Failed to make the weight

http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/08/07/Olympics-Gavin-to-miss-Olympics/

Britain's best boxing hope for a gold medal, Frankie Gavin has pulled out of the 2008 Olympics, due to problems making the 60kg lightweight limit.

Gavin, who became the first British fighter ever to win a world amateur gold medal last year in Chicago, has had problems making 9st 6lbs since then and conceded defeat on Thursday.

Gavin has fought in competitions this year at the light welterweight division but with his team-mate Bradley Saunders qualifying for the competition he was unable to represent his country in this weight class.

The news is a particular blow as the Birmingham fighter had beaten all his main rivals in the competition and was viewed as the favourite to take the gold.

Gavin has been training full time at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield for several months, funded by UK Sport and lottery funding, and the GB Olympic team are likely to come in for a lot of criticism for leaving it until the eve of the tournament before dropping this bombshell.

It now seems likely that Gavin will turn professional and there is likely to be a clamour for his signature and Oscar de la Hoya, Frank Warren, Mick Hennessy have already made their intentions known to sign them