A DUDLEY fighter is looking to follow in the family footsteps when he challenges a world champion this month.

Reuben Charlesworth will take on Birmingham’s Ellis Blake on November 21 in the Midland Sport Karate League.

The fight will cap a whirlwind year for the 12-year-old Bishop Milner pupil, who has already claimed the English, British and European crowns in the past 12 months.

Reuben is trained by his dad, Jason Charlesworth, at the Charlesworth Martial Arts schools in Cradley Heath.

The school is no stranger to world champions. His mother, Julie Charlesworth, is a four- time world champion while Jason is coach of the ISKA England team.

His younger sister Kiyra is also getting in on the act, having won several titles since taking up the sport earlier this year.

Jason said: “Up until last year he didn’t really want to fight competitively but has made an instant impact.

“He loves his football as well, it’s often the case where he will go straight from training to a fight.”

Reuben was one of the school’s fighters who scooped an incredible nine gold medals at the recent ISKA European Championships.

The school took 13 fighters to the event in Rome to represent England and all returned with a medal in a haul which included five silvers and a bronze.

Gold medal winners included world champions Tara Billingham and 11-year-old Elijah Everill, with the latter also claiming light contact gold.

Reuben, Tina Tromans, Tiana Harris, Rhiannon Ryder, Kieren Cox and Polly Clark, both aged 15, were the other champions.

Silver medals went to Moses Bogle, Weston Bogle, Holly O’Connor and and Ashley Morey with Amber Jones notching a bronze.

Jason added: “The competition wasn't well attended but the quality of fighters was as high as ever.

“All of our fighters had to battle for their respected medals.”