K1: DETERMINED John Wyatt has been gearing up for his Italian K1 challenge in Milan.

Kick-boxer Wyatt, 32, was due to fly out yesterday for Saturday's eight-man competition.

He must win two fights to make the final and stand a chance of a grand competition in Japan or Australia.

Wyatt (pictured) is grateful for a recent fight against Plymouth's Tony Tasker at Wolverhampton, resulting in a fourth-round win to blow away the cobwebs after Christmas.

And he has been sparring with some good competitors lately, including English K1 champion Matt Skelton.

Wyatt added: "I've stepped my training up to six days a week. My sparring is in Wolverhampton and my road-work around Kidderminster.

"If I put up a good display, I'm likely to get asked back again to fight over there."

K1 is an increasingly popular "anything goes" challenge that incorporates a range of martial arts. Wyatt competed in the English version last year.