Hartlepool is a town steeped in boxing tradition. The Feeneys, Dave Garside, Teddy Gardner, the London brothers and Stewart Lithgo are among those to have hit the headlines on the national stage. Not to mention 2005's European challenger Michael Hunter.

But after 16-year-old Michael Hadfield claimed a silver medal at the World Cadet Championships on Monday, his success has already been hailed by many as the best any Hartlepudlian has achieved at that age.

An Olympic appearance for Great Britain looks to be on the cards and talk is rife of his potential.

The Headland ABC boxer - the best to have emerged from the gym's eight-year existence under coach Tim Coulter - has surpassed the world cadet bronze medal won by undefeated WBU and IBF light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton at that age in 1996.

Coulter, who was in Liverpool to witness his young boxer's final 26-17 defeat to Kazakhstan's Sattibayev Olzhas, knows he has a special talent on his hands.

"The biggest task I have is to keep his feet on the ground, even though he is quite a level-headed boy," said Coulter. "He is the best in Britain, second best in the world for his age. That's a fact.

"It says a lot when Ron Harvey (secretary of the Tyne-Tees-Wear boxing division) says Michael's achievement outweighs anything else done by any other boxer from Hartlepool at 16.

"Michael wants to go to the Olympics, whether that be in Beijing in 2008 or in this country in 2012. I don't see any reason why he can't go to the next games."

Hadfield, who will have two more shots at the Junior ABAs before 2008, said: "I'm having a break now before my coach tells me when I have to go back in the gym.

"I think the 2012 Olympics are more realistic but I will try hard to go to Beijing."