Muay Thai boxing champion, 17, hails crime reduction scheme

At 6ft 5in and weighing in at 17 stone (108kg), the teenager certainly has the physique to make his way in the heavyweight category.

In early December, he became the adult British Muay Thai Nai Khanom Tom Heavyweight Champion.

He’s now practicing most days of the week and helps coach other youngsters at the Middleton Martial Arts Academy, where he trains.

He said: “I had one session and I thought, I like this, I want to keep on going.

“If you’d asked me two years ago what my purpose was in life, I’d tell you I don’t know. I’m just coasting through life.

“But if you ask me now, I have things to do.

“I actually have something on that I have to commit to.”