DORCHESTER kickboxer Gordy Childs is aiming to make himself English champion after a successful defence of his Southern Area title.

He defeated Trevor Soko on points, at the Boscombe Opera House, Bournemouth, to keep the English Southern Area title (at 75 kilos) of the International Kickboxing Feder-ation.

Three weeks later he accepted a challenge from prolific winner Clint Simpson in Plymouth, and knocked him out in the fourth round.

Gordy will now move up a weight division for a Southern Area title challenge at 78.5 kilos in May at Bridgwater, and has an English title fight at the new weight set for June.

After that he plans to fight at 75 kilos again – for an English championship at that weight too.

A first international fight for Gordy now looks on the cards for September.

Gordy, a member of Dorchester Kickboxing Club, is sponsored by JW Scaffolding, part of the county town’s Hearn Group.

Keith Adams, a director of JW Scaffolding, is his coach.

Gordy, 27, said: “I’m confident, and I’m really happy now with my fitness. I train every day, twice a day –running and a gym session before work and kickboxing in the evening.

“I’m finding my fitness is paying dividends – particularly in the last two fights, which were tight in the early rounds but I had the edge as the fight went on.”

Adams said: “Gordy is one of our hardest working fighters, and if he carries on the way he is doing the titles will be his."

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about kickboxing is invited to join Dorchester Kickboxing Club on their training nights at Dorchester Health Club.

Contact Adams on 07838 166909 for information.