Khan’s silver service proves a big hit for British boxers in Beijing

Now, four years later, the country's brightest young prospect intends to show the new generation how far they can go by moving a step closer to a world title.

Role model: Amir Khan believes he set the standard

The unbeaten 21-year-old from Bolton faces probably the toughest fight of his professional career on Saturday at Manchester's MEN Arena against the rangy Colombian Breidis Prescott, who is not only unbeaten but has beaten 17 of his 19 opponents inside the distance.

For Khan, the challenge will be the latest in a gradual development which has taken longer than some expected.

But he is happy with his progress.

'I've no regrets about turning professional when I did, even though I believe I would have won a gold medal in Beijing,' said Khan.

'I think what I did in Athens gave the lads confidence this time. They saw me winning a silver as a 17-year-old and thought that if I can do it so can they. They can see how much my life has changed in four years and that's given them a hunger to follow me.'

However, Khan's promoter, Frank Warren, has warned that some of the British squad preparing to go professional will not be good enough to make it in the paid ranks.

He believes gold medal winner James DeGale and first-round loser Billy Joe Saunders have the potential, but added: 'There are a few others I don't think will make it. Winning a gold medal doesn't mean that you will become a world champion.'