Ex-Portsmouth man aiming for knockout end to 2018

Dave Birmingham is ready to continue a whirlwind end to 2018.
Dave Birmingham returns to Portsmouth next week. Picture: Neil MarshallDave Birmingham returns to Portsmouth next week. Picture: Neil Marshall
Dave Birmingham returns to Portsmouth next week. Picture: Neil Marshall

The former Pompey defender returns to his home city as he steps out at South Parade Pier on October 27.

Birmingham is one of a trio of Portsmouth boxers looking to shine with Lucas Ballingall and Garry Neale also on the card.

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The lightweight is fresh off an eye-catching win off Anesu Twala last month and will look to send his army of hundreds of supporters home happy against journeyman Liam Richards.

That would set the 37-year-old up for a meeting with unbeaten Londoner Youssef Khoumari on December 1.

It's a frenetic schedule and means little time for respite for the Brian Davidson-trained boxer.

But Birmingham is ready to take on that challenge to get himself into title contention next year.

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He said: '˜I'm not looking to hang around, so a busy schedule is good for me.

'˜I need to get this one out of the way before moving on to December 1.

'˜After the last fight Khoumari said he wanted to take me on, so I said 'let's do it'.

'˜He called me out so we've responded in the way we should.

'˜It means I've got three back-to-back camps together so it's all fun and games!

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'˜I had three days off after the last fight - and I'm allowed a day off after this one!

'˜Then it will be straight back into the gym and down to business.

'˜That's the way I want it to be, though - but I'll certainly enjoy Christmas!'

With a fight with Khoumari on the horizon, Birmingham knows he can ill-afford to look past Richards next week.

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But he's attacking the schedule with confidence bubbling after taking out an unbeaten prospect in Twala.

Birmingham added: '˜It was a big win, a big win.

'˜He was being touted to be this, that and the other, but they came unstuck big time. It should have been stopped.

'˜We knew we had what it takes to beat him and it will be the same again (with Khoumari).

'˜It gives me confidence and sets me up for the next couple of fights and hopefully bigger and better things in the new year.

'˜I can't look past next week, though.

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'˜I have to see anyone who gets in the ring as a threat. It takes one punch to change a fight.

'˜I'm not good enough to overlook opponents, because I'll come unstuck.

'˜So I'll treat this as a title fight - and that's how I'm preparing.'