Ryan Garner living the dream ahead of St Mary's showdown with Michael Magnesi

SOUTHAMPTON, England – A few hundred yards from the gym where he trains daily, Ryan Garner addressed the media and opponent Michael Magnesi ahead of their fight on Saturday.

They will box at St Mary’s Stadium for the vacant WBC interim super featherweight belt, and for Garner it is a dream come true.

The Southampton man said of his ringwalk, in front of fans, friends and family, will put a smile on his face.

“It still hasn’t sunk in yet, it’s something I’ve dreamed of for years,” Garner said. “Sometimes you think, ‘Am I kidding myself?’ I can’t thank [promoter] Frank Warren, the football club and my trainer Wayne Batten enough. I drive past the stadium to go to the gym every day and I’ve visualised it. Southampton Football Club have been right behind me and I can’t thank them enough. I can’t let this opportunity slip, 10-15,000 in there supporting me. I can’t lose. I should feel the pressure but I don’t.”

Italian opponent Magnesi kept things brief, but said “The Piranha” should be wary of “The Lone Wolf.”

“I’m happy to be here and I’m very excited for this fight. They say I’ll be in the lion’s den, but he will be in the wolf’s den,” said the visitor.

“There’s so much respect, he’s a good guy, but on Saturday we will fight and it is a dream for Ryan and it will stay a dream.”

Light heavyweight contender Lewis Edmondson, 11-1 (3 KOs), said he was thrilled to be on a bill at his hometown soccer stadium, where he meets dangerous Manchester veteran Lyndon Arthur, who is 25-3 (16 KOs).

“We’re both here to do a job and put on a good performance,” said Edmondson. “It’s what dreams are made of. Doesn’t seem like too long ago we [he and Garner] were fighting at Shirley Social Club and now we’re getting ready to come out at St Mary’s Stadium.”

His opponent, Arthur, said: “It’s a good fight. I can’t wait and we will get it cracking on Saturday. He’s a good fighter and it’s going to be a great win. I’m looking forward to the challenge because he’s a very good fighter. I don’t mind an away day. It’s going to be fun.”

In a good domestic middleweight fight, Brad Pauls hopes victory over Bradley Goldsmith could lead him to an IBF title fight.

“Get the win by any means necessary,” said Pauls, 21-2-1 (12 KOs). “Big respect to Brad for stepping up. I’ll give it everything and may the best man win. I understand that a win here would do that [take him toward an IBF title fight], but it’s got to be a win here. No world title is happening if I don’t win on Saturday. I think it’s going to be a good fight for the fans.”

The 15-1 (10 KOs) Goldsmith, who is trained by Dominic Ingle, countered: “It’s a massive opportunity, big stadium fight, coming into the unknown but also entering as the unknown fighter and it’s down to me to prove myself.”

Also on the bill is Irish heavyweight prospect Adam Olaniyan, who said he was hopeful that, with a couple more wins, he could find himself on the Katie Taylor undercard in September and that one day he could headline in Croke Park himself.

“I’m enjoying it,” he said of life in the pros so far. “It’s everything I dreamed of, [making his debut] Dublin, St Mary’s, Dublin again [on August 1] and then hopefully Croke Park…. It’s only 20 minutes from where I grew up,” he added. 

Super middleweight prospect Taylor Bevan, a Matchroom fighter who is 8-0 (8 KOs), thanked Queensberry for giving him a slot on the bill. “I’m expecting a good, competitive fight and I’m looking forward to progressing my career. I’m settling into the pro game now and looking forward to showing what I’ve been working on.” 

His opponent, Manchester-based Pole Ryszard Lewicki, 12-3-3 (5 KOs), said: “I’ll punch him, he’ll punch me and the best man will win.”