By Chris Hammer

Tom Stalker says boxing "saved my life" and hopes his Olympic story will inspire more youngsters to take up the sport.

The 27-year-old openly admits he was involved in petty crime during his troubled youth but since turning up to his local boxing gym in Liverpool at the age of 17, he's never looked back.

So rather than be in jail or struggling to hold down a job - as he puts it - Stalker is now preparing to fulfil the ultimate dream of competing at his first Olympics on home soil this summer.

Not only that, but should the world number one light-welterweight finish on the podium then he'll become the first British amateur to medal at every major championships.

Those two widely-contrasting destinies are a firm reminder of just how boxing can be a positive influence for youngsters following a weekend in which the sport was in the spotlight for the wrong reasons due to the ugly exchanges between David Haye and Dereck Chisora in Munich.

Stalker, who will captain the Great Britain boxers at London 2012, said: "If I didn't get into boxing then I don't think I'd be the person I am today. I don't know if I'd be in jail or not. I'm not the cleverest so I'm not sure if I would have held a job down - so basically boxing has saved my life.

"The best thing I ever did was go into a boxing gym.

"Before I started boxing at the age of 17 when my girlfriend got pregnant, I was working in a Marriott hotel washing dishes for two years.

"I've had bad jobs but when I started boxing I've lived the life of a boxer and dreamed big. Over the years I've taken one tournament at a time and won a lot of medals through the ranks.

"I'd say to any youngsters out there - if you want something in life you can have it if you really, really dedicate yourself to it and that's what I've done.

"I had my first fight when I was 19 and for the first year I was boxing I couldn't even throw a punch. I was terrible! That's no word of a lie - I was always awkward in the ring but I couldn't punch the pads or bag properly. I just stuck at it and got there in the end.

"It doesn't matter what age you are - if you want to get into it then go down your local boxing gym and you'll fall in love with the sport."

The Salisbury ABC boxer says his biggest motivation is to be a success for his young daughter Ellie Louise and his girlfriend Rachel, who will both be in the crowd to watch him this summer.

He said: "I want the best life for her and I've also got another baby on the way. I want to do the best I can for them. I want my family and friends to see that I am doing something good with my life.

"My girlfriend and little daughter will definitely be watching me and I might get another three tickets for my mum and two brothers.

"There'll be 10,000 people there so the atmosphere is going to be electric. That's why I want to give 110 per cent - which no doubt I will - and I just can't wait to get started."

Stalker, who is trained by Rob McCraken with the rest of the Great Britain podium squad at Sheffield's English Institute of Sport, is confident Team GB can produce the goods once the action at the ExCeL gets under way.

He said: "I honestly think we're going to have a great Olympics but in boxing anything can happen. We've got a great team and there's some fighters who can definitely win the gold medals.

"I don't want to put too much pressure on the team by saying we're all going to win gold medals because there's lots of great fighters from other countries out there. But in Sheffield we'll be leaving no stone and as long as we do that we'll be ready for the Olympics."

Olympic British athlete Tom Stalker stars in the latest track for Cadbury Dairy Milk's Keep Singing Keep Team GB Pumped campaign, as part of its London 2012 Olympic Games sponsorship, which aims to get the nation singing along to show their support for Team GB. For more information visit .