Sky Sports - Summer Olympics - Beijing 2008 - Sponsored by Puma

It's been a long, long time since Great Britain sent such a strong side to an Olympic Games.

Certainly since we have had to qualify through Europe we have not had a crop quite like it. The amazing thing about the lads going out to Beijing is, they've all got a real chance of doing something.

Glenn's guide to the GB team

All of them have beaten a world champion or an Olympic medalist in the run-up to this and they have all performed well on the big stage. To think David Price is the eldest at 25 is incredible as well, because with London 2012 in mind, a lot of these boys do have time on their side.

Anyone winning a medal when the Olympics come to Britain is going to be a superstar, simple as that. It is tough to keep these kids in the vest though because when they see the likes of Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton and of course our last Olympic medalist, the lure to turn professional is pretty strong.

In some countries Olympic glory is always the main aim for a young kid starting out, but here in Britain it's a bit of a mixed bag. I missed out on them because I turned pro in 1984, which is no bad thing really because had I gone to the Los Angeles games in '84, I would have been in the same class as Evander Holyfield.

But even if the pro game is where all the money is, by the time the Olympics come round, it is always big news. It's a fantastic competion, it is the greatest show on earth and the whole world is watching. We know whoever does well will make a name for themselves: from Joe Frazier, to Muhammad Ali, to Sugar Ray Leonard, to Oscar de la Hoya, right up to Amir Khan.

And with London 2012 next, there is more reason than ever to stay in the amateurs if you are a young British fighter. Don't be fooled though, this British team are on fairly decent money. The old amateur values went out of the window years ago and these guys will earn more money than your average pro in a year.

Which is why we have to get the pro-am scene set up over here. Did you know that until not so long ago amateurs were suspended if they were caught training in a pro gym? Ridiculous isn't it.

Giant strides

The team we are sending to Beijing have all had the benefits of the professional game and what it can teach them and now we have to get them on the same fight cards.

That said Paul King and the ABA have made giant strides in four years. To be fair, although Khan did brilliantly, we nearly didn't send him to Athens and amateur boxing was really in the doldrums, the funding close to being pulled.

But the ABA have made the system more professional and now Terry Edwards has some top lads all of whom are in with a chance of a medal.

Much has been made of our chances but the Olympics are not that straightforward. The draw is the biggest thing for a start that can make or break you, no matter how good you are. Imagine if Khan had got Mario Kindelan in the first round? He'd probably be scratching around on a Brendan Ingle undercard in Sheffield right now!

And there's always the Cubans of course, who I know a lot about. And the Americans and the Russians; all of them will send top sides out to China, even if the Cubans have been weakened by those defectors. I was out in Beijing recently and I would also say look out for the Chinese, especially in the lighter weights.

Bad start

The team has obviously had a terrible start with the withdrawal of Frankie Gavin after they decided he wasn't going to make his weight. I'm shocked by the fact he's made it all the way Macao and yet not going to make it to China. It's incredible really, and to be honest it's a bit shabby.

The climate will be scorching in Beijing and will certainly lend itself to boxers making their weights, so he must have been some way off because they wouldn't have done this if he'd been close.

It's very sad news when you consider he's been preparing for this for a year and it's also bad for rest of team, seeing their flag-bearer and the main guy not being there.

First of all the blame must lie at Frankie's feet because it's always the boxer's responsibility, but he's been supported by a GB team who you'd think would monitor him - and as one of the medal favourites you'd have thought he'd be monitored more than most.

I think Frankie's natural weight is around 64kg and I know he's been struggling for a while. Clearly it just got too much. There is a point where your body is too big for that weight and you can't perform at your best - as I know more than most when I tried to get down to cruiserweight without the right preparation and lost my title.

In some ways the team will be knocked back and demoralised, but while they are a team, they fight as individuals and the others may see this as an opportunity for them to take the limelight. Frankie's been getting all the attention since he won the world championships in Chicago and all of the pressure and expectation was on him.

Now some of the others will get their chance in the sun. They'll be boxing for Team GB, but at the end of the day it's their arms they want raised on the podium. I'm sure they'll get down to business and crack on.

Glenn's guide to the Brits going for gold in Beijing

Khalid Yafai - Flyweight
A decent youngster who has just come into the reckoning - at the tender age of 19! He's a good quality performer who has a great chance of a medal. He's more boxer than fighter and although he's lost to a couple of decent fighters, he's a confident lad. He'll need to be because I expect the Chinese to feature well in the smaller weights, but Khalid has shocked a few seniors already and don't see why he can't again. He has lost to a couple of Cubans, but in these tournaments a positive attitude can go a long way.

Joe Murray - Bantamweight
Well he comes from good boxing stock for a start, doesn't he? And I'm glad they stopped him and brother John sparring because the last thing we want is him getting beaten up before the Olympics! That said, that pro sparring with the likes of Stephen Foster Jr and Michael Brodie, as well as big brother, will stand him in good stead. Joe is tall for a bantamweight and rangey and is another confident lad. He'll have the Cubans and Americans to contend with, but has already beaten some good fighters.

Bradley Saunders - Light-Welterweight
I spoke to my mate Bradley on Monday and he is doing fine out there in the heat of Beijing, which was good to hear. He's another with a great record, and is another confident young man. I tipped him for a medal a long time ago and see no reason to change that. He has just come back from winning gold in the President's Cup in Taipei and has also beaten the kid who won bronze at the worlds. Bradley has a marauding style, can switch hit and he can hit hard, believe me. But above all, this is one tough, tough lad.

Billy Joe Saunders - Welterweight
He's only 18 years of age and is another one that has come from nowhere. His rise has been pretty fantastic and while I have not seen Billy Joe fight in the flesh, I do know some of the guys he has beaten like Anthony Ogogo and to do that he must have something about him. At such a young age the whole thing might just be a little big for him, a little too soon in his career. But the other side of the coin is, he's got nothing to lose, no pressure and everthing to gain. If he boxes with that freedom and gets a good draw, who knows?

James DeGale - Middleweight
James is a very good fighter who has had a big rivarly with George Groves in the amateurs only for George to turn pro. Like all the Brits he is a good fighter and an accomplished boxer but he might find it hardest of all because when you get to the middlweights, the Cubans, Americans and Russians all come into play. But if he can get a good start, that first win will do wonders for his confidence and then, who knows? A big middleweight who will give it his very best shot, that much I am certain of.

Tony Jeffries - Light-Heavyweight
Another lad from my neck of the woods, Tony has kept his place in the team for a few years as he has moved up in weight. He is strong, he is wily and although his style is a little ungainley, he is an accomplished amatuer fighter. Hasn't lost to an English fighter for years and seems to have mastered the art of boxing for the computer, despite looking a little awkward. I like Tony and I like his chances, although he will do well in a tough division to bring home a medal. It certainly isn't beyond him.

David Price - Super-Heavyweight
The daddy of them all at 25 and a big old chunk of a fighter. Was unlucky when injuries wrecked his World Championships because it would have been good to get a proper guage of how he fares in this sort of company. But credit to him after the first three Brits qualified I thought we would struggle to get any more in, but David kept plugging away and eventually got in. At 6ft8in and 17-odd stone he is a massive lad, but on the few occasions I've seen him I have been impressed with how agile he is. His age is good for this sort of tournament as well.