The 22-year-old light-welterweight missed out on a place in the quarter-finals when he was beaten by old rival Alexis Vastine in Beijing.

Saunders, looking to follow team-mate and fellow North-East of England fighter Tony Jeffries into the last eight, was defeated 11-7 in the second round clash with the Frenchman.

The classy boxer from Sedgefield, a world bronze medallist both as a junior and senior, is now likely to call time on his amateur career after 150 bouts.

Saunders has trained extensively at both Hartlepool professional camps – Neil Fannan's Brierton gym and Gus Robinson's West View HQ, in the past.

But one of Britain's leading promoters, Frank Maloney, the former manager of world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, is seen as the favourite to land his signature.

Saunders though will take a break before deciding where his future lies.

The South Durham ABC fighter had hoped to go pro having added an Olympic medal to the World Championship bronze he won in Chicago last November.

But he admitted his exit at the Workers' Gymnasium in Beijing yesterday will now allow him to lead something of a "normal life again."

"It's a big weight off my shoulders now I know I haven't got a medal," said Saunders.

"It's been brilliant coming here but there's so much pressure with the training and not seeing my family.

"Anyone who works away from home will tell you they don't like being away.

"I never did any of this for myself, I did it for my family.

"Now I can live a normal boy's life for a while and have a little time off."

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