BBCThe newly crowned IBF world welterweight champion Lewis Crocker walked through a guard of honour when he returned to his former school in Belfast on Friday.
Hundreds of students at Malone College in Finaghy cheered loudly as the champion boxer arrived for a student’s prize giving ceremony.
Inside, he proudly showed off his coveted world title belt.
Crocker became the the new IBF world welterweight champion after defeating Paddy Donovan by way of a split decision at Windsor Park earlier this month.
Getty ImagesSpeaking to BBC News NI, Crocker said: “Hopefully that inspires other people and other kids with dreams that they can push on and achieve their dreams.”
“It was amazing, it seems like just yesterday I was back here, in school as a student,” he added.
“I’m so proud, it’s good to have the school behind me as well and to be back here and to celebrate with them.”
Crocker said the last time he was at the school he was signing in late but it is “good to be back” and get “recognition” from the school.
“To be walking through that and embracing the love from the fellow students at my own college, it’s amazing, it’s one thing I’ll never forget.”
One pupil said: “I’m related to him, so it was good to see everyone cheering for him and supporting him for who he was.”
Another added: “Really inspirational, really good to see someone from our school coming here and making it out as world champion”.
“I can’t believe he used to go to our school, yeah it was good,” one pupil said.
A young boxer said he hopes to win a world title belt one day.
“It’s good seeing him, and then from seeing him from TV and then seeing him in person, it’s a good feeling like. He’s an inspiration to me”.
‘Buzz all week’
Brian Pendleton, who was Crocker’s head of year when he attended Malone College, recalled a conversation he had with Crocker during his school years when he advised him to have “a back-up plan” in case he did not become world champion.
“He did say to me, I’m going to be world champion, all these years ago, so fair play to him,” Mr Pendleton said.
Pat Cavanagh, a senior teacher, reflected on “the buzz all week” when it was announced that the boxer would be attending the prize giving day.
“It’s not very often you get to say you’ve taught a world champion and certainly to bring him back to his old school, his old stomping ground, so it’s been great.”