SOUTHAMPTON'S Ryan Garner labelled winning the EBU European super-featherweight title "the best feeling in the world".

Garner won the vacant title by unanimous decision - scored 120-108 by all three judges  -against the previously undefeated Salvador Jimenez on Saturday evening.

The 27 year old controlled the fight from start to finish inside a raucous Bournemouth International Centre and moved to 17 victories without defeat in his career.

"It's the best feeling in the world. It was the best night of my boxing career. My kids being born is still the best," Garner told the Daily Echo.

"Fighting for a major European title, that's what dreams are made of. I always knew it was going to happen one day.

Collision on the Coast - Garner beats Jimenez by unanimous decision.Collision on the Coast - Garner beats Jimenez by unanimous decision. (Image: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry Promotions) "I knew I was going to get better. I knew I had more in the locker, I've been a WBC international champion for a few years now. 

"I've always said I want another title but I never thought I'd get a European title just now. It's a major title for me."

The support for Garner inside the BIC was palpable all evening as over 1,500 people from Southampton made the short trip through the New Forest to support one of their own.

"This was a nearly sold-out arena. If it had been in Southampton, it would have sold out over ten times. I can't thank everyone enough for this," he continued.

"Frank Warren stuck by me and now I've got a European title. That's a major, major title so the only way is up for me, mate. My life's changing now."

As expected, Garner got the best reception of the night and his walkout reinvigorated an arena that had fallen subdued following fights in the crowd.

But Garner admitted he had to block out the noise once the bell rang to ensure he got the job done: "It's full blinkers on when you're in there.

"I thought I stayed really switched on. Obviously, I've got Wayne Batten there every time I came back to the corner, b****cking me. 

"But it's a 12-round fight and I knew every time I was coming back, I was thinking, if I win seven rounds, which I thought I'd got, then I've won this.

"When I was coming back into the corner, I had to tell myself to calm down because I've won it. So I just kept my blinkers on. I could still hear it, the support was mental.

"It exposed me. That was the first time I've done a 12-round. To be able to do that at that pace that we were setting is just something else."