KICKBOXER Kai Blondel-Larsen did his stepfather - 1970s heavyweight bruiser Paul Cassidy - proud when he won the English middleweight title: despite going down in the first round.

It was Kai Blondel-Larsen's first shot at the big time, but nobody expected the 36-year-old BT engineer from Christchurch, who is one of the oldest competitive kickboxers in the UK, to become the champ.

Up against him was a man who had been contesting the British title in his last fight and was odds on favourite to blast aside the "aged" contender and take the World United Martial Arts belt.

And in the opening minutes of the final in Cheltenham everyone appeared to be following the script when Mr Blondel-Larsen hit the canvas, felled by a lightning left hook.

He was down, but not out, and he went onto to win the next four rounds and the title.

"My wife was jumping up and down in the first round," he said. "My trainer said I had to dig in, which made the win all the sweeter.

"My whole family think I'm too old and should call it a day. My wife loves it and hates it, but I think she would like me to do something else."

Mr Blondel-Larsen, whose Danish father boxed in the Navy and whose stepfather famously fought the legendary Joe Bugner in 1969, took up martial arts 23 years ago, but stopped fighting in the early 1990s.

He made his comeback three years ago and won two southern area titles at two different weights, giving him a shot at the national title.

Mr Blondel-Larsen, who trains at the Self Defence and Combat Sports Club in Bournemouth, admitted most of his opponents are younger than he is, but put his success down to his strict training regime, which he fits in around his full-time job, often rising at 6.30am to exercise.

He said his trainer believes he still has a few fights left in him and added that he has no intention to retire just yet.

First published: October 18