Chaos On The Coast

Ryan Garner is heading back down south for a European super featherweight title collision with the unbeaten Spaniard Salvador Jimenez on Saturday March 1 at the Bournemouth International Centre.

Garner, 27 and from Southampton, will be fighting close to home for the first time since 2017, but his exploits have seen him build up a huge support-base with the backing of his local Premier League football club, whose St Mary’s Stadium is a matter of a two-minute stroll from his gym.

On the same card, new British and Commonwealth light heavyweight champion Lewis Edmondson, who also hails from Southampton, will defend his Commonwealth title for the first time against the undefeated Nigerian star Oluwatosin Kejawa (11-0, 5 KOs), who fights out of Bristol.

Heavyweight hero Big Joe Joyce will be back in the ring in Bournemouth as he seeks to place himself back in the title mix, plus Cuban super featherweight star Jadier Herrera (16-0, 14) will make a defence of his WBA Intercontinental championship belt.

Featuring on the South Coast will be world rated super featherweight star Archie Sharp (25-1, 9 KOs) going up against former British champion Liam Dillon (14-2-1, 3), along with super-talented super featherweight prospect Royston Barney-Smith, the WBO Youth champion, back in title action again.

The BIC will also stage the return to action of British super lightweight title challenger Henry Turner (13-1, 5) over eight rounds, plus Karol Itauma (12-1, 7) making his own return at light heavyweight over the same distance.

Outstanding young talents Luke McCormack (2-0, 2) and Charles Frankham (7-0, 2) will be looking to make a splash by the seaside.

Big-punching Swindon super lightweight John Isaacs (1-0), who trains out of Wayne Batten’s Southampton fight hub and local lightweight Mace Ruegg (12-0) will head into battle against the undefeated Joseph Butler (5-0).

What’s at Stake

FOR THE WBC International champion Ryan Garner, holder of a perfect 16-0 record and ambitions of cracking the world elite, winning the EBU European title - a hugely respected championship - would represent an ideal bridge towards world title contention.

Losing is never the end of the story, but Garner at just turned 27, believes he is timing his run to perfection and he holds realistic dreams of being part of a major event at Southampton FC, his local football club, this summer.

Taking backward steps is not an option entering the mindset of Garner, even though he knows he is up against a dangerous foe in Salvador Jimenez, even though he falls outside of being recognised as a household name. This only increases the jeopardy for Garner because he will be expected to win.

WINS
16
LOSES
0
DRAW
0
KOs
8

RyanGarner

“Piranha”

Consistency is the buzzword Ryan Garner is abiding by these days as the one-time teen talent who has morphed into a mature version of himself closes in on realising his dazzling potential and is entering into elite title contention.

The current Piranha is applying himself to his craft like never before and his application finally matching up to his obvious talent is a heady mix that should see him progress upstream into the deeper, very dangerous waters before too long.

In 2023, he impressively overcame Eduardo Valverde (2nd round KO) and Juan Jesus Antunez (3rd round KO), both at the famous York Hall in London. Against Antunez, he claimed his first title belt as a professional when the WBC International super featherweight title was awarded to him following his victory.

His success saw him paraded for the first time, along with his belt, on the pitch at his local football club, Southampton, where he one day hopes to fight for a world title.

He defended his WBC belt against former British champion Liam Dillon in May 2024, winning via unanimous decision, before taking on his toughest test to date against world ranked contender Archie Sharp in July, repeating the method of victory and marking himself out as a threat to the super featherweight world order.

Salvador Jimenez

"Salvi"

Salvador Jimenez (14-0-1, 6), from Valladolid, became Spanish champion in March 2022, making a single successful defence, before winning the European super featherweight title with a unanimous decision triumph over Alex Rat in April 2023. His first defence against the undefeated Juanfe Gomez resulted in a majority draw in November 2023. He enjoyed two stoppage victories across 2024, including a notable defeat of the 11-1 Diego Lagos.