Glossop teen crowned world champion

Glossop has a new world champion. 

18-year-old Jack Doyle overcame his biggest challenge yet over the weekend, defeating the Netherlands’ Jayden Kooijman at the World Kickboxing Organisation Open World Championships in Barnsley. 

After a tough fight, a strong final round saw Jack come through and pick up the title in the Rookies Amateur A-Class K1 Rules 17-18 years M 62.1-66.0kg category. 

This comes after Jack became English champion back in February, defeating South Shields’ Lucas Britton. 

To prepare for Saturday’s title fight, the talented teen spent the past two weeks training in Thailand, which he says was key to his success. 

“It was hard training, five hours a day. But it was a good experience, I learned a lot,” Jack told the Chronicle. 

“It was a lot of traditional Thai boxing, so a lot of clinch, a lot of elbows, and then a lot of tricks and all that.” 

Following the fight, Dave Breed, owner of Dave Breed Black Belt Academy, who has trained Jack for 12 years commented: 

“I’m super proud of him. 

 “It was a very tough match against a strong opponent, but Jack took over and dominated the last round.” 

 Dave Breed has been running training clubs for over thirty years. After his last academy closed during the Covid pandemic, the Black Belt Academy opened in April, offering training to both children and adults in martial arts and kickboxing.   

“There’s a real hotbed of juniors coming through our classes,” Dave said. “Well over 150 black belts have trained through my academy – we’ve got a proven, historical system producing national and world champions.  

“Jack’s a young lad, and it just shows what focus and discipline does.”