Gutsy world champion Kyle Williams kicks on

The Whitmore Reans kickboxer has rebounded to win two belts since suffering his first pro defeat in France some 17 months ago,

He had faced an uncertain future after he was stopped in the fourth round by still-reigning ISKA European champion Marvin Falk.

But the 22-year-old, a product of the Eclipse & Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Club on Tempest Street in Wolverhampton City Centre, went one better than that step up on Sunday.

Williams completely outclassed long-standing title holder Ivan Freidenberg to claim the German's ICO world featherweight crown, with a convincing points victory.

His elated following at Birmingham's Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre included trainer Fran Zuccala, who lost and regained the ISKA world title at light middleweight during his own career.

Zuccala picked his fighter up after the Falk fight and watched him come back strong, first taking the ICO European strap in March by outpointing Sylvain Bove at the same venue.

He said: "On paper, Kyle wasn't supposed to win this world title, the guy had won 30 fights in a row and he tried to take his head off for 12 rounds.

"He ran circles round him by the end, he was in and out, quick and sharp by using his speed. He's not known for knockouts, but he can hurt you. One sweep took him clean off his feet.

"His turning point was when he got stopped in France. On the flight back, he was really depressed about it, as I was telling him all of his mistakes!

"By the time we got off the plane, he was glad we'd had that time to talk. He learned his lessons and told me it won't happen again."

Williams stayed true to his word and now has long-standing target Johannes Wolf, the ISKA world champion, back in his sights.

He's been talking about taking on the formidable German since he picked up the organisation's British title, way back in March 2011.

Zuccala said: "It's important Kyle has a rest now, then we will wait and see what offers come in for him. We are after a couple of champions.

"I want him to fight for the ISKA title, at some point, and he's getting the credentials together to be able to go for that. He can't ignore him.

"I think we could even get him down to bantamweight, as he's been fighting heavier opponents pretty much all along. This other lad looked a good half-a-stone heavier.

"He was a lot more powerful, but Kyle was always one step ahead of him."

Eclipse can now boast two world champions as full-time instructors, alongside their official certification to teach Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

Zuccala opened the gym in 1989 and has waited 25 years to produce a global title holder, on the same night as girl power for another student.

Katie Healy, 16, became the club's first female semi-pro boss by taking the WKA English title, while Jack Wiles also claimed ICO honours at featherweight with the amateur area belt.

Zuccala said: "It was a brilliant evening, it was probably the best the club has ever had. Kyle has been here since he was six-years-old.

"It's nice to have someone who has never trained anywhere else bring back that world title and I was probably more nervous than he was.

"I don't know what is worse for me, coaching or fighting myself, because I felt as stressed out as anyone in the corner!"