 Frankie Gavin is among Britain's boxers tipped for gold in Beijing |
British boxing chief Terry Edwards believes the sport's �1.1m funding boost will help his fighters go for Olympic gold rather than turn pro. The sport was on Tuesday handed a 337% funding increase - one of the biggest rises in UK Sport's allocation of extra cash in the build-up to London 2012.
Amateur Boxing Association head coach Terry Edwards said: "It will mean they may feel they can stay amateur longer.
"That'll mean going for Olympic medals instead of turning professional."
Britain boasted just one fighter at the Athens Olympics, Amir Khan, who came away with a silver medal.
But following the Commonwealth Games - where British fighters won six golds - Edwards is hopeful up to six boxers will make the trip to the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Edwards, who has targeted three medals at the Games, said: "Our young fighters will also see what has happened to Audley Harrison and Amir Khan and realise that winning an Olympic medal can set them up for life."