AN INVERCLYDE cage fighter is boxing clever - in a bid to win the British title on his birthday.

Mixed martial arts expert Bobby McVitie is aiming to bring home the ultimate present on the day he turns 23 - the Cage Wars Championships UK Lightweight title belt.

Bobby, a senior fitness advisor at Birkmyre Park gym in Kilmacolm, has been training in mixed martial arts for around four years after proving himself a success at judo.

The 22-year-old, whose title bout will be shown on Sky TV, said: "I hope to win the belt for my birthday.

"The reason I started mixed martial arts was to be a cage fighter." Bobby won the Scottish title two months ago and will now battle it out with fighters from England, Ireland and Wales in Belfast next month for the British belt in front of 4,000 fight fans.

Sky TV crews have also visited Bobby, a former pupil at Greenock's Wellington Academy, at work - and interviewed him as part of a documentary about cage fighters.

Bobby said: "The documentary is about fighters and their lives, their jobs and how they go about training. It's not just about fighting - it's about personalities." Bobby says the dangerous image the sport has generated is undeserved.

He added: "Sometimes you fight in a ring, sometimes in a cage. In terms of safety, a cage is actually safer.

"There are doctors and medics on hand at every bout. You are very well looked-after in that respect." Bobby's family, friends and work colleagues have supported his cage fighting career, despite some initial concerns.

He said: "Some people thought I was going to have black eyes and others asked if it was even legal, but people now have a better understanding of cage fighting and mixed martial arts as sports.

"Success with the Scottish title and going for the British belt has helped, and my work have been really supportive.

"People were a bit unsure initially, but education always helps." Bobby says that despite all the training and safety measures, some people can't help but worry when he steps into the ring.

He added: "Parents are always going to worry and they probably would rather I wasn't doing it. But they will be supporting me on the night."