Former Pompey man lauds best performance

The former Pompey defender picked up a fifth-round win over Croat Antonio Horvatic in their lightweight contest.

Birmingham bounced back from Southern Area title defeat to Jumanne Camero last time out.

It was a display which showcased the 36-year-old’s developing skills and decent footwork.

Birmingham believes he showed he’s not just a brawler.

He said: ‘That was my best performance.

‘I thought I boxed and I showed I had that in me.

‘I knew I had it in me to box and not get into a brawl – and it paid off.

‘The jabs and upper-cuts all worked.

‘The footwork wasn’t bad for an old boy either!

‘That was my old footballing days coming to use. And people said I just kicked people!

‘I had a habit of trying to blow people away.

‘But he got frustrated and that was because everything worked.

‘It was a good comeback win and that sets me up nicely for the new year.

‘I sat down after the last fight and thought it through.

‘I had time to think things through.

‘I’ve shown I can box and not just try to smash people up. I’ve proved to people I can box.’