A FIGHTER from Bolton has found Thai kickboxing glory after winning a national title belt.

Andrew Bakewell, aged 32, has been training in the sport since he was 13 years old but had taken a six-year period away from competition before this year.

He was not scheduled to compete for the Golden Belt Kickboxing English championship in Prestwich last Saturday but took the fight with just a week’s notice and managed to win the welterweight title.

He said: “I knew it was going to be a tough fight, but I believed I could win it. Now that it’s done I am feeling great and I hope to move on to even bigger things.”

The newly-crowned champion, from Bromley Cross, works as a lorry driver during the day but spends his evenings training up-and-coming kickboxers at the Anarchy Martial Arts gym on Tennyson Street.

The gym puts on sessions for both children and adults and Mr Bakewell said that the sport can be very beneficial to youngsters who are looking for something to do.

He added: “It’s something that I would encourage people to get into. It’s good for your fitness and helps keep the young lads out of trouble.”

For more information or to sign up for classes visit Anarchy Martial Arts’ Facebook page.