Kickboxer defends world title in German showdown

Hannah Turner said it was "the best feeling in the world" to be crowned WKU K1 World Champion for the second time

A world champion Muay Thai fighter has successfully defended her kickboxing title, beating her opponent in front of a home crowd in Germany.

Hannah Turner, 25, beat Michaela Michl on points to bring the championship belt back to Suffolk after she initially won it in March when she also defeated the same opponent.

She trains at the Unit 1 Gym in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, coached by her step-father Rich Gent, and said: "I wouldn't have had this without him... I owe him everything."

Turner added it was "the best feeling in the world" to win again, admitting she had "everything to lose this time".

The Muay Thai fighter Hannah Turner defended her title in a much anticipated rematch in Germany

"I went out there as the champion and I wanted to come back as the champion," she said.

Despite facing her opponent in front of a home crowd at Olympic Park in Munich, she said they were "really supportive of me".

"I've had a lot of the Germans message me to say I was a really good fighter and they love watching me, so they're a really good crowd to fight for and give them a good show," Turner added.

Turner won the fight on a split points decision, remaining unbeaten in the sport

Turner's own father initially took her to learn karate when she was seven "to get some of my energy somewhere", but she swapped to Muay Thai when she was nine.

The physically demanding sport is a mixed martial art and has been described as the "sport of eight limbs".

Recently Turner has taken up K1, a similar form of kickboxing, and went on to be crowned the WKU K1 World Champion.

She hopes her win will inspire more women and girls to enter the sport.

Turner said: "I coach a lot of younger kids, I want the best for them and to take them as far as they can get.

"I had a lot of help when I was younger and I want the same for them."

Hannah dropped to her knees in tears after her win in a sport she's called "her whole life"