MIKEY Worswick is hoping 2016 packs a mighty punch as he targets both European and World kick boxing titles.

The 23-year-old from Accrington is preparing for the most important year of his career which he hopes will end with the biggest crown of the lot.

No dates have been set as of yet but the British and Commonwealth title holder is certain he will achieve his date with destiny.

Worswick, who is a member of the Kokoro Gym, has 14 major belts to his name but there are two elusive crowns missing from his collection.

But he is hoping to rectify that before the year is out.

"This is going to be the biggest year of my career," said the former Rhyddings High School pupil. "This is everything I have been working for over the last 10 years and I am aiming to end it as a world champion.

"I've said all along that I want to be the best in the world and it has been a long time coming. But hopefully this is the year it all comes together."

Worswick, who is a seven-times British champion and two-time Commonwealth winner, fought eight times last year - including two titles fights in the the space of four weeks at the end of 2015.

He is currently nursing sore hands so has no desire to jump back in the ring until he is 100 per cent right.

"It is nothing major but just a bit of an injury from that last fight," added Worswick who has been coached by Jason Curtis for his entire career. "So it suits me that no dates have been arranged just yet as I wouldn't want to get back in the ring if I wasn't completely ready."

Worswick is hoping to get a shot at the ISKA European title by April with a world title bid later in the year - and he is prepared to travel anywhere to achieve his dream.

"At the end of the day, a fight is a fight no matter where you are," said Worswick, a brick layer at Ultraframe in Clitheroe. "It would be good to get a home bout but it does not bother me at all. I've fought across the country and I have fought in Germany.

"So going abroad is not an issue for me."

Should Worswick get his shot at the titles - as it expected - then it will be reward for all his hard work to go alongside his undoubted talented. He trains every night in the gym under the guidance of Curtis and when he is not in the gym he out running doing his road work.

"I basically work all day and train all night," added Worswick who has won 36 fights, lost five and drawn two. "I have worked with Jason every since I took up kick boxing and it is the way I have always worked."

Worswick got a well-earned break over the Christmas period but he is ready to get back in the gym again.

"It was just good to chill out, eat what I want and drink what I want," he said. "I had a busy year so it is important for me to recharge my batteries. But now I am raring to go again."

The Accrington ace is comfortable competing at middleweight and light middleweight and would welcome a title fight at either weight.

"I'm happy at 72.5kg or 75kg," he added. "The important thing is that I get the chance to go for the big titles this year

"I can't wait to get back in the ring and start knocking people over again. As far as I am concerned, my time has arrived."