IAIN Weaver admits his classy run to the European Championship final has made him believe he’s capable of |bagging an Olympic medal in London 2012.

The Ferndown-based featherweight fell to an agonising 7-2 final defeat against Germany’s Denis Makarov in Moscow.

But the 20-year-old southpaw, who beat four other top amateurs in Russia, said: “Makarov beat world number one Sergey Vodopyanov quite comfortably in the quarter-final and I pushed him all the way.

“So I know I’m up there with the best in the world in my weight.

“Hopefully, this tournament will set me up for the Olympics when I feel I can maybe get a medal, that I can compete with the world’s best.

“The first two rounds against Makarov were close, I was just one point down.

“But in the last round they only seemed to be scoring his shots, not mine, and I was surprised I didn’t get the decision.

“My coach, Rob McCracken, said ‘In my eyes, you’re the Euro champion’. That makes it easier for me, the co-|ach thinking I should have won because he’d soon tell me if he felt differently.”

Weaver, back in Britain for a two-week break from training, added: “Straight after the fight I was gutted I’d lost.

“I thought I should have had gold. But after a day or two, I thought second best in Europe is a great achievement.

“It’s a great achievement for anyone, let alone someone in their first year as a senior in my first major tournament with the big boys.

“Getting the Euro silver means I’ll be ranked in the world’s top eight.

“Hopefully in next year’s Worlds in South Korea I’ll be seeded and won’t have to meet any of the top eight until the quarter-finals.

“You have to reach the quarters to qualify for the Olympics, so hopefully I’ll have an easier chance of qualifying.”

Weaver added: “I’m not sure what I’m doing next, but it’s GB versus the Rest of the World at the end of July and I’d love to be involved.

“We have a few training camps fixed up, including one in Thailand, so I’ll be quite busy between now and the end of the year.”

Fans of the Southampton Golden Ring ABC member can join him at the Saints pub, Millbrook, tonight from 7.30pm to watch Sky Sports 2’s European Championship highlights at 9pm.

Weaver hopes his latest medal-winning performance will help attract new sponsors.

Potential backers should contact Iain’s father, Jay, on 07971 295869.