The annual AIBA Award Ceremony also saw Asror Vohidov of Tajikistan take home the Best Junior Boxer prize while Ukraine's Dmytro Sosnovsky and Ireland's Michael Gallagher collected the Best Coach and Best Referee and Judge accolades respectively.

Medzhidov takes the Elite Boxer of the Year prize after he claimed victory in the last fight of the 2011 AIBA World Championships in Baku following a thrilling super heavyweight gold medal contest against England's Anthony Joshua.

The 21-year-old Londoner actually took an early lead but the Azeri clawed his way back to claim a sensational 22-21 victory, to the delight of the home crowd.

Medzhidov was presented with his medal by Azerbaijan's President, Ilham Aliyev, and was also awarded the tournament's Best Boxer trophy.

At the AIBA Awards Ceremony here, Medzhidov received the trophy from AIBA President CK Wu and admitted that it was a huge privilege for him.

"It is a great honour for me to receive this award," he told insidethegames.

"But I also feel the responsibility that comes along with it.

"I need to justify the hope that is put on me."

The award caps a remarkable year for Medzhidov after he also reached the World Series of Boxing (WSB) final in May in the inaugural season of the competition that allows boxers to retain their Olympic eligibility despite boxing professionally.

Fighting for Azerbaijan's WSB franchise, Baku Fires, Medzhidov won all of his bouts in the tournament to reach the individual final but was narrowly beaten by Italy's 2008 Olympic silver medallist, Clemente Russo, of Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder, in a highly competitive bout.

Russo secured Olympic qualification with that victory, but Medzhidov's stunning performance at the World Championships means he has also booked his place at London 2012 where he said he is targeting nothing less that Olympic gold.

"It is a symbol to receive this award in London, where I dream of having a lot of success next summer," he said.

"I know there will be tough competition but I am going to be training from now until London to get into the best possible shape for the Olympics."

In addition to the four awards, journalist Alain Luzenfichter received a special award for his dedication to Olympism and the sport of boxing after many years serving the French sports daily L'Équipe.

"I would like to congratulate these winners for their great efforts in developing and elevating boxing, as well as for continuously looking after the best interests of the boxers," said Wu.

"It is special to be doing the AIBA Awards Ceremony because I know we will have a fantastic Olympic boxing competition here next year."

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October 2011: Medzhidov named elite boxer of the year as 2011 AIBA Award winners announced