LIGHTWEIGHT boxer Saud Hafiz hopes to make a big impression after turning his life around to reach the London ABA Championships.

The 26-year-old from Beechwood Rise, North Watford, represented England as a promising youngster but turned his back on the sport in his teens as he lost his way in the world.

Leaving school with few qualifications he drifted into crime, but picked himself up and now spends time telling other youngsters how they can do the same.

The former Watford Grammar for Boys pupil, who finished his schooling at Langleybury after being thrown out of the boys school for going back to Pakistan, is now a mentor for young people.

He goes into schools as part of Connexions, a locally funded service aimed at motivating teenagers in Hertfordshire. The former model also fronts youth program, Public Demand, once a week on Venus TV - a mainstream Asian satellite station.

"Lots of youngsters in the Watford community are going off the rails. With me getting back into boxing it has helped people see if I can do it, several years on, so can they."

He added: "I lost all that time. Maybe if I had carried on I could have taken part in the Olympics. The talent is still there but nine years on it's that little bit harder."

Hafiz says it is not too late for him to succeed in the fight game and is keen to put his message across that it is never too late for others to make a change.

"I was brought up in a strict Asian family. My mum was a single parent after my dad passed away. Mum tried her hardest, but society got the better of me and I was just one of a crowd of youngsters getting in trouble.

"I just about saved myself. It was a close shave. I was just hanging with the hoodrats in the street, truanting from school. I got in lots of trouble and lots of my friends ended up in prison.

"But I managed at the last minute to change my ways and I want the youths out there to know it is not over."

If Hafiz wins the championships on Wednesday, April 18, he will turn professional and hopes to go on to fight for a British title.

"I would love to be a British title contender, win the British title and go on to fight on a national and world level, but there is a lot of work I need to do.

"I am giving it a go. If I can win this title it will give me a good solid platform to turn pro and get managed and prove myself and show what I am capable of."