Ryan Garner is scheduled to defend his European super-featherweight championship against British and Commonwealth titleholder Reece Bellotti on July 26th.
This significant 130 lbs contest at the Bournemouth International Centre features two competitors who are currently performing at their highest level. The victor will advance a step closer to potentially challenging for a world title for the first time.
The Garner vs. Bellotti fight also represents another matchup between the Queensberry and Matchroom promotional outfits. Garner`s promoter, Frank Warren, is currently leading in the ongoing friendly rivalry against Eddie Hearn.
Ryan `The Piranha` Garner holds an undefeated record of 17-0 with 8 knockouts and is ranked seventh by the WBC, where O’Shaquie Foster is the current world champion. Reece `Bomber` Bellotti, with a record of 20-5 (15 KOs), might not be world-ranked, but the 34-year-old from Watford has not lost since moving up from featherweight in April 2022. His win over Dean Dodge for the Southern Area title at York Hall began a winning streak now totaling six victories, including wins against Aqib Fiaz and Liam Dillon, securing him the Commonwealth title and the prestigious Lonsdale Belt.
Garner, who Frank Warren has long predicted would be a future star, appears to have overcome a period of inactivity due to issues outside of boxing and is now hitting his stride. The 27-year-old has navigated past difficulties and secured three impressive wins in his last three fights against Liam Dillon, Archie Sharp, and Salvador Jimenez. His victory over Jimenez at the Bournemouth International Centre, where he headlined for the first time, earned him the European title via a clear points decision.
Commenting on the upcoming bout in a statement from Queensberry, Frank Warren said: “This is the fight that needs to happen in the super-featherweight division right now. It`s a genuine cracker that will deliver significant excitement. For Ryan, this kind of fight is essential for him to move closer to world title contention, which is ultimately where we see his career heading. We know Reece is a quality fighter with a strong fanbase of his own, and most importantly, both fighters guarantee entertainment for the fans.”
