Ryan Garner Claims the WBC Interim Title After Defeating Michael Magnesi

Southampton – British boxer Ryan Garner has claimed the interim World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight (58.9 kg) title after defeating Michael Magnesi via unanimous decision, in a bout held at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, England on Saturday 20 June 2026 local time.

Garner delivered a dominant performance across all 12 rounds to secure the unanimous victory, with the three official judges returning scorecards of 116-112, 118-110 and 119-109. This result strengthens the standing of the fighter nicknamed "The Piranha" in the line of contention for the full WBC world championship.

"If it wasn't for Southampton, none of this would ever have happened," Garner stated immediately after the fight.

Competing in front of his home supporters, Garner seized the initiative right from the opening round. He applied constant forward pressure and forced Magnesi to fight at a high tempo. The Italian fighter refused to adopt a passive defensive stance however, instead opting to trade close-range blows in what became a ferocious, entertaining contest.

Garner's unrelenting pressure repeatedly backed Magnesi up against the ring ropes. From these positions, the 28-year old British boxer utilised his hand speed and punching accuracy to land clean combination attacks to both the head and body of his opponent.

As the bout progressed into the middle rounds, Garner began to establish a clear advantage. He selected his attacking moments far more effectively and landed significantly cleaner punches than his opponent. On multiple occasions the pair became entangled at extremely close range, forcing the referee to intervene and separate the fighters.

Magnesi displayed outstanding resilience and bravery throughout the entire contest. The Italian fighter continuously attempted to mount counter attacks, but struggled to match the aggressive rhythm that Garner had set for the fight.

Garner maintained his high offensive intensity right through the final rounds, refusing to give Magnesi any opening to turn the result around. By the time the final bell sounded at the end of the 12th round, the home fighter's superiority inside the ring was unambiguous.

The judges' unanimous verdict delivered Garner the highly significant interim WBC belt, a major milestone in his professional career. This title cements his position in the queue for a future challenge for the full WBC super featherweight world championship.

Alongside claiming the interim champion belt, Garner also preserved his perfect professional record. He now holds an undefeated tally of 20 career wins, 10 of which have been secured by knockout.

For Magnesi, this marks his third defeat at professional level. The Italian boxer now holds a career record of 26 wins including 12 knockouts, alongside three losses.

For Garner, this victory in Southampton represents far more than just protecting his undefeated streak. This result is a major breakthrough in his push to reach the highest level of World Boxing, and brings him substantially closer to earning a shot at the full WBC world championship title.