Ryan Garner, with O'Shaquie Foster in his sights, hoping to put Southampton on the boxing map

SOUTHAMPTON, England – Ryan Garner is hopeful that he can be the catalyst to turn his hometown into a boxing hotbed.

Tonight, in front of an estimated 10,000 supporters at St Mary’s Stadium, the home of Garner's beloved soccer club Southampton FC, Garner faces Italy’s Michael Magnesi for the right to meet O’Shaquie Foster, the WBC’s full champion.

Garner is 19-0 (10 KOs), and he’s left nothing to chance in camp, including a spell for endurance work and sparring in Tenerife.

He drafted in old foe Salvador Jimenez, whom he defeated for the European title, to help him get ready for the 31-year-old ‘Lone Wolf.’

“Obviously mentally, as well as physically, I know I’ve put the work in,” said Garner. “I’m going into that fight the best I’ve felt. Mentally, I know I’ve done the best I can do in training so I’ll just go out and do what I normally do, which is fight, and all will be well.”

Garner said this week that’s he’s felt relaxed. He is embracing his destiny when the pressure could have been getting to him.

After all, it is not just about him tonight. On the undercard, fellow Southampton fighters including light-heavyweight contender Lewis Edmondson and super-middleweight prospect Taylor Bevan have respective bouts, and the city also has the 16-0 (8 KOs) Royston Barney-Smith emerging. If Garner wins, it will allow them all a possible future platform without having to get on the road for big fights. There is, of course, speculation that Garner and Barney-Smith could meet down the line in a Southampton superfight.

Yet for Garner, he has overcome plenty to get where he is today.

He started travelling down the wrong path and nearly missed out on this evening, and what he’s called a “dream coming true.”

Garner knows that, too. Trainer Wayne Batten has been by his side throughout, and Garner’s since surrounded himself with positive characters throughout his life. That is something that had to change but now, through the choices he has made, a small South Coast city will turn out to watch one of their own in the most meaningful fight Southampton has staged. Garner's also engaged and he has two children.

“Stay focused and surround yourself with the right people,” Garner said if what has brought him to this moment. “That’s easier said than done, but surround yourself with good people. People want to see you do well. Hopefully, this is the first big fight over at St Mary’s and hopefully I can be the spearhead for Southampton boxing. Hopefully young boxers coming through from Southampton will look at me on June 20 and they’ll aspire to be like that, and hopefully there will be other great nights in Southampton in the future.”