton F.C.
