Boxer Nicola Adams building towards London 2012 gold

Leading British boxer Nicola Adams will use the forthcoming European Union Championships in Poland to prove she is capable of winning an Olympic medal.

"There's only one person who's capable of beating me - Cancan Ren from China," said the flyweight. "I think I've got her number now. I'm going for gold."

The Leeds-born boxer is battling for Olympic selection along with fellow flyweight Nina Smith. Both are part of the GB elite training group.

"I've got to keep focused," said Adams.

"All I think about at the moment is getting in there. I'm definitely hoping to medal, I'm definitely going for gold.

"Every opponent is going to be good, but I've done my training so I know I can do good things when I go out there."

Adams, twice a world silver medallist, will be part of a six-strong England team at the Championships, where the home nations are represented individually.

Also boxing for England in Poland, in the 64kg category, will be Natasha Jonas, who was a gold medallist in the same competition in 2009.

As the 64kg category is not an Olympic weight, Jonas will use the tournament for competition experience.

"I'm going to be taking shots from heavier people, which isn't going to be easy," said the charismatic Liverpudlian.

"When you go to any tournament they [the GB coaches] are expecting you to win and come back with medals; the better the medal, the better your [Olympic] chances, so gold all the way."

If Jonas makes the Olympic squad, she will fight in the 60kg lightweight category, in which she holds the British title.

Standing in the way of her selection are fellow British lightweights Amanda Coulson, Ruth Raper and Chantelle Cameron.

"I don't think anyone's ahead [in selection] at the minute," the Rotunda club fighter told BBC Sport. "I won the GBs [Championships in October 2010] so maybe I had my nose in front.

"I think it will go on the performances at the big tournaments this year. I've won a medal at all the tournaments I've gone to so I hope that's been enough for them."

"Because you don't know [who will be selected], you've got to keep on top of your game so it keeps you on your toes.

"At any moment someone can take your spot and you've got to earn it back."

London 2012 will be the first time women's boxing joins the Olympic schedule which indicates changing attitudes to the sport.

"Nationally, I think there's a lot of negative stereotyping but locally I've never had that - I get a lot of local press," said Jonas.

"Liverpool as a place has always been supportive of what I've done."

Middleweight [75kg] Savannah Marshall is another GB boxer representing England at the Championships, and there are high hopes resting on the shoulders of the 20-year-old from Hartlepool.

Marshall won silver at the world championships last year and is also expected to win Olympic selection and challenge for a medal at the 2012 Games.