European junior lightweight champion Ryan Garner believes that Reece Bellotti will show him exactly where he stands when they meet in a major triple title clash next month.

Garner (17-0, 8 KOs) will face resurgent British and Commonwealth champion Bellotti (20-5, 15 KOs) at the Bournemouth International Centre on July 26th, broadcasted live globally on DAZN.

Four years ago, a faltering Bellotti was able to breathe new life into his career after calling time on his featherweight stay and stepping into the 130lb division.

Since then, the 34-year-old from Watford has notched up six consecutive wins over younger, hungrier fighters and is producing the best form of his life.

Meanwhile, the all-action Garner impressed during a breakout 2024.

The talented 26-year-old was too young, fit and inventive for Liam Dillon and Archie Sharp but took his game to a different level when he dominated the previously-undefeated Spaniard Salvador Jimenez over 12 rounds, comfortably winning the EBU title on March 1.

Garner knows that he will need to step up again, if he's to get past Bellotti.

"He's a big step up. With each fight they've been slowly but surely getting better and better so I think the time is right," Garner told Queensberry.

"With each fight I'm getting better and obviously Reece is the next fight in line. He's a tough, tough fight. He hits hard, is fit and strong, it's another box that I've got to tick.

"At the end of the day, if I want to get to where I want to be at world level he's a fighter that I I need to win against."

For a long time, it looked like Garner would drift away from the sport without coming close to fulfilling his undoubted potential.

He burst onto the scene as an exciting, gifted teenager and stories swirled around about his exploits during sparring sessions with established world level fighters.

Maybe Garner was too young for the spotlight but life outside the gym began to impinge on his chosen career. Garner got caught up living like any other young person and whilst he was never bad, did make some bad decisions. Weight making issues made him a late scratch from two high-profile cards and he would vanish from sight for long periods.

Importantly, Garner never allowed his missteps out of the ring to affect him once he did make the walk. He remained unbeaten and always managed to provide enough flashes of his natural ability to retain the faith of his supporters.

Now older, more mature and with a supportive young family to provide for, Garner has buckled down and the results have been evident.

This will be his second consecutive headline appearance at the Bournemouth International Centre and momentum is gathering behind a major fight at St Mary's Stadium, home of his beloved Southampton Football Club.

Beating Bellotti will move Garner a step closer towards accomplishing that dream and also see him justify the belief his believers have always maintained.

"It's only going in the right direction," he said.

"Each fight is slowly getting harder and harder with bigger names and more titles on the line so I think I'm being guided perfectly if I'm honest. Everything is falling into place. I'm a big believer in everything happening for as a reason.

"I'm supposed to have this fight for me to go on and become the British, Commonwealth and European champion and then go on to world. That's what I believe."