An 11-year-old boy from Co Down has landed an international kickboxing title.
Scott Watson was crowned Budo Kombat League champion — adding to his already impressive haul of medals.
He fought the current British champion in five rounds of semi-pro full contact kickboxing, with judges unanimously scoring him the winner.
Scott, who is from Waringstown, trains out of Fight Club NI in Lurgan under junior head coach Garry Nelson and assistant head coach Brian Watson, Scott’s father.
Brian said: “It would be hard to find someone as decorated as him at his age.”
Scott began kickboxing aged just six.
With more than 25 competition ring fights under his belt and facing competition from all over the world, his coaches are excited for the future.
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“From the very first time he put the gloves on he just showed potential,” Brian explained.
Scott’s most recent contest, on February 23, saw him win the Budo Kombat League title.
The competition was staged at the Wigan Athletic supporters’ club, situated inside the Brick Community Stadium.
Scott has 19 championship belts along with 113 medals from his time fighting. He has taken on fighters from all over the world, including the United States, Canada, Russia, Armenia, Hungary and Germany, as well as all home nations.
His Budo Kombat win is in addition to being crowned three-time WKU world champion and five-time WKO world champion.
Scott is also a seven-time Northern Ireland champion and two-time ISKA All-Ireland champion.
Speaking about his son’s dedication, Brian said: “He trains six times a week in two different clubs. Plus, on Saturday, he’s out running a 10K around Lurgan Park.”
Scott Watson with some of his 19 championship belts and 113 medals
It isn’t just the 11-year-old’s kickboxing skills catching the eye. Scott has now taken up boxing as well, training out of Banbridge ABC under the tutelage of head coach Jason McKay.
After only six months of boxing training, he has won the Co Louth championship, the Antrim 12s championship and the Ulster novice championship, while boasting an unbeaten record of seven wins and zero losses.
And there could be more, with Scott focusing on the Antrim championship in April — which, if he wins, will mean he will be eligible for the All-Ireland championship.
Scott’s kickboxing career continues to roll, and at the weekend he was in Larne competing in the Northern Ireland Open championship.
Scott has travelled all across the world in pursuit of glory.
Scott Watson celebrates his latest win
Last October he competed in Greece in a world championship tournament, winning both a gold and a silver medal.
This year he will compete in Germany.
However, Brian admits it comes at a cost — in every sense: “There are only so many [competitions] that we can afford to do and there are so many that he’s missing out on.”
They rely on money from Scott’s sponsors and are seeking more so that he can continue his journey in combat sports.
During Scott’s recent win in Wigan he met current British super-flyweight champion Brandon Daord.
Brian said that Daord took Scott on the pads, adding: “He was impressed. He said he’s never had a youngster that can hit as hard as him.”
On Scott’s achievements he added: “As Scott’s parents, we couldn’t be prouder of him. He really is a fantastic young man.”