A TEENAGE kickboxing world champion – who is also on Saints’ books – is setting his sights on getting his hands on more titles across the globe this year.

Joe Woods, from Rainford, was crowned the WUFC junior heavyweight champion in Portugal last August and aims to win six more world titles in 2018.

The 15-year-old St Augustine of Canterbury RC High School pupil also harbours ambitions of taking up boxing and has hopes of competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Woods, who stands 6ft 3ins tall and weighs 14st 13lbs, said: “Last year, I was really made up to win my world title and I felt a sense of relief because of all the hard work I have put in at the gym.

“I am lucky with the fact that I train with nine world champions of all age groups and they are good role models for me who I can keep learning from.

“Going forward, I would like to take up boxing and see how far I could get with that.”

Woods' sporting prowess is not limited to the ring with him currently in the first year of a rugby league scholarship with Saints.

The Saints ticket-holder, who has played for Blackbrook, says representing his boyhood club would be his preferred sporting career.

He bases his rugby league style on Saints and England prop forward Alex Walmsley.

Martial arts coach Alby Bimpson has trained Woods since the age of six.

Bimpson, St Helens’ 2003 sport and leisure ambassador, has been coaching for more than 40 years.

He said: “I don't think there are many young people who would give up their school holidays like Joe did last summer to train every day and compete for his country.

“He was rewarded for his dedication and come back as a world champion. It is early days but he has a big future and we might have some kind of star on our hands.”