DURHAM boxer Bradley Saunders has plans in place to turn professional after learning his hopes to appear in next summer's Olympics have effectively ended thousands of miles away in Azerbaijan.

Saunders has been forced to sit out the World Championships this week after suffering a broken rib in the build up to the Baku finals during his preparations with Team GB in Sheffield.

However, in his absence, Welshman Fred Evans has successfully secured a place on the Great Britain squad at 69kg - the category coach Rob McCracken had earmarked for Saunders.

To rub further salt in to the wound of the light-welterweight, a place at his preferred 64kg weight was also filled earlier in the week when Liverpool's Tom Stalker reached the semi-finals by outpointing India's Manoj Kumar.

And with just one place available at each weight on the Great Britain team, Saunders' only hope for a recall to the team that will fight in the London Games is to be placed on the reserves list.

"The Olympics are right out of the window now and there's nothing I can do about it," said Saunders. "They wanted me to move up to 69kg because I was the strongest of the 64kg and I was more than happy to give it a go.

"In training, ten days before flying out to Baku, I cracked a rib and there was nothing I could have done about it. I'm pretty satisfied I would have given anyone a go at 69kg, no-one would have lived with me, but I can't do anything about it now.

"They want me to stay on in first reserve. It's just been bad luck, awful luck, what's the point in worrying or stressing about it. It's one of those things."

Saunders' frustration ends a three-and-a-half year decision to stay amateur and pursue an Olympic gold medal which he was unable to claim four years ago in Beijing.

He was tempted to turn professional after returning from China, when he was left depressed by the events that led to him unfairly pilloried nationally after admitting it was homesickness that led to him under-performing.

The 25-year-old was a leading medal hope in 2008 until Frenchman Alexis Vastine, whom he outclassed the previous year at the World Championships, ended his dream under the lights at the Beijing Workers' Gymnasium.

Such was his disappointment, the Fishburn fighter even contemplated retirement. After four months of thinking things over with his family, he returned to the ring and had re-established himself as a leading hope for next summer's showpiece.

"I was down and there is a bit of disappointment because all I have been working for in the last few years has been to fight at next year's Olympics," said Saunders, whose preparations were also affected 14 months ago when he was forced out of the World Championships with a broken thumb.

"There was more to it than that, though. I really, really wanted to fight at the Olympics for my mam and dad. I wanted to make them happy because I was never able to get that medal the last time around. That's the most disappointing thing.

"I just have to get on with things now. There's no point me thinking about things. I'm not going to the Olympics and I just have to look at what to do next."

Saunders has a few meetings planned to discuss stepping up to the pro game.

If it comes to fruition he cannot be accused of leaving the amateur ranks behind too soon, after building up a record of just 17 defeats in 183 contests, most of which have been as a representative of South West Durham ABC.

"A lot of pressure has been lifted from my shoulders now," he said. "I am devastated for the North-East, who I wanted to do well for, and for my family, that I will not be fighting at the Olympics, but hopefully I can hit the top as a pro.

"I have had enough of being an amateur now. I have reached the top of my game as an amateur and there are no fights out there for me anymore. There's nowhere else for me to go. I am ready to go again as a pro.

"I will be starting from the bottom, but I'm ready for it. Hopefully I will work my way to the top. It's disappointing to be thinking about it after a broken rib has stopped me as an amateur, but that's what I have to be looking at now."