16-05-2025
Garner v Bellotti and Edmondson v Taylor in works
Southampton boxers Ryan Garner and Lewis Edmondson are set to make big domestic defences of their respective titles. European super featherweight champion Garner will take on the British and Commonwealth champion Reece Bellotti in Bournemouth on 26 July, according to the EBU, external and British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC), external. Light-heavyweight Edmondson will face a first mandatory defence of his British and Commonwealth titles against the red-hot Ezra Taylor, with the bout to take place by the end of October, bouts are still pending official announcements from the respective promotional companies involved.
Garner won the vacant European title in front of a packed crowd at the Bournemouth International Centre in March. He outclassed Spain's Salvador Jimenez on points to put himself into the mix for some big fights in the 130lbs division. Garner is undefeated in 17 contests and will face Bellotti who, despite having five losses to his name, has won his past six fights, with his last an impressive win over Michael Gomez Jr. Edmondson defended his Commonwealth title in March when he outpointed the previously unbeaten Oluwatosin Kejawa in Bournemouth. He won his titles in late 2024 when he beat Dan Azeez in London, but now the BBBC have ordered him to defend them against an opponent who has won all 12 of his fights, including eight knockouts, since his professional debut in 2020. Edmondson, known as 'The Saint', and Nottingham's Taylor have clashed at their past two respective bouts, willing each other to come through scheduled fights to set up what promises to be a fiery affair.
