Ryan Garner will make a first defense of his WBC interim junior lightweight title at the Bournemouth International Centre in England on Saturday, January 9, 2027. Garner will defend against former WBA champion Jazza Dickens (37-6), live on DAZN. Garner, "The Piranha," gained his title back in June and also became the first boxer to headline a show at St Mary’s, home of Southampton FC (Garner's home city). The 28 year-old pulled in a bumper crowd for his top-of-the-rankings clash with Michael Magnesi, a former IBO champion. Garner (20-0) set a fast pace and dominated the exchanges to win clearly on the scorecards and, in turn, place himself in pole position for an ultimate mandatory shot at the full WBC title.
Since his promoter Frank Warren fulfilled his promise to return Garner home on the South Coast, his star power has grown along with his belt collection. In his first fight back down south at the BIC in March 2025, Garner overwhelmed the previously unbeaten Salvador Jiminez to become European champion.
Then, in July of last year at the same venue, Garner inflicted a twelfth-round stoppage on Reece Bellotti to become British and Commonwealth champion.
Seasoned veteran Dickens, from Liverpool, was upgraded to full WBA champion after his interim title success over Albert Batyrgaziev in Istanbul in July of last year. In his previous outing, the 35-year old, outfoxed Zelfa Barrett. Prior to that, Dickens became IBO featherweight champion in 2022 with a unanimous decision triumph over Lerato Diamini in Liverpool, but suffered a stoppage loss in his first defense against Hector Andres Sosa in Dubai the following year.
Previously, Dickens lost out in an IBF featherweight title challenge against Kid Galahad in 2021 and famously took on the great Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux for the WBA super bantamweight crwon in 2016.
“This fight is a cracking way to kick off our 2027 schedule,” said promoter Frank Warren. “In terms of ticket sales, Ryan Garner has become one of the most popular fighters in the country and he delivers entertainment every time. I am thrilled that this highly productive period of his career is taking place on the South Coast, where he has proved a major draw. It was also a particular pleasure for me to deliver for him a fight at St Mary’s, which was his dream right from the beginning when we teamed up when he was 18. The event in June was a major success and we want to go back to St Mary’s again in 2027 for an even bigger fight. First of all though, Ryan will be tested by a wily old campaigner in Jazza Dickens, a veteran of numerous big fights and one tricky customer. This will be a toughest test to date for Ryan and rightly so. If he is to become the world champion we think he will be, then he needs to have the measure of Jazza and prove his readiness. I am sure Ryan’s army of fans will once again make the short hop down the coast to support him and make it another special night at the fantastic BIC.”
