World ranked Ryan Garner convincingly won the WBC interim super-featherweight (130lbs/9st, 4lbs) championship at a packed out St Mary’s stadium, home of Southampton Football Club, Saturday night (20 June).
On the announcement of the unanimous points victory (116-112, 118-110 & 119-109) ‘The Piranha’ was ecstatic in front of his local friends and family and fellow supporters of this beloved home club. This puts the 28-year-old in pole position to either, challenge current champion O’Shaquie Foster or, be elevated to full champion from his interim status.
In a hard fought contest against tough Italian Michael Magnesi, in the early rounds pounding each other with repeated hooks whilst they stood head-on-head and exchanged blow-for-blow it looked like the fight could’ve been held in a phone booth. To this writer it brought back memories of a world classic of yesteryear in Jeff Fenech v Azumah Nelson I.
The fighters eventually stepped back from each other as the rounds progressed but the intensity of the battle remained.
Amazingly, there were no knockdowns but this was more the result of their durability than lack of punching power. Both entered the contest with 50% KO records and their toughness was to be commended.
Garner increased his record to 20-0 (10 KOs) and Magnesi dropped to 26-3 (13 KOs).
The packed card also saw local light-heavyweight Lewis Edmondson (12-1, 3 KOs) win a wide unanimous 10-round points decision over former British and IBO ‘world’ champion Lyndon Arthur (25-4, 16 KOs). The scorecards were not a total reflection of the fight, being overly generous to ‘The Saint’ Edmondson, but he clearly won from is switch-hitting style and always keeping himself way out of reach with his superior footwork from the advancing Arthur. There were plenty of hard exchanges and power shots landed by the homefighter, but his boxing IQ was the main determining factor.
There were also good wins for Bradley Goldsmith (16-1, 10 KOs) who defeated Brad Pauls (21-3-1, 12 KOs) on a unanimous points decision at middleweight, and gained the IBF international title in another competitive attritional contest. Super-middleweight prospect Taylor Bevan (9-0, 8 KOs) also extended his unbeaten record in beating Ryszard Lewicki on a majority decision. There was also a second win at heavyweight for Irishman Adam Olaniyan who bombed out Viktar Chvarkou in two rounds.
The night though belonged to ‘The Piranha’ Garner and a full world title awaits whether elevated or challenging the current American champion. Queensberry Promotions head Frank Warren has promised he will attempt to deliver a further contest at St Mary’s stadium after Saturday’s impressive show and turnout.
The Undisputed 