Ballymena’s Kain Stewart crowned WKO K1 British Champion at just 10 years old

10-year-old Kain Stewart from Ballymena

A Ballymena schoolboy has made history in Barnsley by winning the WKO K1 British Championship at just 10 years old.

Kain Stewart, a pupil at Ballykeel Primary School, returned home with gold after an extraordinary weekend of fights, cementing his reputation as one of Northern Ireland’s most exciting young talents in combat sports.

Semi-final triumph over European champion

In the semi-final, Kain faced reigning European Champion Kevin Cojocaru in what was expected to be his toughest challenge to date. Rising to the occasion, the Ballymena fighter stuck to a sharp game plan and secured a unanimous decision victory.

Final showdown against world champion

Kain then moved into the final, where he faced current K1 World Champion Jaxon Evans.

He dominated the opening round, absorbed a fierce comeback in the second, and showed remarkable resilience in the third — turning up the pressure to clinch another unanimous victory.

Speaking after the fights, his coach and father Mark Stewart said:

“No break between fights — this is where champions are made. Kain gives everything in training, and it showed in the ring.”

Eyes on the World Championships

Kain’s success now propels him to the WKC World Championships in Sheffield (16–19 October), where he will proudly represent Northern Ireland in both full-contact boxing and kickboxing.

With two major scalps already under his belt, Kain will head into the world stage full of confidence and determination.