RAMSEY’S Ace Kickboxing Club will be punching above its weight when it competes in the Unified World Cup Open in Spain next week.

Despite being one of the smallest clubs in East Lancashire, nine young fighters and head coach, sensei Paul Ramsey, will represent England against some of the best competitors from across the globe in Albir.

However, there won’t be any inferior complex issues for the Blackburn-based club as they have proved to be be world beaters in previous competitions.

Ramsey, who set up his club eight years ago, has a proud tradition of producing fighters who have shone at national and international level with the likes of Connor Gray, Chris Garraghty and Dale Bannister all enjoying global success.

Now he will be hoping the class of 2017 can emulate those feats.

The fighters travelling to Spain are aged between eight and 17-years-old but don’t be fooled by their tender ages as the squad hold a clutch of national gold and silver medals between them having succeeded in Open events in Manchester and Yorkshire.

The Ramsey fighters making the trip are Lewis Thomas, 17 and his 14-year-old sister Ellie, Imbrahim Zafar, 14, Jordan Murchie, 13, Damian Turner, 12, Tyler Jones, 10, Rory Mahoney and Callum Barber - both aged nine - and the youngest member of the team, eight-year-old Harvey Rigby.

Getting to Spain has been a feat in itself for the club as they have raised around £5,500 to pay for the fighters to get to the World Championships.

“It hasn’t been easy but everyone has worked really hard to raise the funds,” said Leanne Rigby, mother of Harvey, who has had the task of coordinating the fundraising activities.

The club held numerous fundraising events including an 80s Fancy Dress Night, a kickboxing competition race night and also set up Just Giving page.

Ramsey’s Ace Kickboxing, based at Chadwick Street Mill, is a non-profit organisation that teaches children from a young age self defence, building confidence, keeping fit and discipline.

“Sensei Ramsey spends a lot of his time training children and to make sure that these children attend training and keeping them off the streets he will pick them up and take them home after, he literally goes above and beyond.” added Rigby

In the past 12 months students from Ramsey’s Ace Boxing have been competing in various competitions in an attempt to qualify to represent England at the World Open that runs from October 21-28.

And Ramsey is hoping to carry on the club’s impressive record.

He said: “We have a very good record at the event and we will be going to Spain with the aim of coming back with more medals to add to our collection.

“The fighters who are going have worked very hard for this opportunity so we’ll see what happens.”