Ryan Garner vs. Reece Bellotti: Preview & Betting Tips

British boxing fans are in for a treat this Saturday in Bournemouth as unbeaten contender Ryan ‘The Piranha’ Garner takes on the seasoned Reece ‘Bomber’ Bellotti  in a domestic clash for the European, British, and Commonwealth super-featherweight titles.

Garner (17-0, 8 KO’s) enters the bout undefeated and ranked seventh in the world by the WBC. Long touted as a major prospect, the Southampton native has started to deliver on his potential in recent fights, and he has aspirations of fighting at the home of Southampton football club, St Mary’s Stadium. His slick boxing skills have made him one of the most talked-about super-featherweights in the UK over the last few years.

Bellotti (20-5, 15 KO’s), meanwhile, has experienced a career revival since moving up from featherweight in April 2022. The 34-year-old has strung together four straight wins at 130-pounds, two of those four wins coming inside the distance.  

Tale of the Tape

Ryan Garner – Odds 1.35 (Bet MGM)

Record: 17-0, 8 KO’s

Age: 27

Height: 5ft6

Reach: 70”

Weight: Super-featherweight

Stance: Orthodox 

Reece Bellotti – Odds 3.35 (Bet MGM)

Record: 20-5, 15 KO’s

Age: 34

Height: 5ft7

Reach: N/A

Weight: Super-featherweight

Stance: Orthodox 

Ryan Garner vs Reece Bellotti: Analysis

Ryan Garner is a real classy fighter to watch, and over the last few years he seems to have matured as he now approaches 30 years of age. And if he carries on this progression, he may well find himself in a world title fight before then. He’s an effective counter-puncher, but he’s not the sort of one-dimensional counter-puncher; he can be the one to lead the dance even if he is on the back foot.

Bellotti, though, has seen it all before. Now at 34 years of age, he really can’t afford a loss if he has title aspirations above British and Commonwealth level, and thus far at super-featherweight he’s undefeated. He is known for his relentless pressure and heavy hands, as well as toughness.

Whichever way you look at this one, it is going to be a cracker. You have the more finesse style of fighter in Garner, and then you have a slugger type in Bellotti, who, if he lands even on the arm, you will feel the power.

Garner vs Bellotti: Prediction & Betting Tips

Garner will need to start fast in this one I feel in order to try and wear Bellotti down and deplete his power. Jabbing and moving, and even just throwing feints out often to try and force Bellotti to not be set so he cannot get his power off early doors.

Bellotti will have one thing in mind, pressure. Get on that front foot early, throw a couple of hard right hands to the chest of Garner to try and make him wary of the power and force him back to the ropes. From there, “The Bomber” can start to cut the ring off and let his hands go. 

I’ve got Ryan Garner winning this one by decision or technical decision at odds of 2.28 (Bet MGM), simply because he’s just the slicker and fresher fighter. Although I wouldn’t rule out an upset because these domestic dust-ups can produce them.