Frankie Gavin, the world amateur boxing champion, has announced that he will turn professional this week. The boxer, who is just 23 years of age, had planned on taking part in the Olympic Games in Beijing but had to withdraw from the event before it started because he failed to make the weight.

Gavin was the hot favourite to win a gold medal in Beijing and faced stinging criticism from certain sections of the British media upon his return to the UK.

This intense embarrassment and disappointment is believed to have, at least partially, influenced Gavin’s recent decision to turn professional.

Gavin, who is very good friends with British boxing legend Amir Khan, is expected to sign a professional contract with the famous boxing promoter, Frank Warren, by the end of this week.

The boxer believes that Warren is “the best promoter in Britain by far, if not the world” and has spoken publicly about his excitement over the imminent changes in his life.

The Birmingham-born boxer will fight at light-welterweight level and is set to make his professional debut in early 2009. Anthony Farnell is expected to become the young boxer’s trainer and Gavin will be based in the Manchester area.

The trainer has come recommended by several of the boxer’s friends who are already being trained by him. Farnell was forced to retire from boxing in 2005 as a result of frustrating health problems, but since moving into the world of training he has become a great success.