Bored? Yes, bored. Bored, disinterested and uninspired ... with home, with school, with friends, with everything, which for young adolescents with time on their hands spells only one thing, trouble, unless you are fortunate enough to have someone who can point you in the direction of something that will actually capture your interest and inspire you.

For young boys living out in New Territories North Region, 1997 was a landmark year. Not only because it was the year Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule, but also because it was the year the Police Operation Breakthrough Boxing Club was established.

An offshoot of Operation Breakthrough, officers involved in founding the Club soon discovered that through the medium of teaching boxing to young boys they quickly established a level of rapport unthinkable in other similar adult-teenager scenarios where you have authority figures dealing with young, teenage boys.

"Over the past four years we have seen nearly 200 boys enrol with the Club," stated New Territories North Superintendent Administration Daniel Lawley.

"We currently have around 40 active members, with 25-30 attending the Club regularly. Once they have joined the Club they know that if they are not serious, do not focus on training regularly or continue indulging in the lifestyle that brought them to our attention in the first place, then they are quite simply out of the Club.

"We also have two officers' sons who have now joined the Club due to their interest in boxing, and it has been rewarding to see all these boys, officers' sons included, develop a positive relationship with each other through this common interest."

For one such young man, 15-year-old Alex Hoggard, involvement in the Club came by way of his father, New Territories North Senior Superintendent Administration Blaine Hoggard, who had officiated as the guest of honour at several Club events.

"I had attended several match events at the Club when one day we attended together and it struck me that my own son was six foot tall, young and energetic, and I wondered whether he also would be interested in joining the Club," stated SSP Hoggard.

"He immediately said that he was interested, so he joined the Club. From a father's point of view I had no problem with him being involved as I knew that the Club was professionally run, that the physical fitness and general wellbeing of the kids involved was the primary concern of the organisers and that the match referees were all internationally qualified.

"I also appreciated the possible benefits to be derived by other members from regular contact with two police officers' sons who come from stable, established backgrounds, and the resulting positive influence they would have, especially being able to speak Cantonese."

Alex trained hard, week in, week out for months, and it paid off. Arriving at the Club one night he received the news that he had been selected to fight a match in a few weeks. It was the culmination of all his training, what he had worked so hard towards and put all his efforts into in the preceding few months.

"There were 12 young boxers, including Alex, scheduled to fight on the night, and I must admit that I was very proud of him, of the work he had put into his training and the fact that he had made it this far," enthused SSP Hoggard.

"My concern for him and his physical wellbeing once he stepped inside the ring had to be put onto the backburner of course. The 'old man' couldn't be seen to be fretting like an old woman. That is not the sort of support you need when you are about to step into a boxing ring to face a relatively unknown opponent."

So the big night arrived. For young Alex Hoggard this meant proving that he had what it takes to climb into a boxing ring and face an opponent whom he knew was there for only one reason, the same reason he was there, to win.

"The adrenalin was pumping through my own system at the mere thought of my son stepping into the ring to face his opponent, so I would hate to think how he felt," said SSP Hoggard.

"Everything they have been taught comes together the night of their first match, the weight lifting, the body-building, the sparring sessions, everything. They are in the ring for a mere six minutes, but you can bet, especially the first time, these are the longest six minutes of your life."

Both SSP Hoggard and SP Lawley acknowledged that boxing itself was a great leveller regardless of your background.

Alex Hoggard stepped into the ring the night his match was scheduled with Dad's total support, and Mum's, despite her reluctance at attending a boxing match where her own flesh and blood was one of the contestants.

The two young opponents eyed each other from their respective corners of the ring. The bell signalled the start of the first round and it was on.

"This was a very good first fight for Alex," stated SP Lawley. "He had trained very hard and put up a very heroic performance despite being pitted against a more experienced opponent. They went hell for leather during the last round, with Alex losing by a mere half point."

"It is not an easy thing for anyone to climb into a boxing ring to fight someone you know is there waiting to beat the living daylights out of you. It's a hard thing to do but once you have done it your self-esteem and confidence soar."

Alex Hoggard gave it all he had that night, and having overcome all that is involved regarding 'first-fight nerves' will definitely be back for more.