The British Amateur Boxing Association (BABA) had put in a request for £1.8 million in the latest round of funding given out by National Lottery distributor UK Sport to help them develop women's boxing, which will make its debut on the Olympic programme at London.

They were given only £950,000.

McGuigan said: "This is a devastating blow for my sport.

"It will force a revision in plans and have a consequence for the men, who will have to subsidise our women.

"What an opportunity missed.

"Women's boxing makes its debut at the London Games.

"As host nation we will be guaranteed the full compliment of three competitors."

McGuigan, the former world featherweight champion who is now a commentator for ITV, is particularly angry with the Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell, even though she had no influence in the decision.

Wriiting in his column published in The Daily Mirror, he said: "I can hear her now, Olympics minister Tessa Jowell speaking to an audience at Westminster about her enthusiasm for amateur boxing.

"It reaches parts others can't she said, and builds self esteem.

"She congratulated the various governing bodies on the job they have done growing the sport.

"And she was particularly glowing about the introduction of women's boxing in 2012 and the opportunities that afforded young girls.

"Two of the girls who can expect to make the team, world silver medallist Nicola Adams and national champion Natasha Jonas, were in the room last month alongside me to listen to Jowell's speech.

"I wonder what they think of the Olympics Minister's fine words now?"

McGuigan claims that, apart from cycling, the funding that boxing received for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing represented the best value for money.

The six boxers won three medals between them, including a gold for James DeGale (pictured right) in the middleweight division.

McGuigan said: "The one medal returned by our Modern Pentahletes cost £6.4 million.

"Each rowing success came in at £4.58 million per medal, sailing £3.9 million and swimming, £4.26 million.

"In the last cycle our boxers received a fraction more than £8 million in funding, a third of the money given to our swimmers, sailors and rowers.

"We sent six boxers to Beijing and came back with three medals at £2.67m a piece.

"The cyclists topped out at £1.92 million a medal.

"Look at the progress we have made since Amir Khan's silver medal in [the 2004] Athen [Olympics].

"Khan was the only British boxer to qualify.

"At the 2000 Games in Sydney, we sent two, Courtney Fry and Audley Harrison, and much of their funding came from their club Repton.

"Since Khan, our boxers have been properly funded.

"Look at the results; one gold and two bronze medals from Beijing and a first gold medal at the World Amateur Championships in Chicago for Frankie Gavin."

McGuigan, who boxed for Ireland in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow before becoming a British citizen, is closely involved in the development of young boxers through the Barry McGuigan Boxing Academy (BMBA), a ground breaking educational and boxing programme where students can achieve and excel in both their academic and sporting goals.

He said: "Boxing never gets the recognition it deserves.

"The fighters tend to come from working class backgrounds, from families who can't afford to give the support the kids need.

"The Government should be throwing money at boxing because as a sport it delivers results.

"London offers a one-off opportunity for our boxers because they don't have to qualify.

"What they do have to be is good enough once the bell goes.

"For that they need to engage in top-class international competition leading up to the Games.

"Since Beijing we have contested seven multi-nations events winning 18 medals - a phenomenal achievement.

"And this in an era when it is harder to win medals than ever before.

"That's why I believe this decision is wrong.

"It shortchanges our boxers and hurts morale at a time when the sport is booming.

"Boxing deserved better."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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