REECE BELLOTTI is fighting for birthday boy Jackson – after Ryan Garner’s army of fans labelled daddy a ‘w*****’.
The 34-year-old Watford super-featherweight took his son – who turned 10 on Thursday – down to his 27-year-old opponent’s Southampton home to announce the fight in May.
Queensberry Promotions Ryan Garner facing off with Reece Bellotti[/caption]
And – in a St Mary’s fanzone – The Garner Army of Saints turned sinners and pelted Bellotti with x-rated stick.
The Bomber loved the added motivation to win the British, Commonwealth and European clash but his lad has not forgiven or forgotten and he wants revenge for his birthday even more than his new Nintendo Switch.
Ahead of the Bournemouth battle, Bellotti told SunSport: “I have watched Ryan over the years and it’s always felt like a fight that would happen and when we have crossed paths in the build-up, he’s also always seemed like a respectful lad.
“He seems a decent fella and I don’t think I’m an a***hole, so we get on well and both parties respect each other.
“But when we launched the fight I was getting a lot of abuse, not from Ryan, but from his fans and I absolutely loved it because it got me pumped up and then I couldn’t wait to get into training after that.
“They were swearing and chanting at me and every time I went to speak on the mic they hurled abuse at me.
“I loved it but my little boy was there with me and he was overawed by it and worried about me.
“He loves the build-ups and has done lots of them before but that side he hadn’t seen before, the whole crowd abusing and against me.
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“Now he wants me to win more than ever and has mentioned Ryan to me a few times.”
Old-school Bellotti was too polite to explain the exact words that upset his lad but ‘The Piranha’ didn’t need to be asked twice.
Before we could even get the question out, he giggled: “I know what you are going to ask: w*****, w*****, w*****!
“I thought ‘oh bloody hell, he’s got his nipper here, bless him.
“I didn’t expect it really, it took me back a bit, but I was speaking to Reece the whole time we were there together and there’s no animosity, we’re similar sorts of fellas.
“Me and Reece are just fighters, we will turn up and have it out and then we will shake hands after.”
If Garner cleans up the domestic scene with his 18th pro win, he might nail down a world title shot at St Mary’s next summer.
And it will be an incredible turnaround for the 9st 4lbs ace, who used to be a little Saints toerag on the terrace.
He laughed: “I have a great relationship with the club and the dream now is to fight there – only problem is few of my pals from school are banned!
“I still just feel like a normal bloke but now I mix with some of the important people and players at the club.
“Me and all my mates are Southampton riffraff but suddenly I am mixing it with the top dogs, it’s a bit mental.”
Queensberry Promotions The European, British and Commonwealth titles are on the line[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
