Sixty Seconds: Get to know… Ryan Garner

Fast facts:

Age: 26

X: @piranhagarner98

Nationality: English

From: Southampton

Stance: Orthodox

Height: 5ft 6ins

Record: 14-0 (8)

Division: Super-featherweight

Next fight: Garner hasn’t fought since August so he’s hopeful of returning before June.

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BN: When and why you started boxing:

RG: I’ve got two older brothers I was always fighting with and I was fighting at school so just ended up going to the local boxing club, Southampton ABC when I was 10. I’ve stuck at it ever since.

BN: Favourite all-time fighter:

RG: To be honest, I haven’t really got a favourite fighter. I don’t really tend to watch much boxing.

BN: Best fight you have seen:

RG: As I said I don’t watch much boxing but one that comes to mind is Micky Ward-Arturo Gatti, a proper toe-to-toe war.

BN: Personal career highlight:

RG: My best achievement as a pro would have to be my last fight, beating Juan Jesus Antunez to win my first title (WBC International super-featherweight title).

BN: Toughest opponent:

RG: As a pro, to be honest, I haven’t had any proper hard fights yet. Maybe the toughest, in terms of his [9-1] record was Pedro Gomes.

BN: Best and worst attributes:

RG: My strengths, I’d say, would be my fitness and the ability to box as well as being able to stand in the pocket and fight. My weakness, well, I’d like to think I haven’t got any. Not any that I should be revealing anyway.

BN: Training tip: 

RG: My best piece of advice for training would be to just give every session everything you’ve got – but don’t over train.

BN: Favourite meal/restaurant:

RG: It would have to be Chinese or Thai but, to be fair, I like all Asian food.

BN: Best friends in boxing:

RG: You haven’t really got best friends in boxing; you’ve got quite a few close people who are in your team and are all close in different ways. Perhaps my trainer Wayne Batten – we’ve known each other since I was about 13 and since I decided I wanted to turn over at 17 he’s been like a father figure.

BN: Which other athlete would you like to be:

RG: I’m alright being me (laughs).

BN: What would you change about boxing?

RG: Maybe improving some of the bad scorecards.

BN: Who would play you in a film of your life?

RG: Someone like a Jason Statham or Brad Pitt would play me well!

BN: Have you ever been starstruck?

RG: Never, but I’ve been happy to meet some famous people.

BN: Last time you cried:

RG: To be honest, I can’t remember. My missus even moans at me cause I didn’t cry when my daughter was born!

BN: Something not many people know about you:

RG: I used to collect coins, but don’t worry, I’ve stopped now (laughs).