A SPECIAL NIGHT IN SOUTHAMPTON

I WAS PROUD as punch and absolutely thrilled to witness Ryan Garner live up to our expectations and become Interim world super featherweight champion on Saturday at an emotional St Mary’s.

I have never made a secret of the fact that I’ve always had a soft spot for Ryan, one based on his enormous potential and ability, plus the fact that he teamed up with us as a teenager to launch his professional journey and here we are now.

He is also a cracking lad with a winning combination of charm and cheek! His popularity has spread throughout his home city of Southampton, not as some sort of local celeb, but as a local boy doing good things.

It was a very special night at the home of Southampton FC and, make no mistake, the bumper turnout was 99% for Ryan and he, along with his trainer Wayne Batten, worked so hard to make it success.

We delivered on Ryan’s dream setting for a major title fight, but a lot of hard graft goes in behind the scenes by all concerned to ensure the event is a spectacle.

This event was the first of its kind at St Mary’s and I believe the next one will be much bigger because a lot of people will feel this missed out this time around.

It is all about building and Ryan holds the future of Southampton boxing in his highly talented hands.

Getting on to the real nitty gritty, the true bankable currency from Saturday night is that Ryan and his opponent Michael Magnesi delivered a bloody good fight.

The pace and tempo they set from the first bell was incredible and most would have thought it unlikely it could be maintained across 12 rounds. But these two young men are made of the right stuff and they were physically so well prepared for an all-out war.

I am not about to complain about a fight turning into a thriller, but I do have to say I feel Ryan could have made life much easier for himself.

He can engage in a barnstormer with the best of them and come out triumphant, we know that. But he possesses so much natural ability and talent that going to war should be far from the first option.

Ryan is actually skilful and stealthy enough to get through a fight hardly taking a punch. He is a sharp shooter with great footwork.

The trouble is, if you can call it that, is that he believes he has an obligation to entertain and make sure the fans see a memorable fight.

As he steps up even further as an Interim world champion, he will have to find some sort of balance. He was absolutely exhausted and out on his feet afterwards in the changing room, meaning he was unable to celebrate his success. With his skillset it doesn’t have to be like that.

I must also reserve a special mention for Michael Magnesi. He and his team are all lovely people and it was a pleasure to have them over. Michael did hold the No.1 spot with the WBC and he could have sat it out and waited for something to happen for him, but he chose to seek out this fight and that is an enormous credit to him.

I hope our paths cross and we get to work with him again in the future.