DRIVEN on by memories of Glasgow 2014, Sholing boxer Ryan Garner is intent on enjoying his own Commonwealth Games success later this year.

Garner, a junior European champion two years ago, was ringside last summer as England topped the boxing medal table with seven in total, including five golds.

While the Games may have come too early for Garner, the 17-year-old knows there is the opportunity to taste the multi-sport environment in the form of the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa in September.

A lot can happen between now and then although Garner, who claimed the 2014 England Boxing Junior Championship -54kg title in 2014, is determined to follow in the footsteps of last summer’s sporting heroes.

“Watching the Commonwealth Games last year was great,” said Garner, who is part of SSE’s Next Generation programme, which gives vital support to 100 amazing young athletes across Great Britain and Ireland.

“We got tickets to go and watch the boxing in Glasgow. You look at them and what they are achieving and you remember that they were where I am now. I want to go on and do what they do and be at their standard of boxing.

“We have the Youth Commonwealth Games in Samoa this year which is my main aim next.

“It was a pretty good year for me in 2014. I won my third national title and then I had the Junior Three Nations Tournament in Wales with England and then I was selected for the Europeans in Russia. It was good fun though.”

A former Sholing Technology College student, Garner’s ultimate aim is to fight at the Olympic Games.

For now though, his focus is on impressing his coaches and selectors over the coming weeks.

“I had a bit of a break over Christmas and I’ve been back training as normal the last few weeks,” he added.

“I know I need to work on my strength and trying to get a bit bigger. There are always things to improve on.

“I’ve got a series of training camps coming up so that’s my next focus.”