If things had turned out differently, Ryan Garner might be studying for his technical certificate in bricklaying rather than preparing for an assault on the junior lightweight world title scene.

A few years ago, the talented Garner lost his way and was spending his days on a building site rather than in the boxing gym.

“I was hod carrying,” Garner (18-0, 9 KOs) told The Ring. “I was thinking, 'It's rubbish. Do I want to fight anymore?' It's been hard, but it paid off in the end.”

Garner had even begun to wonder what his future on site would look like. What started as a way of earning some extra money suddenly began to look like it may turn into a profession. He began to think about laying bricks rather than carrying them.

“I've laid a couple. I'm not the best, but I would have done that,” the 27-year-old said with a laugh. “I liked hod carrying, because I'm pretty fit and I'm active. But if I was going to continue on the building site, then I would turn my hand to a trowel. I would have tried anyway. I would have given it a go.

“I’ve done it before, it's too slow for me. I guess if you get quicker and get used to it, it gets a bit better, but I was too slow, trying to do it properly.”

Fortunately, Garner is getting close to being able to forget about ever picking up a trowel. Over the past 15 months, he has finally begun to fulfill his undoubted potential in the ring.

Garner has won the British, Commonwealth and European junior lightweight titles. He is ranked No. 4 by the WBC and inside the top 15 with the IBF and WBO. And his popularity in his hometown of Southampton has reached the point that his promoters, Queensberry, are planning for him to headline at the city’s football stadium next summer.

“Hopefully, this is just the start now,” he said. “I’m starting to make a bit of a good living now for myself through boxing. Hopefully, I can go on to bigger things, and I'll make some really good, life-changing money.”

Since he was a teenage amateur, Garner has constantly been told how good he has.

His professional career started with a bang, but he got caught up in life outside the gym. He didn’t take his ability for granted, but perhaps didn’t realize the opportunity he was in danger of letting slip away. Although he remained unbeaten and kept the belief of those who knew him best, interest in him began to die down.

Around three years ago, Garner was working on one of those building sites when the penny finally dropped.

Rather than simply getting through training and trusting that everything would be alright on the night, he started to hold himself to as high a standard as possible during preparation. Climbing through the ropes safe in the knowledge that he had done everything correctly lifted a burden from Garner’s shoulders, and things started to come together.

These days, Garner approaches the sport in a totally different fashion.

He was good when beating former British champion Liam Dillon in a war, better during his decision win over Archie Sharp and excellent as he outpointed undefeated Spanish fighter Salvador Jimenez to win the European title.

Still, it was widely accepted that, in July, experienced British and Commonwealth champion, Reece Bellotti, would provide him with his toughest test yet. That was an eventuality Garner was also prepared for.

“In the build-up to it in the changing room, I was like, 'It's going to be a hard night here. I've got to be switched on at all times. It’s gonna be 12 rounds of a kind of a war, so I’m going to come out of it blowing out of my arse.'”

“I don't know when, but I was like, 'It's easier than what I thought,'” added Garner, who won by a 12th-round knockout.

Garner’s down to earth character is one of the reasons that he was able to retain the support of those around him during his ups and downs. There isn’t a hint of arrogance to his words. He almost sheepishly admits that things went much better than he expected.

“No disrespect, but I thought it was going to be the toughest fight of my career, really hard. I thought there were going to be times in there where I'm going to have to dig deep. I didn’t feel it once, really,” he said.

“It's a good sign. It shows that as I'm going through the levels, I'm getting better. I think with each camp, I'm learning more, picking up my craft more, and becoming a better fighter all round.”

Better but not yet complete.

“I still think there's loads of room,” he said. “I’m not miles away. Sometimes I've sparred in the gym and I think, 'I’m on form today.'

“I still feel I haven't shown that. Some bits I have in little glimpses, but I still haven't shown what I know that I'm capable of.”

Plans are already in place for Garner’s big night at Southampton Football Club. It is all but certain that one of the world’s highest-ranked junior lightweights will stand in the opposite corner next summer as he builds toward a shot at a world title.

His trainer, Wayne Batten, will be the man in charge of putting together a plan, and Garner is confident that as long as he trains hard and listens to the instructions, everything else will take care of itself against whomever he ends up fighting.

Just don’t ask him for his opinion on any of the champions. Garner doesn’t spend much time watching his rivals.

“No, still no,” he said. “I didn't watch Reece, I don't study them. I know, as long as I put the work in in the gym and I turn up on the night, I know the best Ryan Garner will beat these people. I’m not being cocky, it’s just that I know.

“I've been sparring people — all these world champions — for years. I don't watch them. I go to the gym and spar them. What's the difference between that and a fight night? You've got 12 rounds to suss someone out. If you can't do it then, then you ain't as good as what you think you are.”