Boxer weighs-in ahead of homecoming bout

2 hours ago

Dan George,BBC Sport, Southamptonand

Stuart Rust,South of England

News image — Ryan Garner (right) will fight Italy's Michael Magnesi (left) on Saturday

BBC Ryan Garner (right) Michael Magnesi (left). Both men are stood on a stage in shorts with no tops on. They standing in fighting poses and looking out to the crowds, while there is a board behind them advertising the fight. Garner is wearing sunglasses. — Ryan Garner (right) will fight Italy's Michael Magnesi (left) on Saturday

Crowds gathered to watch their hometown hero weigh-in ahead of a boxing match on the weekend.

Southampton boxer Ryan Garner will take on Italy's Michael Magnesi for the WBC's interim Super Featherweight belt at St Mary's stadium on Saturday - the ground's first major boxing event.

Ahead of a weigh-in outside the Westquay shopping centre, the 28-year-old said he had "dreamt about fighting" in the city in front of his home fans.

Garner and Magnesi went face-to-face for the traditional weigh-in stare-down, as fans gathered to cheer on the home favourite.

Boxers Ryan Garner and Michael Magnesi stare at one another intensely on a stage. Other people look on in the background. A championship belt is held between them by a dark-haired man in a suit. — Ryan Garner and Michael Magnesi went face-to-face for a traditional stare-down during the weigh-in

Garner, known as "The Piranha", is unbeaten across his 19 professional fights with 10 knockout victories.

"I was destined to fight here," he said.

"I've ticked that box off now that it's happening - and now I know I'm destined to win."

The winner of Saturday's fight will become interim WBC champion, with a likely shot at full title holder O'Shaquie Foster, who recently retained his belt with a win over Raymond Ford in Texas.

The bill also features British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Lewis Edmondson against Lyndon Arthur, and Cornwall's Brad Pauls, who returns to the city where he boxed as an amateur alongside Garner and Edmondson.

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