Mark Cleary knew if he didn’t change his life he’d end up dead or in jail, permanently.

So in May 2012, Cleary, 32, walked out of prison and into a boxing gym hoping to leave his ties to a biker gang and a life of booze, drugs and crime behind. He returned to a place and a coach, Kerry Hendren at The Scrapyard Boxing Club, that had been a positive influence in his teenaged years.

Almost 17 months later, Cleary, who hadn’t earned an honest dollar in nearly a decade, has his personal trainer’s licence and a career at Goodlife Fitness. After returning from a 12-year hiatus from the ring he has seven amateur bouts under his belt and hopes to soon turn professional. He’s reconnecting with his children and making amends with a family he admits he had deservedly become the black sheep of.

“I had a loving home and an amazing family,” Cleary says, of his father Grant, mother Lisa, stepfather Larry Voyer and brother Chris. “I felt like I was letting my family down a lot.”

Cleary first turned to boxing in Grade 11 after getting into trouble and switching high schools. He says Hendren and gym mates were positive influences.

“Kerry did everything he could to keep me on the straight and narrow and for a few years he did. Boxing helped and I was able to graduate high school and went onto college,” Cleary said.

It was during college he strayed into the party lifestyle and made bad acquaintances.

“I was living a pretty reckless and wild life,” he said. “I wasn't living a healthy lifestyle.”

It led to drug use, criminal activity and association with the Outlaws biker gang.

“I was a pretty negative person. I had a bad outlook on life,” he said. “Once you get in that rut it's hard to pull yourself out. A lot of people don't.

“I needed a wake-up call.”

He got one in March 2011 when, while impaired by narcotics, he drove a car, carrying two biker friends, into a pole. One man suffered significant injuries. The other was found with an illegal firearm and was sent to prison for four years. It landed Cleary six months in jail.

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He admits he was defiant going into prison but his outlook changed behind bars. He began working out something he hadn't done since giving up boxing. Improving his health and fitness became cleansing for his body and soul.

“At the time (of the accident) I thought it was the worst thing that could have happened to me. It turned into probably the best thing that ever happened.”

Within 24 hours of leaving jail Cleary, who shed 30 pounds while locked up, was back in the gym with Hendren.

“He’s helped me so much to get my life back on track,” said Cleary. “It was like I had never been away from him. When I was younger he tried to help me as much as he could but when you're someone who doesn't want to be helped, there is only so much he can do.”

Hendren opened doors to get Cleary on the path to becoming a personal trainer eventually leading to his job. He also works at Body Life Nutrition located at Goodlife.

“It’s a real positive atmosphere,” Cleary said. “They gave me a chance and I’ve proven to them I am a hard worker. They’re an awesome bunch of people. It’s the type of job you are happy to go to.

“Making legitimate money and being a normal person feels good. It's made me realize how stressed my life was. The boxing club, too, is all positive, good people. If you surround yourself with the right people, good things will happen.”

The mothers of Cleary’s six- and two-year-old boys had long implored him to change his ways. They’ve supported his efforts to change, he said.

“I need to be a positive role model for my children. Being out of their lives was really hard on me,” he said. “I want them to have somebody to look up to rather than the person I was.”

Despite an underwhelming 3-4 record since his return to boxing, Cleary wants to take a crack at pro boxing. He’s applying for his licence and hopes to get approval in the new year. Friends and co-workers rallied through FundaFighter.com to raise money to pay for his medical tests required to get his licence.

“The Olympic style scoring in amateur boxing doesn’t help me too much,” he said. “That’s one thing I’m looking forward to with the pro fighting. It’s different scoring. I know I can bang with these guys. I think my slugging style will do good in the pros. It's something to keep me on track and to keep working towards.”

Cleary did have an incident in August which threatened to set him back. Following the funeral of a childhood friend, he had too much to drink and ended up in a situation at a local bar which resulted in him being charged with assault on a bouncer.

He’s hopeful the charge will be dropped but says he can’t really comment on it since it's before the courts. It taught him he can’t let his guard down for a second with alcohol.

“I have a lot more to lose now,” he said.

Going back to his old lifestyle, he says, isn’t an option.

“I'm not ever going to be back in that lifestyle or surrounded by those type of people, ever again,” he said.

Source: Peterborough Examiner - https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/sports/2013/09/14/mark-cleary-turning-life-around-through-boxing-aiming-for-pro-career.html