Talk about bold ambitions ... they don't come much bigger than this one of Hawke's Bay Muay Thai fighter Cody Thomson.
The Highlanders Fight Club representative is aiming for gold in a 110-strong field in his 16-17 years 63.5kg class at the Royal World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand next month.
"I got silver at the world champs in Malaysia last year when I was beaten by a split decision in the final against a Turkish opponent. I want gold this time," Thomson, 16, said before another gruelling training session yesterday.
More than 3000 fighters representing 110 countries will be in action at the August 13-23 event, the biggest sporting show to be staged in Thailand.
"The King of Thailand [Bhumibol Adulyadej] and his family have got right behind the show which is a celebration of Muay Thai being accepted as an Olympic sport and this is why it's called the Royal World Cup," Thomson's father and trainer Scotty Thomson explained.