A WORCESTER soldier has boxed his way to the top of the light-heavyweight category in his unit in Paderborn, Germany.

Craftsman Ian McCluskey is currently serving with 3 Close Support Battalion The Royal Mechanical and Electrical Engineers (REME) and has already completed a tour of Afghanistan.

The 21-year-old, a former pupil at Elgar Technology College in Worcester, won decisively.

He delivered solid left punches followed closely by accurate combinations that left his opponent without the strength to carry on in the second round. McCluskey said: “In the first round I was confident and my corner told me to keep pushing which I did.

“I was really nervous initially but am already looking forward to the next bout.

“My mum is a third dan black belt kickboxing instructor in Worcester and is really happy with my result.”

Being part of 20th Armoured Brigade — The Iron Fist — McCluskey is currently in the recuperation phase of deployment and is likely to be deployed back to Afghanistan in the future.