HIS exasperated parents likened him to a bomb "ready to explode".
Two years ago, Tom Hadley was struggling to control his short fuse.
Now, Tom, 15, is knuckling down at school and transforming into a responsible young man.
Tom says: "Everyone is gobsmacked by how much I have changed.
"I don't lose my rag like I did before. Boxing has helped me a lot.
"If it wasn't for boxing, I would be in a dark place."
Tom, of north Hull, has, undoubtedly, come a long way since walking through the doors of City of Hull ABC, in north Hull, for the first time in early 2012.
He was recently runner-up in the Junior Development National Finals in Kent – a remarkable achievement for someone who only took up the sport two years ago.
But outside the boxing ring is where the new Tom has really caused heads to turn.
His mother, Sharon, has been impressed by the transformation.
"He has really grown up since taking up the sport," she says. "I can't describe how proud his father, Steven, and I are of him.
"Before, he could go from calm to explosive in seconds, if someone happened to say the wrong thing to him. He had some real anger issues."
Mrs Hadley, who works in the café attached to the gym, said: "Tom is really thinking about his future.
"He is sitting his GCSEs at St Mary's College and he is doing well.
"He is so much calmer."
It was Mrs Hadley's idea to get Tom into boxing.
She said: "Tom needed something to take his aggression out on.
"His grandad and aunty had both recently died and he was struggling.
"Now, when he is feeling angry, he takes out the aggression on the bags."
Mike Gibbons, owner and head coach at City of Hull ABC, could not be happier for the family.
He said: "I am dead proud of Tom for what he has achieved.
"If someone had told me two or three years ago that Tom would have got to the finals and changed in the way he has, I would have said, 'You're joking, aren't you?'
"I am so pleased for the kid."
Mr Gibbons said he spotted talent in Tom, but remembered thinking at the time that his short fuse could be his downfall.
He said: "In those early days in the gym, he would take things personally.
"If one of the coaches tried to correct his technique, he would see it as them having a go at him.
"But after a while, he began to appreciate that we are doing it for his benefit.
"I think Tom is somebody who has always had discipline. But he has lacked focus.
"It's helping outside the gym, too. If Tom's mum tells him to tidy his room, for example, he knows she's just asking him to do something – she isn't having a go at him."
Mr Gibbons believes Tom is a walking advert for boxing and its positive effects.
"Boxing can be a brutal sport," he said. "Some people only see that we're teaching kids how to fight. That's born out of ignorance, in my opinion.
"Boxing gets kids off the streets and into a disciplined environment, where life skills are taught.
"Tom is testament to that."
Hull ABC has more than 200 members, split into four categories – academy, juniors, seniors and competition.
Subject to planning permission, the club will move into new premises in Orchard Park Road at Easter.
Mr Gibbons hopes the facility will be able to help more people like Tom.
He said: "I am confident we will get more Tom Hadleys."
Tom said: "Everyone is pretty proud of me for what I have achieved. I have changed."
