Statistics can be notoriously misleading and a cursory glance at Kevin Anderson's record informs us that more than half of his 16 bouts have occurred outside the safety net of Scotland.

A frequent visitor to London, the Fife-based boxer ensures his camp are trumpeting that fact before tonight's British welterweight title bout with Young Mutley.

However, on closer inspection, his two Commonwealth title bouts (Anderson is the holder) have taken place on home soil and it is doubtful whether he has faced the cauldron that awaits him this evening.

Birmingham has been waiting an eternity for a British title bout on its doorstep and Mutley, West Bromwich's finest, has achieved that coup.

The Second City has failed dismally to deliver elite boxing on its own doorstep for far too long and allowed supporters to become disenchanted. Yet, there is still a groundswell of support in the city and the Sky Sports television cameras will capture a hostile atmosphere that turns grown men into a quivering wreck.

Not only will Mutley be backed by about 1,000 fans but the chief supporting boxer, Matthew Macklin, who is making his debut in Birmingham, will attract a similar number.

Any neutral observer who witnessed the guttural roar and ring invasion that greeted Mutley's victorious WBF inter-continental encounter with Gavin Down will realise the task awaiting Anderson.

Bear in mind that the latter contest took place in Dudley Town Hall and Mutley's support has increased tenfold for this potentially explosive clash, then Aston Events Centre will be reverberating.

Nevertheless, despite home advantage and manic support, Mutley still requires the defining performance of his career if he is to upset the applecart once again.

He failed to read the script in January when his stoppage of unbeaten Michael Jennings wasn't part of Frank Warren's masterplan. Likewise, defeating another golden boy of boxing would mean Mutley living up to his name of underdog and afford him the national recognition he deserves.

"I still don't think people have taken Mutley seriously, despite the fact he is British champion," manager/trainer Errol Johnson said.

"Because the televison commentators had Jennings down as winning, there are lots of ifs and buts. However, when he beats Anderson, that will shut up any doubters and he will have to be taken seriously as a real contender.

"We could have taken a couple of soft defences of his title but we weren't offered anything we fancied, so we decided to take the mandatory challenge and the toughest fight available."

For the first time this century, Birmingham's fight fraternity are being presented with a genuine, bona fide top-class bill of British boxing. Johnson and his promoting partner, P J Rowson, have tied up with Matchroom and Sky Sports to cushion the prohibitive costs.

Johnson is acutely aware that not only does Mutley have the British and Commonwealth belts at stake but a city's reputation, that was badly tarnished during the Robert McCracken/Steve Foster Jnr riots 12 years ago, can be finally repaired.

He said: "The big promoters haven't come to the Midlands and Birmingham has been a dead city for some time as far as they are concerned. With over 2,000 people in the arena, it will be a great atmosphere and should make television sit up and take notice.

"If Mutley wins, which I am convinced he will, then we have another deal with Frank Warren for his next fight and there is a possibility he could bring Amir Khan to the city.

"Hopefully, it will show the young amateurs like Don Broadhurst and Frankie Gavin that you don't need to go to London or Manchester to get big fights. They can train with whoever they want, but we are capable of co-hosting shows in Birmingham now."

Mean and moody Mutley is smouldering with controlled anger before his first defence and negative comments from Anderson have only added to his ire.

"He might think he is going to win, but he is wrong," a bullish Mutley added. "His record is impressive, but he has never fought anyone like me before."

Johnson is convinced his protege will emerge triumphant. The Wednesbury guru has been scrutinising Anderson's bout with Joshua Okine last year, when he controversially lifted the Commonwealth title.

"The best chance Anderson has got is to catch Mutley cold," he said. "I have watched his fight with Okine three times and there is no way he won it. If that fight was anywhere but Scotland, he would have lost."