THE boxers hoping to deliver a knockout blow for Team England at the Commonwealth Games have been named.

As expected, the Commonwealth Games Council for England named a 12-strong team, with one boxer in each of the divisions contested at the Games.

Among England's strongest medal contenders is 21-year-old David Haye, who has been selected for the heavyweight division. He is ranked number two amateur in the world at his weight, after winning the silver medal in the World Championships in Belfast last year.

The experienced Courtney Fry aims to make it two Commonwealth golds in a row, after winning the light heavyweight division at Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia four years ago. He also represented Great Britain at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

And there will be a familiar feel to the surroundings when Andy Morris, England's entry in the lightweight division, steps into the ring. Andy was born at Wythenshawe, Manchester. He is a member of the West Wythenshawe Club, which trains at the Wythenshawe Forum, venue for the preliminary rounds at the Commonwealth Games. Andy won a silver medal in the Norway Box Cup in January.

Ian Irwin, Performance Director of the English Amateur Boxing Association, said: "We've picked the strongest and most experienced team that we possibly could. There is a lot of talent there and everybody in the team has the potential to win a medal.

"Andy Morris is the baby of the team," he added. "He will be in his own backyard, so I'm sure he will fill the stadium and rise to the occasion."

The full Team England boxing squad is:

Light flyweight (up to 48kg): Darren Langley

(born: 14.12.81/lives: Croydon/club: Hollington ABC)

Flyweight (up to 51kg): Matthew Marsh

(born: 1.8.82 /lives: Welling, Kent/club: West Ham ABC)

Bantamweight (up to 54kg): Mark Moran

(born: 16.2.82/ lives: Liverpool /club: Golden Gloves ABC)

Featherweight (up to 57kg): Steven Bell

(born:11.6.75/lives: Ashton-under-Lyme/club: Nichols Police ABC)

Lightweight (up to 60kg): Andy Morris

(born:10.3.83/lives: Wythenshawe, Manchester/club: West Wythenshawe)

Light welterweight (up to 63.5kg): Darren Barker

(born: 19.5.82 /lives: Barnet /club: Repton Boys Club)

Welterweight (up to 67kg): Daniel Happe

(born: 12.3.76/lives: Bow, London/club: Repton Boys Club)

Light middleweight (up to 71kg): Paul Smith

(born: 6.10.82/lives: Liverpool /club: Rotunda Amateur)

Middleweight (up to 75kg): Steven Birch

(born: 25.9.81/lives: St Helens /club: St Helens Town ABC)

Light heavyweight (up to 81kg): Courtney Fry

(born: 19.5.75/ lives: Liverpool/ club: Salisbury ABC)

Heavyweight (up to 91kg): David Haye

(born: 13.10.80/ lives: Orpington, Kent /club: Broad Street)

Super heavyweight (over 91kg): David Dolan

(born: 7.10.79/lives: Sunderland /club: Plains Farm ABC)

Ann Hogbin, Chef de Mission of Team England, said: "I would like to welcome our boxers into the Team England squad and wish them a very successful Commonwealth Games."

England's boxers have a lot to live up to at Manchester. The England team came home from the last Commonwealth Games with medals in six of the 12 categories - four golds and two bronzes.

They are also following in the footsteps of the likes of John Conteh, who won a middleweight gold medal for England at the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games in 1970. He then went on to have a glittering professional career, which included being WBC light heavyweight champion from 1974 to 1977.

And Audley Harrison, now enjoying a successful professional career, won the super heavyweight gold in England colours at Kuala Lumpur four years ago.

The preliminary rounds and quarter finals of the boxing take place at the Wythenshawe Forum from 26th July to 31st July. The action moves to the MEN Arena on 1st August for the semi finals, climaxing with the finals there on 3rd August.

Sport England has invested £3.5 million lottery funding specifically to boost Team England's medal chances at the Manchester Commonwealth Games 2002.