Stalker has impressed in an England jersey over the last year

Huyton lightweight Tom Stalker has confirmed he will continue in the amateur ranks at least until November's European Championships in Liverpool.

The 24-year-old has put in a string of impressive performances for England over the last 12 months and it was rumoured he would turn professional.

But he told BBC Radio Merseyside: "Frankie Gavin won't be there [at the European Championships] so I will be.

"I'll be there at 60kg, especially with it being in Liverpool."

Gavin is the current amateur lightweight world champion and will box for Great Britain at the Beijing Olympics.

I've boxed another three kids who are going to the Olympics and I won Tom Stalker

And the Birmingham boxer has announced he intends to turn professional following this summer's games.

Stalker, who has acted as Gavin's understudy in Team GB for the last twelve months, has begun to make headlines of his own, winning a gold medal at the EU Championships in Poland.

The two men have also become good friends and Stalker believes if Gavin had not been around he may have had a good chance of going to the Olympics himself.

"The kid I beat in the final in Poland is going to the Olympics, I've boxed another three kids who are going to the Olympics and I won."