Audley Harrison in 2000, Amir Khan in 2004, Frankie Gavin in 2008? The 22-year-old lightweight aims to become Great Britain's third successive boxing medalist in Beijing.

Frankie Gavin will be hoping to go one better than former sparring partner Amir Khan when he bids for Olympic gold as a lightweight in Beijing.

The 22-year-old became English boxing's first ever World Amateur champion in Chicago last year, scoring a huge upset by defeating Russian Aleksei Tishchenko, who hadn't lost for four years, to reach the final where he beat Italian Domenico Valentino 19-10.

Over 11 days in Chicago, "Funtime" Frankie accounted for four world-ranked opponents back to back. The achievement was somewhat eclipsed by Joe Calzaghe's world title triumph over Mikkel Kessler the same week, but those in the know believe the Birmingham-born southpaw is a prospective Olympic champion.

Gavin is the leading member of British boxing's "golden generation," who have turned around the nation's domestic amateur boxing over the last four years. Amir Khan was the sole British representative at the 2004 Athens Games; in Beijing, four fighters have already qualified - Gavin, light-welterweight Bradley Saunders, bantamweight Joe Murray and light-heavyweight Tony Jeffries - with the potential for three or four more to join them if their team-mates do well at the European qualifying event in Italy in February.

"He has an extraordinary talent," said Terry Edwards, head of the British boxing squad. "In Beijing he will be one of our better hopes. He's got a good eye, fast hands and a boxing brain. In this last year he's matured magnificently."

Southpaw Gavin proved his potential by winning the Commonwealth Games gold medal in Melbourne last year and has since matured into a fast and elusive fighter with remarkable poise and calm in the ring.

He has already received several offers from professional managers and promoters to throw away his vest and begin his career as a pro, but he has set his heart on Olympic glory in Beijing, where his superb amateur record of 100 wins in 121 bouts means he will start as one of the favourites.

But despite the fanfare, Gavin his certainly no shoo-in for a medal in Beijing. American Sadam Ali is promising to cause waves after winning the National Golden Gloves two years in succession, and Cubans will always cause a threat.

But of all the talented British fighters heading East this summer, "Funtime Frankie" has the best chance to emulate Audley Harrison's golden performance at Athens in 2000.

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport