Ryan Garner: Stadium Fight At St. Mary's The Dream, I Want It More Than Salvador Jimenez
Jan 16, 2025
2 min read
Ryan Garner couldn't have had a better 2024, and now he believes he's one win away from heading at Southampton FC's St. Mary's Stadium in the summer. Aptly nicknamed 'The Piranha', Garner (16-0, 8 KOs) defended his WBC international super-featherweight...
Ryan Garner couldn't have had a better 2024, and now he believes he's one win away from headlining at Southampton FC's St. Mary's Stadium in the summer.
Aptly nicknamed 'The Piranha', Garner (16-0, 8 KOs) defended his WBC international super-featherweight title twice last year, overcoming Liam Dillon (14-2-1, 3 KOs) and Archie Sharp (25-1, 9 KOs) to do so.
His fight with Dillon was a barnburner of a clash in which Garner was able to show off his back-foot boxing while his aggressive opponent tried to bring the fight to him.
Garner walked away with the decision victory and was steered into the path of previously unbeaten Sharp, consistently ranked in the WBO's top 10 at super-featherweight.
It was another competitive fight on the undercard of Joe Joyce vs. Derek Chisora, but with scores of 98-92, 97-93, 97-93, Garner walked away the victor once again.
Standing in the way of Southampton-born Garner now, however, is unbeaten Spaniard Salvador Jimenez (14-0-1, 6 KOs), who he will battle for the European title on March 1st.
Jimenez has only ever fought in Spain previously but looked pretty accustomed to his surroundings at Thursday's press conference in Bournemouth, where his fight with Garner will be held.
Garner still seems astonished he's been afforded the opportunity to main event his own show.
He said: "It doesn't feel real that I'm headlining, there are some great fighters on the bill so it's mental that I'm headlining. I've had my ups and downs, I've had my doubters, sometimes I've even doubted myself and I keep winning.
"Frank Warren said he would deliver and he's got me a European title shot, I'd love to get through this one then in the summer I'd love to fight at St Mary's.
"I'm ready to push on, this is my biggest challenge to date.
"Whoever wants it more on the night will win, and I believe I want it more."
Jimenez, speaking through a translator, had steely eyes while he listened to Garner's words, keeping it short and sweet as he warned those watching that it shouldn't be considered an upset if he wins.
"I'm in my prime, I've been waiting for this moment for a long time," he said. "We will see, and he better be ready. When I beat him, don't call it an upset.
"I'm mentally strong, it's my lifetime dream. I'm doing this for my family, my sons and my wife. Once something is in my mind, nothing can stop me."
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