A MUAY Thai sensation from Bury has proudly taken home a silver medal after representing Team GB at the European championships.

The 16-year-old from Fishpool was selected to compete in the tournament after numerous amateur and semi-professional bouts with GFC Muay Thai and Bury Muay Thai boxing club.

Lewis said: "I flew into Istanbul and had to train hard for few days because when I saw some of the other fighters, I knew this was serious.

"I fought and won against a lot of really great fighters and I think my teammates also did really well.

"I was so lucky and happy to get into the finals where I went up against a lad from Ukraine, Bohdan Studniev, and came out with a silver medal.

"He was far bigger and more experienced than me so I'm so happy I came out with that."

He added: "The main thing I felt when I got there was nervous because it was my first time going there and the place was huge and it was the kind of venue I've just never seen before.

"Just to be picked to even go there out of however many fighters they could have chosen for Team GB is amazing to me.

"It just goes to show that hard work really does pay off and if you work at something and go for it, you can achieve your dreams and never stop pushing.

"I want to keep on competing in Muay Thai and go professional, and I wouldn't say no to stepping inside the UFC Octagon."

Lewis still hopes to make his Olympic debut at the 2024 games in Paris. But before then has plenty of tournaments ahead of him, including the Baltic Muay Thai Open in Lithuania in June.

He has won over 20 fighting titles in the UK and abroad, including the world championships in Carrera, Italy, which saw him take home two titles.

He credits his dad, Mark, with sparking his love for Muay Thai and considers his coach, Liam Harrison, from training gym Bad Company, to be his fighting hero.