BOURNEMOUTH, England — Ryan Garner produced the best performance of his career to stop the experienced Reece Bellotti in the final round of their British, Commonwealth and European junior lightweight title fight and move a step closer to a world title opportunity.

The 27-year-old from Southampton has been touted as a future star for almost a decade but has really begun to fulfil his potential over the past two years.

After beating former British champion, Liam Dillon, and the highly ranked Archie Sharp, “The Piranha” (18-0, 9 KOs) collected the vacant European title in March when he produced an action-packed, relentless 12-round performance to dominate Spain's previously unbeaten contender Salvador Jimenez. As good as Garner has been, he had never faced a fighter with Bellotti’s level of experience, confidence and power.

In 2021, Bellotti (20-6, 15 KOs) lost for the third consecutive time and the fifth of his career when future WBA champion, Ray Ford, stopped him in three rounds. Rather than stepping away from the sport, the Watford man reinvented himself as a junior lightweight. The results have been outstanding.

He entered on a six-fight win streak which has earned him the British and Commonwealth titles and seen him account for a series of younger, hungry fighters.

Rather than being unnerved by the challenge, Garner started quickly. He is renowned for his accuracy and timing and almost immediately found the mark with his left hand, scoring with a hook and a pair of screw shots. Realising the danger, Bellotti began to bully the younger man to the ropes.

In-between his raids, Bellotti began using his feet, making Garner fall short.

Both scored with left hooks in the early stages of the third round and Garner began to find his range and rhythm. Bellotti had his successes ,but Garner landed the eye-catching shots.

To make matters worse, Bellotti returned to his corner with a cut over his right eye after a clash of heads.

Bellotti — bedecked in the blue of Southampton’s hated rivals, Portsmouth — was struggling with Garner's hand speed. His more workmanlike style pressed the younger man but couldn’t match Garner’s imagination or flair.

Time and again, Garner would feint with his left and fire in the right hand or dispense with the feint and unload hard one-twos. Bellotti did land a hard left hook during one exchange but appeared to enter the second half of the fight trailing on the scorecards.

There was a dip in Bellotti’s work rate in the seventh round and Garner took advantage, enjoying his best round and landing a number of flush shots.

Apart from the occasional overhand right, Bellotti was running out of ideas. Fully in control, Garner had found a home for his right hand and short left hook and would cleverly use his feet to adjust the range as Bellotti came forward.

Having found his flow, Garner turned the screw as the fight entered the championship rounds. He found the mark repeatedly with both hands and stunned Bellotti twice in the 11th with hard shots.

Rather than coasting to the finish line, Garner went for the finish. He froze Bellotti with a right hand and left hook. Another right hand sent Bellotti tottering back to the ropes and referee Victor Loughlin stepped in to stop the action after 45 seconds of the 12th and final round.

Momentum has been steadily building behind a future world title fight at the home of Southampton Football Club, and provided Garner keeps improving what was once a dream is beginning to look like a genuinely possibility.