By Mark Staniforth
The first batch of Great Britain boxers guaranteed their qualification places for the London 2012 Olympics this week with a series of superb performances in the World Championships in Baku.
Pick of the bunch was undoubtedly Finchley super-heavyweight Anthony Joshua, who answered the age-old call for a talismanic big man by hammering reigning world and Olympic champion Roberto Cammarelle en route to qualifying.
Joshua is guaranteed to harvest a lot of column inches in the build-up to the Games having completed a meteoric rise through the ranks, qualifying in only his second major international tournament.
Only six months ago, Joshua was not even part of the GB podium programme and performance director Rob McCracken freely admitted the +91kg category was his most frustrating weight.
Contrast the recent dearth of big men with the overspill of riches at flyweight, where both Khalid Yafai and current European champion Andrew Selby have proved themselves countless times.
Barring a phenomenal world title win for Selby, the pair will be forced to box off for that 52kg Olympic place, which is a shame because either one would go to London as a genuine medal prospect.
Whether they make London 2012 or not, for all but the youngest members of the Great Britain amateur programme the World Championships in Baku are likely to have been their last.
Professionalism will call, and fortune will dictate which of the current squad turn over with a lucrative Olympic medal hanging round their neck, and which are forced to take a tough route into the paid ranks.
Of the eight-strong team that went to Beijing, only Yafai and Bradley Saunders stayed amateur in the hope of reaching London. While Saunders' hopes are now ended, Yafai must wait and see.
James Degale is proof that even a gold medal cannot guarantee instant success. Despite a stunning start in the professional ranks, defeat to amateur rival George Groves - whom he beat to Beijing - put his career back a peg or two.
The others remain unbeaten: Frankie Gavin has enjoyed the most high-profile career to date, though it is yet to stray above exciting domestic brawls. David Price has overcome promotional issues to become a heavyweight contender.
Billy Joe Saunders has battled injury, and Joe Murray has been frustrated by inactivity. Sunderland light-heavyweight Tony Jeffries has used his bronze medal to good effect and enjoyed a good profile as a professional.
But it has to be said, none are exactly a glowing testament to the riches that await in the professional ranks. The likes of Callum Smith and Charlie Edwards - who may miss out on London - would be wise to consider targeting Rio in 2016.
For all the allegations of bribery and judging impropriety that had been levelled at the amateur code, competitions like this week's Worlds in Baku are a reminder that it is very much deserving of its status as a sport in its own right.
It has nurtured plenty of future professional stars, but also feted a number of fighters who chose to stay true to its principles: countless Cubans, Laszlo Papp, and the man Joshua conquered so brilliantly, Cammarelle.
The boxing programme in London promises to be one of the Olympics' best, with genuine superstars like Ukrainian lightweight Vasyl Lomachenko and Cuban super-heavy Erislandy Savon - nephew of the legendary Felix - heading into town.
At the end of it all, it is likely Great Britain will be celebrating its best Olympic medal haul in history.
Basking in their medal glow, the host victors would do well to give their future especially careful consideration.
Mark Staniforth covers boxing for Press Association Sport
