Promoter Frank Warren believes he has a can’t-miss fight on his hands when European junior lightweight champion Ryan Garner meets Reece Bellotti on July 26.
The two all-action fighters will collide at the Bournemouth International Centre on England’s south coast, with the 17-0 (8 KOs) Garner set to defend the title he won against unbeaten Spaniard Salvador Jimenez in the same venue in March.
“This is the fight to make in the super featherweight division,” said promoter Frank Warren. “A real cracker that will deliver the goods in a big way. I was delighted with how our first promotion in Bournemouth turned out in March, with a sell-out crowd at an absolutely terrific venue at the BIC. It couldn’t have worked out any better and I am very happy to be making a return visit in July.
“For Ryan, this is the sort of fight he needs to bring him up to, ultimately, world title contention, which is where we see his journey heading. We know Reece is a quality fighter with a strong following himself and, most importantly, both men bring entertainment value for the fans.”
British champion Bellotti is 20-5 (15 KOs), and has won six in a row since being stopped by Raymond Ford, scoring victories over 9-1-1 Dean Dodge, 15-1-1 Youseef Khoumari, 12-0 Aqib Fiaz, 13-0-1 Liam Dillon (who lost to Garner in his next fight), 15-1 Levi Giles, and 21-1 Michael Gomez Jnr.
Garner, from Southampton – around 20 miles from the Bournemouth – is building his fanbase and one day hopes to box at St Mary’s Stadium, home of his beloved Southampton FC.