TWO young kickboxers are celebrating after being crowned Northern Area Champions.

Josiah Clark and Will Sheen both won their recent fights with knockouts in front of a sell-out home crowd at Stanley Civic Centre.

They train with the North-East Kickboxing Academy based in Burnopfield and are trained by former world champion Wes Fagan.

Clark, 21, from Shield Row, Stanley, defended his IKF Title for the second time against challenger Sean Kavanah, 25, old from Seaham.

Seventeen-year-old Will Sheen stepped up to his first title shot against 16-year old Gareth Jackson, from Sunderland.

Wes Fagan said: “It’s an old cliché, but hard work and dedication pays off and this is a fine example of that.

“Will and Jos live in the gym and are very committed to kickboxing.

“Will now has his first foot on the ladder lifting his first title and he is aware that the fights won’t get easier. He has trained hard for eight years now and its paying off for him.

“Josiah again is stepping his toe into harder fights in the future, but he is ready to step up. He has showed he is ready by winning the IKF Title then defending it twice.”