Super featherweight Ryan Garner has admitted that he has his eye on the winner of Saturday night’s world title bout between James Dickens and Anthony Cacace.
“The Piranha” fights in Dublin this weekend for what is planned to be a tune-up before a big headline show in Southampton this summer at St Mary’s Stadium.
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Garner will be looking to make it 19 wins without loss when he fights Mexican Cristian Bielma at the 3 Arena, seven-and-a-half months on since his British title triumph over Reece Bellotti.
The Southampton man was a late addition to the card in Ireland when he was announced as part of the bill in mid-February.
“It’s a big show in Dublin and I’ve got my eye on the main event,” Garner told BBC Sport.
“I want to get the winner of that fight, this will be a decent little eight rounder for me on Saturday and I’ve been putting the work in this camp, leaving no stone unturned.
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“I don’t want to mess it up at the last hurdle so once I get through this one hopefully some big things can happen for me.
“The main thing on Saturday is looking good, coming out unscathed and then looking forward to a big one at St Mary’s.”
Garner was initially added to the bill alongside fellow Hampshire boxer Mark Chamberlain who was set to face Dublin’s Pierce O’Leary, but the 27-year-old super lightweight was forced to withdraw from his bout because of illness.
2025 was a significant year in Garner’s career, picking up the European, British and Commonwealth titles across two headline shows in Bournemouth.
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As well as being well positioned for the winner of Dickens v Cacace he has shot up in some of the world rankings, number three with the WBC, ninth in the Ring Magazine standings and 15 with the IBF.
Garner was scheduled to face Cacace back in 2023 but the fight fell through after the Northern Irishman withdrew with a wrist injury.
With potential for the two to meet in the future if Cacace is able to beat Dickens, Garner has been reflecting on the previously scheduled fight and if it would have been a step too soon for him.
“Now looking back at it I definitely wasn’t ready,” Garner added.
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“I was nowhere near the fighter that I am today and I hadn’t even done a 10-rounder before at that stage.
“Now I’ve done 10 and 12 rounders and I’m ready to step up, I believe I’m coming into my prime and I believe the time is right to start stepping up.
“I want the biggest fights for the biggest money to secure my family and with the biggest titles on the line, I’m at that level now and ready to experience world championship fights.”
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