Egan, who is currently fighting for Miami in the new World Series of Boxing, won a silver medal in the light-heavyweight division at the last Olympics in Beijing in 2008.

Egan, who turns 29 on Friday (January 7), has become the figurehead for a group of promising Irish boxers, who won five medals at this year's European Championships in Moscow and three golds at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. 

Egan said: "The set-up has improved enormously since I first became a part of it and the success is a credit to the amazing work which is done by the high performance units in both Dublin and Belfast.

"The squad continues to prove itself world-class and the fact that the next Olympics are taking place just across the water in London gives everyone a massive boost to knuckle down and follow their dream."

Egan admitted he would have seized his Olympic silver medal "with both hands" before Beijing but is now still riled he did not bring home gold after a controversial final loss to home favourite Xiaoping Zhang.

"It was a close fight and it could have gone either way," added Egan.

"But the way it happened with the scoring in the final it did leave me with a little something more to aim at.

"I've been Irish national champion for 10 years but it will mean nothing for the next two years.

"There are young guys aiming to take my place and I needed that little bit extra to aim for - and that's what fighting for the WSB gives me."


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