Money, not gold medals, are the draw for Billy Joe and co

But the bad news is that most of them want to cash in after this year's Games and become professional.

Frankie Gavin, Britain's first world amateur champion, predicted after a meeting with MPs and peers at the Houses of Parliament that he and most of his mates will choose money before medals and move into the paid ranks after Beijing.

"I'd say that seven of the 11 who could go to Beijing this year won't be in London," he said.

Even Billy Joe Saunders, at 18 the youngest of the seven already qualified for Beijing, is not convinced he will be fighting as an amateur four years from now, even though the travellers' camp where his family live is only 25 miles from the 2012 Olympic Park.

The record number of seven boxers already qualified for China — four more could join them next month — were given the red-carpet treatment at No 10 traditionally reserved for those who come back from Games with medals, because former Sports Minister Richard Caborn is president of the Amateur Boxing Association.

He was using the boxers' day in the political spotlight to raise the team's profile as part of a campaign he is leading to persuade television, the professional sport and sponsors to create a big enough pot to tempt the present generation to stay amateur until London.

Amateur officials meet the British Boxing Board of Control next month in the hope of negotiating a deal in which a percentage of television money is sliced from professional promotions.

In return, promoters would be able to stage unpaid fights between the Olympic stars on their undercards.

Gavin, favourite to become Britain's first Olympic champion since Audley Harrison in 2000, says that promises have not been kept.

"The kit's always an issue. At the world championships other teams were in smart official suits and we were in our home clothes," he said.

"I've competed in 60 internationals but how often do they give me an England tracksuit?

"It all depends on the packages really from the amateurs and the pros, what's offered. But I've been an amateur for 10 years, so if I win a medal in Beijing there won't be much to stay for. I'd just be staying to do the same again in London.

"I'm on the best (Lottery) package an amateur can be on now I've won the world title but, if a promoter comes along and offers a deal which would mean I'd be much better off, I'm going professional — and I think that goes for all of us."

Saunders' colourful background as a member of a gypsy family whose great-grandfather fought bare-knuckle fights guarantees him the interest of promoters if he wins a medal in Beijing — as well as his record of 37 wins in 38 international welterweight fights, of course. His scalps include Cuban No 1, Carlos Bantuer.

Saunders, who boxes out of the Hoddesdon club and has a baby son, Billy Joe Jnr, said: "I can assure you we will win more medals in Beijing than the next lot will in London, because we won't be around and there's nothing as good behind us. I'm young enough to stay. I won't be 19 until after Beijing. But, there again, are they going to make it worthwhile? And will somebody come along with a better offer?

"Olympic boxing is a full-time job for half-time pay. We haven't got enough money. I reckon if 11 of us qualify for Beijing, nine will go pro before London unless there is a good, serious package.

"Amir Khan would have been going to Beijing but the ABA offered him £50,000 and somebody else £790,000. What was he going to do? He made the right decision."

Would Khan have stayed if London had been only four years away then? "No way," according to Saunders. "Say you stay and don't win an Olympic medal, what's it gained you? He's well away."

UK Sport gave amateur boxing a red card this week for its handling of its financing, but Caborn did not get appointed as Gordon Brown's 2018 World Cup ambassador without the genius for selling a good story.

He points to an increase in registered amateur boxers of 100 per cent in the aftermath of Khan's success, a fifth more clubs and more than 1,000 trained tutors in schools. "We can't train them fast enough," he says.

Former world featherweight champion Barry McGuigan believes Britain's squad can create history and bring home more Olympic medals than any other sport in Beijing this summer.

He said: "I haven't seen this kind of talent in the amateurs in my lifetime. These boys are so talented and have been given the right experience and preparation."

National coach Terry Edwards said yesterday: "I am very optimistic for 2012 if we can keep most of this team together.

"I've said Britain could be the new Cuba of Olympic boxing and that's not a silly statement from somebody who doesn't know what he is talking about."

Most, though, come from a deprived background, so eventually the choice comes down to the figures on a cheque.

Promoter Frank Warren, who signed Khan, has already taken a Beijing hopeful, James Cox, into the professional ranks after he won a Commonwealth Games gold in 2006.