British rising star Horn ready to star at World Championships

The British light flyweight is the first of Great Britain's eight strong squad in action at this week's World Championships in Doha when he takes on India's Devendro Laishram.

In addition to medals, Olympic selection may also at stake in Doha - with a victory securing a Rio quota place, without the requirement to compete in a series of qualifying events next year.

In some weights both finalists will earn qualification, others open up Rio spots for the top three fighters.

“I feel like I am still learning and I can only get better," said Horn, 20, who won silver at the European Championships earlier this year.

"I didn't get the result that I wanted at the European Games but I lost to the eventual winner and I learned a lot.

"I'm only going to get better with experience and this is a big chance for me but I'm happy with my progress and training has been going really well.

"Being the European silver medallist brings a bit of added pressure and more people know what I can do - but that shows the progress I've made.

“The Olympics is where you want to be. In order to go pro, you need promoters to be interested in putting your fights on and an Olympic medal can really help swing it.

"I want to be an entertainer and to do that you need to knock people out. I look at someone like Anthony Joshua and the career he has had, he's the one I want to emulate."

Elsewhere on Tuesday, lightweight Qais Ashfaq and welterweight Pat McCormack are also in action against Russia's Bakhtovar Nazirov and Moldova's Dmitri Galagot respectively.

Light welterweight Joe Cordina and middleweight Josh Kelly both face Australian opponents when they open their campaigns on Wednesday, Joshua Keirl and Nathan Webber standing in their path. And welterweight Pat McCormack takes on Moldova's Dmitri Galagot.

European Games super heavyweight gold medallist Joe Joyce and bantamweight Muhammad Ali are still waiting to know their opponents ahead of their opening fights on Friday.

© Sportsbeat 2015