Garner vs Sharp Predictions: Unbeaten boxers meet in quality clash

Ryan Garner takes on Archie Sharp in a clash of unbeaten super featherweights this Saturday, July 27. Garner’s WBC international championship will be on the line at the O2 Arena in London, on the undercard of Joe Joyce vs Derek Chisora. TNT Sports 1 will broadcast the action live.

Here are my Garner vs Sharp predictions ahead of a fight where somebody’s 0 could go.

WBO number-three Sharp is aiming to be the next British fighter to break out in a division that has been kind to those draped in the Union Jack in recent years. The reigning IBF champion is Belfast’s Anthony Cacace, who dethroned Joe Cordina of Cardiff for the crown. Leigh Wood recently vacated his featherweight title to move up into the division. Danny Quartermaine and Zelfa Barrett are also both world-ranked. This is a hot division in British terms.

Garner is looking to add his name to the growing list of world-ranked Union Jack-wavers. The WBC bauble he holds will help to that end, but what the brilliantly-named ‘Piranha’ needs now is quality wins against fighters of increasing quality. Sharp is certainly that. The 29-year-old sharpshooter was the WBO number-one previously and he hasn’t lost since. 

Rather, Sharp’s attempts to entice then-champion Shakur Stevenson and current boss Emmanuel Navarrete into the ring, while fighting lesser competition to protect his ranking, cost him. ‘Sharpshooter’ acknowledges now that hard fights are what he needs, which puts him in the same boat as Garner. Now they will share the same ring.

Sharp’s period as a victim of what Lennox Lewis used to call boxing’s “politricks” has ironically blunted his impact. The Sidcup-born stylist comes into this fight as an underdog despite his world ranking and greater experience. Sharp’s mediocre recent opposition, including eight-rounders in his last two fights, have harmed his standing with the bookmakers.

Meanwhile, a major step-up in class over the course of two fights has seen Garner named as the favourite for this bout. The 26-year-old needed just three rounds to stop Spanish featherweight champion Juan Jesus Antunez. Then in his biggest career win yet, Sharp outpointed Liam Dillon in his last fight over 10 rounds. 

The victory was a real statement of intent and the perfect appetiser for Garner to take on his toughest career test. Sharp is a fighter on the cusp of a world title shot who is through waiting for his chance. Both men are coming to win. This fight is a reminder of how exhilirating this sport can be when it is contested between equals.

Garner vs Sharp Fight Odds

Garner is a 2/5 favourite to retain his WBC international strap here with a win. Sharp is 2/1 to keep his world title charge going. The draw is 14/1.

Garner vs Sharp Full Card

Joe Joyce vs. Derek Chisora 

Dennis McCann vs. Ionut Baluta 

Ryan Garner vs. Archie Sharp 

Moses Itauma vs. Mariusz Wach 

Brandun Lee vs. TBA 

Raven Chapman vs. Yohana Sarabia 

Aadam Hamed vs. Georgi Velichkov 

Sean Noakes vs. Inder Bassi 

Royston Barney-Smith vs. Brian Barajas 

Umar Khan vs. Kaddour Hmiani 

Jermaine Dhliwayo vs. Engel Gomez

Garner vs Sharp Prediction

This is a close one, certainly one of the most intriguingly-poised bouts on this card. They don’t pay me for fence-sitting, as tempting as that 14/1 draw might be. 

I am going with the favourite to edge this one. Garner has more pop in his shots and the Dillon win is better than anything we’ve seen from Sharp in a good while. That fight was a real thriller and I think it told you all you need to know about the ‘Piranha’.

I am backing Garner to win via decision at 2/1.

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