Ryan Garner Stops Reece Bellotti in 12th

A pulsating night unfolded at Bournemouth International Centre as Ryan Garner squared off against Reece Bellotti in a super featherweight contest brimming with belts and significance for both men. Garner, unbeaten coming into the contest with 17 victories and 8 knockouts, put his EBU European title on the line. Bellotti entered as the reigning British and Commonwealth champion, boasting 20 wins—15 by knockout—across a career marked by aggression and resilience. The bout was fiercely contested, with three major titles up for grabs and the victor set for a world-level breakthrough. A crowd charged with expectation watched as two seasoned orthodox fighters, both known for their forward-marching styles and willingness to trade, faced off under the bright lights and roars echoing off the seaside arena walls.

The early rounds demonstrated why Garner has become one of Britain’s most precocious boxing talents. Leveraging his hallmark unpredictability, he used slick angles and sharp changes of direction. Garner’s boxing, lauded for its fluidity and sudden bursts, made opening exchanges challenging for Bellotti, whose methodical advances were met with quick, stinging combinations. Bellotti stuck to a purposeful jab and menacing overhand right, looking to slow his younger rival’s rhythm. The second round marked Bellotti’s best start, as he held his shape and responded to Garner’s advances with body shots and right hands. Still, as the bell rang, Garner’s hand speed and accuracy were apparent, snaking through Bellotti’s high guard.

Through the middle rounds, the duel intensified. Bellotti showed why his reputation as an adaptable, hard-nosed fighter is well earned, coming forward, swinging for openings, and landing a few solid hooks. Garner, though, began taking command in the seventh. His feet, always in sync with his hands, created just enough distance to avoid Bellotti’s counters. At the same time, crisp one-twos and short left hooks increasingly found their target. The crowd’s energy swelled, each flurry drawing thunderous response. With his European belt and the chance to claim both British and Commonwealth honours, Garner showed hunger beyond his years, making subtle defensive switches and exploiting Bellotti’s dip in work rate. Bellotti, by contrast, continued rowing forward—his face marking the testament of battle, yet still dangerous on the counter.

Late in the eighth and ninth, Bellotti landed several notable overhand rights, momentarily halting Garner’s forward march. Yet each time, Garner regrouped, asserting control with stiff jabs and uppercuts. The fight became a showcase of will; at moments, both men traded heavy shots on the inside, drawing appreciative roars from an audience deeply engaged in every twist. Into the championship rounds, as each man’s stamina was tested to its limit, Garner found his next gear. He worked the body with renewed intensity, threading left hooks and straight rights with greater frequency. At the same time, Bellotti remained dangerous, snapping hooks and digging deep for the equaliser that would turn the tide.

The eleventh round brought the crowd to another crescendo. Bellotti let fly a right hand that sent a spray of sweat from Garner’s head—proof that he still posed a threat. Garner answered briskly with another left hook, stinging and forceful, showing both his recovery and dominance. As fatigue set in, Bellotti’s responses slowed. Still, his determination remained—he never retreated, always searching for that last opportunity to rally. But Garner’s footwork, ring craft, and superior speed closed off those avenues. The twelfth and final round saw Bellotti backed onto the ropes after shipping a barrage of accurate punches. Garner unleashed a clinical salvo, freezing Bellotti with a right hand and following up with a sharp left hook. Referee Victor Loughlin, recognising Bellotti had been softened through eleven hard rounds and was no longer able to defend himself adequately, intervened forty-five seconds into the round, calling a halt to the contest.

The official result—a twelfth-round TKO—meant that Ryan Garner (now 18-0, 9 KOs) not only retained his European title but also added Bellotti’s British and Commonwealth belts to his growing collection. Reece Bellotti, fighting valiantly to the last and never ceasing in his effort, left the ring with a 20-6, 15 KOs record; his courage assured applause long after the bell. The final statistics reflected Garner’s edge in accuracy and output; yet, the fight’s narrative was built as much on heart and resilience as on numbers. In the post-fight atmosphere, speculation turned to Garner’s future—his blend of technical prowess, grit, and adaptability marking him as a live contender on the world stage, with murmurs of a future championship bout in his home city of Southampton growing louder.