SALEM — Every time that John Dullea hears that boxers are bad guys, he doesn't need to argue to the contrary.

All the trainer from Peabody has to do is point to Nathan Dragon.

A 16-year-old sophomore at Salem High, Dragon takes honors classes and manages his time so well that he fits several sports into his schedule. He played on the Witches' golf team this fall and intends to try out for the swim team next month and the lacrosse team next spring.

However, boxing is his favorite sport by a wide margin — even though he doesn't fit the stereotype.

"Nathan is really good for the sport," said Dullea, who trains boxers at Larry Leavitt's Fitness and Self Defense in Peabody. "Everybody still thinks boxers are thugs, but they aren't. This kid is top shelf."

Outside the ring, Dragon is polite and respectful. But inside the ropes, he's as competitive and intense as they come. He's also undefeated with a 3-0 record.

Granted, that's a small sample size, but it's not like he's ducking opponents. The simple fact is that there aren't many boxers his age or in his weight class (119 pounds), and on a couple of occasions scheduled opponents have not shown up.

Still, there's no denying he's off to a promising start. His most recent triumph came last month at the Rocky Marciano tourney in Taunton, where he earned the two-round decision over Kendrick Hall Jr. of Worcester in the sub-novice class.

"It was pretty exciting because it's a good tournament," said Dragon. "I was just trying to keep (Hall) under my control. It wasn't a street fight or anything like that. You just want to keep boxing and be (strategic) about it. When I get someone on the ropes, I go for it pretty hard."

Dullea thought Hall took a pretty good whipping.

"I thought they'd stop the fight," said Dullea, who's been training boxers for more than two decades. "Nathan had him on the ropes and he played it smart. He didn't punch himself out. He did it like I trained him to do it. At his level, it's about scoring because there aren't many knockouts. This kid Hall was no bum. He took some big shots from Nathan."

Absolutely fearless

Dragon is accumulating confidence with each bout. His first match two years ago looked like a perfect setup for him to lose. He was pitted against Jamal Garcia, a Junior Olympic champion who already had 15 fights under his belt. Dullea had to get special permission for Dragon to fight him, and the trainer wouldn't have let him go through with it if he even remotely thought his young boxer would be in danger.

Only 14 years old at the time, Dragon convinced his trainer that he was ready and then proved it by handling Garcia via decision in two rounds at Club Lido in Revere.

His second bout didn't come until May of this year, when he defeated Andre Perez of Lowell at the Billerica Elks, also by decision.

"I was pretty nervous for my first fight (against Garcia)," said Dragon. "I knew him because I'd sparred against him a few times, but sparring a guy isn't nearly as intense as fighting him. It felt great to win because a kid that good, he likes to beat up on me (in sparring sessions)."

Dullea finds Dragon to be a diligent student of the sport and says he's absolutely fearless when it comes to sparring partners. When he works out at the Peabody gym, Dragon is often up against Jon Blodgett of Peabody, who fights at 178 pounds, or Greg Dofoses, who's been in more than 30 fights.

The trainer carefully monitors those sessions but feels they're extremely beneficial.

"These guys are fast and strong and much older than Nate, so we're not about to let them tee off on the kid," said Dullea. "But he learns a lot from these guys. This kid is very coachable, which makes my job easier. You tell him something once and he does it."

Plenty of fight left in him

Dragon's parents, Peter and Kendra, approve of their son's passion for the sport as long as he keeps up his grades and participates in sports at Salem High. Nathan has been asthmatic since he was a baby, but now that he's in such great physical condition he's feeling better, said his father.

"They're good about it," said Nathan, referring to his parents. "At first my mom said she wouldn't watch me, but now she likes it. She videotapes my fights."

Dragon is always looking for more competition, but he can afford to be patient. With the help of Dullea and other people at Leavitt's gym, he plans on boxing throughout high school and college.

"John Dullea has helped me a ton. He's taught me everything I know so far," said Dragon.

"Boxing has become my main sport. You feel good physically and you have a sense of accomplishment when you do well. I'm not giving this up."