Matthew Macklin stopped Ferenc Albert in Birmingham

Matthew Macklin won his return to Birmingham with a second round stoppage of Ferenc Albert via a body shot.

He hadn't competed in his hometown since 2010 but required less than five minutes to dipose of Albert who had offered little.

A right uppercut to the stomach, delivered as Albert plodded forwards head first, was enough for Macklin to seal victory.

He had threatened his Hungarian foe in the opening period of their eight-round middleweight bout by hurting him to the body which proved to be a sign of things to come.

Macklin's previous outing was a disappointing defeat to Jorge Sebastien Heiland in Dublin which caused him to consider his future inside the ring but this dominant display in front of his home fans was the ideal riposte.

“It was nice to get a win and in Birmingham, I haven’t boxed here for six years," Macklin told Sky Sports. "I think last year I probably trained the hardest that I’ve ever trained in my life and very little rest through one thing or another. 

"Dates kept getting put back, no-one’s fault that’s boxing it happens, but by the time I fought in November, I had trained so hard, for so long, the body was just tired.

“On the night of the fight, I felt old and I’m past it, the long career has taken its toll because for the first four rounds against Heiland I felt in control could see everything he was doing but after four rounds I just felt like there was nothing there.

“The only thing I could put it down to, was either a long career taking its toll or I was over-trained, jaded from being in the gym all year.

“When I analysed everything and had a good rest, didn’t’ rush the decision and thought about everything, I thought it was very, very possible, most likely that I was just burnt out.

“So bearing in mind that you are retired a long time, I don’t want a year down the line thinking ‘argh it was that, let’s come back’ I’d rather know now.

“So I had a good rest and spoke to Eddie (Hearn) and there are plenty of options.”