SUFFOLK kickboxer Marlon Hunt took his number of world title belts to a staggering five with a majority points victory over Frenchman Benoit Bourhis.Fighting in front of a home crowd on Friday for the first time in his career - the dome of Ipswich's Next Generation Gym packed with almost 300 people - the 29-year-old added the Professional World Goldenbelt and World Kickboxing Corporation (WKBC) light-weight belts to his impressive collection thanks to the win.

Stuart Watson

SUFFOLK kickboxer Marlon Hunt took his number of world title belts to a staggering five with a majority points victory over Frenchman Benoit Bourhis.

Fighting in front of a home crowd on Friday for the first time in his career - the dome of Ipswich's Next Generation Gym packed with almost 300 people - the 29-year-old added the Professional World Goldenbelt and World Kickboxing Corporation (WKBC) light-weight belts to his impressive collection thanks to the win.

“It was a great fight,” said Hunt. “As everyone knows, I don't just fight anybody. It would have been easy for me to take a lesser opponent in front of a home crowd but I only fight the best in the world and Benoit is certainly one of those.”

He added: “I've fought all around the world but have always wanted to fight here in Ipswich in front of my home fans. Thanks to everybody that has supported me.”

The Onehouse resident, who has long been ranked No.1 in the world, confirmed that it is almost certain he will now turn his attentions to the discipline of K1 having won virtually all of full-contact kickboxing's major titles.

“I want more belts,” he explained. “And I've probably got to look at other options now to do that.”

This latest victory certainly did not come easy for Hunt though who was forced to go the full 12, two minute rounds against the towering Frenchman.

Not only is Bourhis a good six or seven inches taller than Hunt, but the Suffolk fighter had dropped down a class from his natural fighting weight to take on the fight.

Despite this, Hunt, who is nicknamed 'The Game' for his tactical approach to fights, used his superior movement to good advantage and out-boxed his opponent on the inside.

Bourhis was warned on three occasions for his low kicks and had no answer to Hunt's left jabs and hooks, telling blows coming in the fourth, sixth and seventh rounds.

Both fighters celebrated at the end, but it was Hunt who was able to don his trademark gladiator helmet and salute his loyal fans upon the judges' verdict.

Hunt, who grew up in Holland, is now weighing up whether to move back to the Netherlands or even to Japan in order to find the level of competition he requires.