Great Britain finished with three silver medals and one bronze at the World Amateur Championships after an agonising final day which saw Luke Campbell, Andrew Selby and Anthony Joshua all narrowly denied gold in Baku.

European champion Selby lost 13-12 to world number one Misha Aloyan of Russia at flyweight, while Hull's Campbell was then edged out 14-10 by Cuba's Lazaro Alvarez in the bantamweight final.

In the final bout of the tournament, Londoner Joshua was defeated 22-21 by Azerbaijan's Magonedrasul Medzhidov in an explosive super-heavyweight contest in front of a passionate home crowd.

The trio were joined in the podium ceremonies by Liverpool's Tom Stalker, who won bronze in the light-welterweight division.

The four-medal haul was the best performance by a GB Boxing team at the World Championships and topped the three medals won in Chicago in 2007. The team also qualified boxers in five of the weight categories for next year's London Olympics.

GB Boxing performance director Rob McCracken said: "The team has put in a superb performance and to come away with four medals and five Olympic qualifying places is a fantastic achievement that augurs very well for success at 2012.

"It is unprecedented for British boxers to contest three finals in the World Championships. It's just a shame that we were unable to come away with a gold as all of the boxers put in fantastic performances today, as they have done throughout the tournament.

"They have shown they are among the very best in the world and should be proud of their achievements."

Joshua, 21, said: "It's been an amazing week and to qualify for the Olympics and make the final of the World Championships in only my second major international is incredible.

"It's been a brilliant learning curve and the focus now is on London and getting down to some serious work in the gym and making sure I go one better at the Olympics."

Selby and Campbell too turned their attention to London glory after picking up silvers in Azerbaijan.

Welshman Selby said: "A silver medal at the World Championships is a great achievement. However, I felt I had done enough to edge it so am disappointed as I wanted that gold medal.

"That said, there are a lot of positives I can take from this week and I have proven that I can beat anyone in the world."

Campbell added: "If you had said to me beforehand that I'd get the silver and qualify for the Olympics I'd probably have taken it. However, I am disappointed not to have won the gold, because I thought I had the better of the bout.

"I have had a great tournament and secured a place at London and with the backing of the home crowd I am sure I can go one better in 2012."

Tags: Amateur Boxing