A YOUNG Greenock fighter has been told to belt-up — by winning a European title in front of his hometown fans.

Gifted kickboxer Jack Owens is already a Scottish and British champion at the age of just 15, but claiming a continental crown at Greenock Town Hall would mean the world to him.

Black belt Jack is set to take on Newcastle’s Benny Carter early next month in what has become a global title eliminator.

But the confident Greenock youngster says he’s not daunted by the significance of what will be the biggest bout of his life so far.

He told the Tele: “It will be my first time fighting in Greenock and I’m training hard and really looking forward to it.

“It will be a huge thrill for me to compete for this title in my hometown — and extra special with all my family there to cheer me on.” Multi-talented Jack — who also holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do — is taking part in a ‘Kickboxing to the Max’ promotion at the town hall on 2 August.

He’s competing for a European Golden Belt which would provide automatic qualification for a shot at a world title in his division.

Jack — who’s been kickboxing since he was seven — said: “I just love the sport, the style of it, everything about it.

“It’s a truly international sport and you can go almost anywhere in the world with it.” The youngster — whose grandad Philip runs the popular Phil’s Home Bakery shop in Midton — is planning a long career in his beloved sport.

Jack — a student of top Renfrew-based coach Robert McCallum — said: “I can turn pro-am at 16 and a big ambition of mine is to get to the Olympics in Rio.

“I’ve already represented Scotland and Team GB at international level and I see kickboxing as my future.

“I’d like to thank my coach Robert McCallum for pushing me and also inspiring me — I’ve been training with him for eight years and I’ve continually developed.” Jack — who is sponsored by freight haulage firm Geodis Wilson — might not be nervous about the Greenock bout, but his proud dad Philip certainly is.

He said: “For some reason I can’t watch the first round at all and then I’m ok.

“But Jack is a real student of the sport and he’s watched videos of the other lad in action.

“He knows in his own mind how he’s going to approach the fight — he’s very thorough and professional about it. He’s already proved that he’s the best in Britain at his weight.” Grandad Phil, pictured with Jack and his title belts to date, said: “Jack has a great nature and he’s not big-headed at all — that will help him go a long way.” Coach Robert McCallum told the Tele: “I wanted to put this show on in Greenock as a way of saying thank-you to all of my students from the town.

“Jack is a very talented young man.

“I’m very confident he has what it takes to achieve whatever he wants to in life.” There’s a host of other bouts on the Greenock big fight card, including local man Neal Duffy making his first foray into the competitive ring.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to it and it’s great that my debut fight will be in front of a Greenock crowd.” The ‘Kickboxing to the Max’ event is taking place from 7pm on 2 August at the town hall.