England's eye-catching young amateur boxing squad raised hopes of a significant medal challenge in Beijing after dominating the Commonwealth boxing tournament.

Frankie Gavin, David Price, Don Broadhurst, Stephen Smith and Jamie Cox - plus Scot Kenny Anderson - all claimed gold medals with convincing performances over the 10 days of competition.

And for once the amateur code's emerging talents appear likely to resist the lure of professionalism and concentrate on emulating Amir Khan with an Olympic medal in Beijing.

Top-level lottery funding, plus inevitable extra incentives such as sponsorship, is likely to push the gold medallists' annual income to around the £50,000 mark.

Amateur Boxing Association chief executive Paul King said: "I believe you might have seen two or three new Amir Khans out there this week and the whole squad has been a breath of fresh air.

"I genuinely believe the vast majority will stay amateur. The government has recognised our ability to perform and now with the funding behind us we can only continue to get stronger."

England's most successful gold medal haul in 72 years - with the exception of the boycott Games of 1986 - must be put in perspective by the absence of some of the traditional powerhouses.

But rather than the number of podium finishes, it is the manner of so many performances bursting with promise which raises genuine hopes of getting a handful of fighters to Beijing.

Khan's replacement at lightweight, Birmingham 20-year-old Frankie Gavin, is the biggest talent of the team and showed his sharp skills in a 23-9 final win over Mauritian Giovanni Frontin.

Gavin, who remains close to his former amateur team-mate Khan, has stressed throughout he views Commonwealth Games gold as a platform to build towards Olympic success.

Gavin said: "If I continue the level of improvement I have made this year over the next two years then I don't see any reason why I will not be Olympic champion.

"I am only 20 years old and I am just feeling better and better all the time. I have developed a similar style to the Cubans so I am confident to take them on."

Like Gavin, Smith and Cox in particular will also court professional interest but Liverpool featherweight Smith will take his amateur lead from closer to home.

Smith, who eased past Pakistan's Lassi Mehrullah 20-10 to go one better than his brother Paul who claimed silver in Manchester before turning pro, is a trainee accountant with Liverpool City Council.

He said: "I have got a lot of security behind me now and there is no need for me to go professional. I don't even Paul would have done if they hadn't changed his weight category."

Nineteen-year-old Cox proved himself a major emerging talent with his performances through the Games but he was denied a grand finale when final opponent Moses Kopo of Lesotho pulled out injured.

His withdrawal left Cox simply to get in the ring to claim his gold but head coach Terry Edwards said: "Jamie has so much promise and if we can keep him for two years I am sure he can deliver."

Giant Liverpool super-heavyweight Price, who also benefits from a full-time position within Liverpool City Council, outclassed Welsh veteran Kevin Evans with a minute left in round three.

And Birmingham flyweight Broadhurst produced a magnificent display of patient, attacking boxing to also win on the outclassed rule in round three against South African Jackson Chauke.

London light-flyweight Darran Langley was the only English loser on the day as he blew a first-round lead to fall 37-24 in a high-octane battle with Namibian Jafet Uutoni.

Edinburgh's Anderson also emerged as the leading British light-heavyweight, coming from behind to outpoint Nigerian Adura Olalehin 23-19 in a thriller.

With two young children and a third on the way, Anderson candidly admitted afterwards he may have been forced to turn pro against his will before securing gold.

That medal will make the world of difference to the 23-year-old Scot just as it will to the other British gold medallists seeking the support to stay amateur which has lacked in the past.

To encourage them further, King has been instrumental in ensuring one of the notoriously tough Olympic qualification tournaments will take place in Liverpool next year.

King added: "In Beijing we can expect more boxing qualifiers than we have had for a number of years and that is the result of our more proactive approach the success of which is there for all to see."