10-year-old Co Antrim schoolboy Kain Stewart claims gold at World Kickboxing Championships

Despite having to move up two weight categories in Sheffield, the Ballymena native secured five medals, including four golds

A Co Antrim schoolboy has made history by winning at the World Kickboxing Championships in Sheffield.

Traveling with the WKA Northern Ireland team, Kain was initially entered in the – 25kg full contact boxing division.

However, after the weigh-in revealed no opponents in his natural weight class, Kain didn’t back down. Instead, he boldly moved up two weight categories to compete in the – 32kg full contact division, a move that would define his tournament at the iconic Ponds Forge International Sports Centre.

The 10-year old, who is a pupil at Ballykeel Primary School, returned to Ballymena with five medals, including four golds.

In the semi-final, Kain was matched against a strong contender from WKA Team England. Despite a slightly nervous start and facing a clear weight disadvantage, Kain quickly found his rhythm.

Using slick footwork, sharp counter-punches, and ice-cold composure, he took control of the fight. The judges scored it 2-1 and 3-0 in Kain’s favour – a clear and deserved victory.

The final brought another tough test against a technically skilled English opponent. But from the opening bell, Kain dominated. With pinpoint accuracy, powerful combinations, and superior ring craft, he left no doubt who was in charge. When the final bell rang, Kain was crowned WKA World Champion in the 32kg full contact boxing division.

In the 25kg to 30kg Mat Boxing division, he faced a familiar rival from Team England, a fighter he had already beaten at the North East Open earlier this year.

From start to finish, Kain delivered a technical masterclass, dominating every round and securing another gold medal with ease.

Next up was the 25kg Light Contact division, where Kain squared off against a teammate from Northern Ireland. It was a fiercely competitive bout, but once again, Kain edged ahead, winning on a 2-1 split decision to take his third gold.

Then came the final event of Kain’s championship campaign – the 30kg Low Kick Full Contact division.

Facing a strong Scottish opponent, Kain saved his most impressive performance for last. From the first bell, he overwhelmed his opponent with a mix of lightning-fast kicks, sharp counter punches, and relentless pressure.

Kain came close to forcing a stoppage a few time in the bout, but full credit to his opponent, who showed real grit to see out the final round.

In total, Kain came away from the Championships with four golds and one silver, with one spilt decision loss.

Speaking after the fights, his coach and father Mark Stewart said: “I couldn’t be prouder of Kain.

“I knew he had the ability to become a WKA World Champion, and that’s exactly what we set our sights on from day one.

“Even though he’s only been training for under two years, the speed of his progress has been incredible. While we didn’t expect him to reach this level so quickly, I can’t say I’m surprised.

“I’ve always known there was something special about him, his talent, mindset, and work ethic are beyond his years.”

After a short break, Kain will return to training and prepare for his next massive challenge – a clash with the current WKO K1 Champion, Jaxon Evans, in Birmingham on Saturday, November 1.