A TALENTED kickboxer is hoping to become a knockout at a national competition.

Grant Howe, 26, of Eldon Lane, near Bishop Auckland, is the only man from the region to have reached the final of the K1 British Low Kickboxing championships.

The father-of-one could be named British light middleweight champion if he beats opponent Steve Biswana at a fight in Liverpool on Saturday, April 25.

Low kickboxing limits fighters to boxing and kicking at shin-level.

Mr Howe said he owes a lot to coach John Rickaby who he works with at Henknowle Community Centre, on Cumbria Place Bishop Auckland.

He said: “If it wasn’t for him and my family, then I wouldn’t be where I am now.

“I’m training every day of the week now for about three or four hours.

“Everyone gets the prefight nerves but I’m feeling a little bit confident.”

Mr Rickaby, who also runs a boxing club for children at the community centre, said: “Grant has the chance of the British title and I believe he is the number one contender.

“I wish him the best of luck.”