Sutcliffe hails Amir Khan as a role model for young people

Only 4% of schools do so at present, though a pilot scheme involving 150 Sheffield schoolchildren is under way.

"If it is successful I want to roll it out in the rest of the country," he told BBC Radio Five Live.

Sutcliffe believes that boxing can have a positive effect on young people. "It teaches them respect, discipline and camaraderie," he said.

"There are many youngsters involved in gun crime and gangs, and I think boxing may touch some of them, and take them down a different route.

Boxing is making a return and I think some youngsters ought to have the opportunity to experience it Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe

"If you look at boxers - Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe, Amir Khan - they are great people for youngsters to see as role models."

Sutcliffe stressed that, if widely introduced, boxing would be voluntary and that parental approval and permission would be essential.

He said boxing can form a key part of the government's drive to tackle childhood obesity and increase the range of sports offered in schools, along with the amount of time committed to them - from two hours to five.

Boys and girls over 11 would be eligible.

"I think boxing ticks all the right boxes. It increases fitness and discipline, and people benefit from being involved in the sport," he said.

"Boxing is making a return and I think some youngsters ought to have the opportunity to experience it."

"It's a good sport that is well regulated and gives people wonderful opportunities. Some people who might go off the rails or off the track, boxing could be their saviour."

Boxing has not been taught in schools since 1962, when a campaign to ban it from PE classes won popular support.

In January, the BBC reported that some schools in south London were incorporating boxing into PE lessons under the supervision of the Amateur Boxing Association of England.

Chairman of the ABA Keith Walters said then that boxing in schools could benefit children by boosting their overall fitness, reaching out to disengaged young people and improving their self-esteem, discipline and self confidence.

Sutcliffe, who succeeded Richard Caborn as Sports Minister in July, also said he did not feel boxing is a particularly dangerous sport.

"I accept some of the arguments that are there, but it's well regulated, and the ABA have got high standards.

"All sports have the potential for accidents and have risk attached to them.

"People are not allowed to box until they are 11 years old, there is the headgear there, all the safety aspects. It is better regulated than ever before."

In July, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that a further �100m is being invested in sport to make it more accessible for all young people.

"Clearly boxing, like other sports, will be able to bid for that money," said Sutcliffe.