Boxing Betting / Joe Dyer / 09 November 2011 /

The GB Amateur Boxing Championships, sponsored by Betfair Casino, take place in the capital between November 11-12 and for two men the meeting represents the culmination of their Olympic preparations - win and the games are a reality, lose and it's all over...

York Hall, the legendary boxing venue in London's Bethnal Green, is set for a serious showdown this weekend as two of Britain's best amateur boxers duel for a place in the British team for the 2012 Olympics.

The GB Amateur Boxing Championships, sponsored by Betfair Casino, will be staged just a few miles from the Olympic Stadium, for either Khalid Yafai or Andrew Selby, the dream is going to end agonisingly close to the final destination.

Birmingham's Yafai, ranked no.4 in the world by the International Amateur Boxing Association, will fight Welshman Selby, world no.2, twice in two days, with the first bout on Friday November 11. The second will be live on the BBC, who are broadcasting Saturday's action live. Should either flyweight win both bouts, then he will make the Olympic squad. However, if it stands at one apiece after Saturday they will meet for a winner-takes-all showdown at the Excel Arena in late November.

Yafai, the son of Yemeni parents, fought at the 2008 games in China but stressed that London 2012 will be a different matter altogether.

"It's everything I have trained for over the last 10 years," he told Betfair.

The 22-year-old has met Selby twice before - winning on both occasions - but has put those wins to the back of his mind ahead of Friday.

"Obviously there are nerves and there will be on the day of the fight but I'm just trying to stay calm and sharp right now."

Both fighters boast impeccable credentials and it almost seems unfair that one will lose out on an Olympic slot. Yafai was defeated by eventual silver medallist, Cuba's Andry Laffita, in the last-16 stage of the 2008 games. That defeat followed a sparkling junior career in the sport that brought an Under-17 World Boxing and World Cadet titles as well as appearance at the World Junior and European Junior Championships.

Selby, 23, is the current European Champion and World Championship silver medallist. He has previously won two bronze medals at the European Championships in 2008 and 2010.

Like Yafai, the man from Splott Amateur Boxing Club is trying to keep a cool head with so much on the line.

"There is huge strength in depth in this squad and we always knew this could happen so I just have to be professional and prepare well," he said. "I have had a lot of big bouts recently, so I am used to competing under pressure.

"I have been in very good form this year and as long as I maintain that and prepare well I can approach these bouts with confidence."

And, just like Yafai, a place in the team for his home games would mean everything to the Welshman.

"As part of the GB Boxing squad I have been working towards Olympic qualification for the last four years. It is my dream to box at the Olympic Games and I am going to do everything I can to make sure I get to London."

May the best man win!

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