St Mary's Stadium Booked For Summer 2026, As Ryan Garner Close To World Title Shot
Queensberry Promotions have booked Southampton FC's St Mary's Stadium for a date next summer to host Ryan Garner's dream world title fight.
The undefeated junior lightweight contender (18-0, 9 KOs) stopped Reece Bellotti in the 12th round of their domestic encounter, headlining a Bournemouth show on July 26.
In doing so he added Bellotti's British and Commonwealth titles to his collection which includes the European title and, crucially, the WBC international belt.
Garner initially won that strap in 2023 and has since defended it four times, helping him to climb to No. 5 in the WBC rankings, which is his highest rating across the four sanctioning bodies. He is not currently rated inside The Ring's top 10 at 130-pounds.
The current WBC junior lightweight beltholder is O'Shaquie Foster, who defends his title against divisional newcomer Stephen Fulton next month. Fulton, already a two-division world titlist, will seek to make more history at MGM Grand Garden Arena on October 25.
Given his rankings, the WBC seems the most obvious route for Garner, who is expected to box once more before summer 2026. Another victory could set up a world title shot with home advantage, according to his promoter Frnk Wrren.
Garner, rated No. 11 with the IBF and No. 12 with the WBO, was born and bred in Southampton and Warren has revealed they have a date held at the home of Southampton FC in the closed season.
The Saints were relegated from the Premier League last season so their Championship campaign ends on Saturday, May 2, when they are away at Preston.
Their final home game of the season takes place on April 25 unless they reach the play-offs, when they would have to play one more home game in early May.
Now Warren has confirmed that not only have Queensberry held discussions with Garner’s home club about hosting a fight but also agreed to keep a date clear for the 'Piranha'.
Warren told The Ring: "We've booked it, so he's got to keep winning and he'll get a world title fight. He'll get his dream.
"You can definitely expect him to have one more fight before that. It's booked for next summer in the post-season, the date is in May or June.
"And that will be a world title fight for that date, provided he keeps winning."
St Mary's Stadium Booked For Summer 2026, As Ryan Garner Close To World Title Shot
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
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Re: St Mary's Stadium Booked For Summer 2026, As Ryan Garner Close To World Title Shot
get in! At last a big fight on my door step. Hopefully royston barney smith and lewis edmonson on the card. maybe get billam smith on as well.
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
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- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: St Mary's Stadium Booked For Summer 2026, As Ryan Garner Close To World Title Shot
Reece Bellotti praises 'world-level' Ryan Garner as camp begins for March return
It's feeding time.
That's how Ryan Garner capped a reflective end-of-2025 social media post as the junior lightweight contender nears a St. Mary's Stadium date this summer.
As reported by The Ring in September, Queensberry have booked a date with Garner's home football club in May or June for the 'Piranha' to headline a stadium show on home turf in Southampton.
The Ring's No. 10-rated junior lightweight Garner (18-0, 9 KOs) relinquished his European title in October after defending it with a 12th-round stoppage of Reece Bellotti, aware bigger plans were in the offing.
Former lightweight world title challenger Josh Padley faces Jaouad Belmedhi for that belt on a busy January 31 date, though it could've easily been former British and Commonwealth champion Bellotti (20-7, 15 KOs) in Padley's place.
Exceeding expectations with a quick turnaround between fights after an exhausting 12-round affair against Garner 11 weeks prior, many felt the Watford man did enough to edge their 10-round encounter.
It wasn't to be, with wide scorecards favouring Padley on his 130-pound debut, though Bellotti has been given assurances from the Matchroom hierarchy about future opportunities should he continue to box.
On the topic of Garner and the strengths he quickly found himself up against, he was complimentary of the younger man, who turned 28 earlier this week.
"His footwork is very under-rated, spatial awareness is very good, he can drop out millimetres from a shot and be right on top of you," he told The Ring.
"I'd say he's at world-level now, yeah. He's got a good judge of distance, is obviously very fit, was an awkward fighter to deal with on the night and that will be the same against others too."
Garner, who sparred rounds with Zak Miller and Nathaniel Collins before his Bellotti win, has recently been pictured sharing the ring with WBC Grand Prix featherweight runner-up Muhamet Qamili (17-1-1, 8 KOs)
His strength-and-conditioning coach posted a video Tuesday with the fan-favourite completing a bodyweight exercise circuit, intimating that training camp for his next fight had begun.
DAZN teased a March return date when posting their promotional piece on the Southampton puncher last month and he'll be keeping a keen eye on Jazza Dickens-Anthony Cacace that month for the former's WBA title.
All three are now signed to Queensberry's ever-growing roster, so provided he continues winning, failure to snare one of the stateside-based champions might not matter.
Eduardo Nunez and Emanuel Navarrete will unify their IBF and WBO crowns on February 28, while WBC beltholder O'Shaquie Foster was open to a Dickens unification before the Liverpudlian agreed a March 14 return in Dublin.
It's feeding time.
That's how Ryan Garner capped a reflective end-of-2025 social media post as the junior lightweight contender nears a St. Mary's Stadium date this summer.
As reported by The Ring in September, Queensberry have booked a date with Garner's home football club in May or June for the 'Piranha' to headline a stadium show on home turf in Southampton.
The Ring's No. 10-rated junior lightweight Garner (18-0, 9 KOs) relinquished his European title in October after defending it with a 12th-round stoppage of Reece Bellotti, aware bigger plans were in the offing.
Former lightweight world title challenger Josh Padley faces Jaouad Belmedhi for that belt on a busy January 31 date, though it could've easily been former British and Commonwealth champion Bellotti (20-7, 15 KOs) in Padley's place.
Exceeding expectations with a quick turnaround between fights after an exhausting 12-round affair against Garner 11 weeks prior, many felt the Watford man did enough to edge their 10-round encounter.
It wasn't to be, with wide scorecards favouring Padley on his 130-pound debut, though Bellotti has been given assurances from the Matchroom hierarchy about future opportunities should he continue to box.
On the topic of Garner and the strengths he quickly found himself up against, he was complimentary of the younger man, who turned 28 earlier this week.
"His footwork is very under-rated, spatial awareness is very good, he can drop out millimetres from a shot and be right on top of you," he told The Ring.
"I'd say he's at world-level now, yeah. He's got a good judge of distance, is obviously very fit, was an awkward fighter to deal with on the night and that will be the same against others too."
Garner, who sparred rounds with Zak Miller and Nathaniel Collins before his Bellotti win, has recently been pictured sharing the ring with WBC Grand Prix featherweight runner-up Muhamet Qamili (17-1-1, 8 KOs)
His strength-and-conditioning coach posted a video Tuesday with the fan-favourite completing a bodyweight exercise circuit, intimating that training camp for his next fight had begun.
DAZN teased a March return date when posting their promotional piece on the Southampton puncher last month and he'll be keeping a keen eye on Jazza Dickens-Anthony Cacace that month for the former's WBA title.
All three are now signed to Queensberry's ever-growing roster, so provided he continues winning, failure to snare one of the stateside-based champions might not matter.
Eduardo Nunez and Emanuel Navarrete will unify their IBF and WBO crowns on February 28, while WBC beltholder O'Shaquie Foster was open to a Dickens unification before the Liverpudlian agreed a March 14 return in Dublin.