Step Aside, World Cup: Boxing Is Taking Over England

It’s official: England is caught up in World Cup mania. Pubs and sports bars are doing big business, while surveys suggest millions of workers could call in sick after late-night World Cup matches, creating a potential economic hit worth billions of pounds. 

80 miles from this bustling capital is the port city of Southampton. Home to a 22-14-10 club in the EFL Championship, this city is certified football-crazy. But, in a few days, it will turn its attention to another sports spectacle.

Southampton, in fact, will transform St. Mary’s Stadium from a football cathedral into a boxing arena. And it’s all because of Ryan Garner.

Every athlete dreams of coming home and showcasing their brilliance in front of loved ones and compatriots. For the 28-year-old Garner, it’s been nothing less than an obsession. “We’ve manifested it for years, so for it to actually happen is just a dream come true,” he told Boxing News this week.

On Sunday (Manila time), Garner gets his date with destiny as he takes on Italy’s Michael Magnesi for the WBC Interim Super Featherweight Title. If the Englishman gets his hand raised at the end of this bout, he can supplant Magnesi as the number one contender for the full WBC title held by O’Shaquie Foster. 

In an alternate universe, Garner would be a mainstay of St. Mary’s Stadium as a homegrown talent of Southampton F.C. When he was a child, football competed with boxing in his heart of hearts. “I started off as a striker, then went into central midfield and ended up on the right wing,” recalled the former youth player of Southampton’s football academy.

Today, Garner is no Saint. (That’s the nickname of Southampton’s players, not an indictment of his moral compass.) Promoters call him “The Piranha,” and it’s not hard to see why. Undefeated in 19 fights, Garner is an opportunistic predator who throws punches that are both well-timed and stinging.

Talk about taking a big bite: In March 2025, Garner scored a unanimous decision to deal Spanish slugger Salvador Jimenez his first professional loss. Garner has fought twice more since then, retaining his WBC International and European super featherweight titles against Reece Bellotti and pulling off a third-round KO of Cristian Bielma this past March.

If he wants to get to Foster, though, he’ll have to stay composed amidst the homecoming frenzy as he takes on a battle-tested veteran. Magnesi, who began his pro career in 2015, has come up big in high-stakes moments, winning a total of 11 championship fights and amassing a 26-2 overall record.

How apropos, then, that a fighter billed as “The Lone Wolf” exchanges savage blows against “The Piranha.” And there’s another intriguing subtext to this fight: Italy, Magnesi’s home nation, did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup. England, on the other hand, did.

In fact, the Three Lions had a rousing debut in the tournament, scoring a 4-2 victory over Croatia at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas. England’s next match isn’t till next week, so for now, World Cup mania can step aside. The sweet science is coming to town.

All those years ago, Ryan Garner chose boxing over football. For one glorious day, his hometown will do the same.

Catch Ryan Garner vs. Michael Magnesi live on DAZN this Sunday (Manila time). The event is scheduled to start at 2:00 am; the ringwalk is projected to begin at 4:30 am.

Tune in to ALL-STAR for live, round-by-round coverage of the Garner vs. Magnesi main event.

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