Ryan Garner Eyes Dublin Main Event and Sparks St Mary’s World Title Shot

Ryan Garner will fight Mexican Cristian Bielma in Dublin this weekend as a planned tune-up ahead of a headline show at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton this summer, and he has set his sights on the winner of the world title bout between James Dickens and Anthony Cacace.

Ryan Garner Targets Dickens v Cacace Winner

The unbeaten super featherweight said he is watching the main event closely and hopes to pursue whichever fighter emerges with the world title. He described the Dublin card as “a big show” and framed his appearance there as a stepping stone toward a bigger opportunity back home at St Mary’s.

Garner will be looking to extend his unbeaten run to 19 wins when he takes on Bielma at the 3 Arena. He called the upcoming eight-round contest a chance to showcase his preparation and avoid any setbacks that could derail plans for a summer headline.

Dublin Tune-Up and St Mary’s Summer Plans

The Dublin fight was a late addition to the card; Garner was announced as part of the bill in mid-February. The appearance is presented internally as a tune-up before the bigger Southampton event, where he is scheduled to headline. Garner emphasized the immediate priority of coming through the Irish show “unscathed” and looking sharp for the St Mary’s date.

Fellow Hampshire fighter Mark Chamberlain had originally been added to the same Dublin bill but withdrew because of illness, leaving Garner as the primary local representative on that portion of the card.

Career Momentum, Rankings and Past Missed Matchups

Garner’s recent run of success has placed him high in several world rankings: number three with the WBC, ninth in the Ring Magazine standings and 15th with the IBF. He noted that 2025 was a watershed year in his career, when he secured the European, British and Commonwealth titles across two headline shows in Bournemouth.

The Southampton fighter reflected on a previously scheduled clash with Cacace in 2023 that fell through after Cacace withdrew with a wrist injury. Garner said that looking back he “definitely wasn’t ready” for that bout, citing his development since and the fact he had not completed a 10-round fight at that stage of his career.

Next Steps and What’s At Stake

The immediate task is the Dublin outing against Bielma and ensuring there are no injuries or setbacks that could impede the planned St Mary’s headline. If Dickens or Cacace secures the world title, Garner has publicly signaled his interest in pursuing that champion, a move that would accelerate his path toward a world-level showdown.

How the main event in Dublin unfolds will shape Garner’s short-term roadmap. For now, he remains focused on executing the tune-up and maintaining his unbeaten record, with the St Mary’s show held out as the primary next milestone in his campaign.