Ryan Garner Set to Make History at St Mary's Against Michael Magnesi

Ryan Garner is on the brink of fulfilling a lifelong dream as he prepares to step into the ring at St Mary’s Stadium on June 20, facing Michael Magnesi for the WBC interim super-featherweight title. Garner, now 28, has long envisioned this moment, having first expressed his desire to fight at the iconic venue back in 2017.

In an interview, Garner reflected on his journey, stating, "We’ve manifested it for years, so for it to actually happen is just a dream come true." He aims to become Southampton’s first-ever world champion, emphasizing that despite it being an interim title, it still holds significant value.

Garner's athletic background includes a stint in football, where he played for Southampton’s academy before realizing his true potential in boxing. He noted, "I wasn’t too bad at football when I was younger – I’ll give myself that – but obviously I was better at fighting." With an impressive record of 19-0 (10 KOs), he is poised to make a statement against Magnesi, who previously lost a close split decision to WBA champion Anthony Cacace.

While many anticipated a matchup with Cacace, the champion opted for a unification bout instead. Garner respects Cacace's decision, saying, "I don’t blame him. He’s getting older and is coming towards the end of his career, so he wants to unify and win more titles." Regardless of the opponent, Garner's focus remains on the dream of fighting at St Mary’s.

As he prepares for the bout, Garner maintains a strong mental approach, stating, "I’ve always been strong, mentally. Nothing really bothers me; nothing really fazes me." With an expected crowd of 15,000 to 20,000 fans cheering him on, Garner is ready to seize the moment and make history.