The Sunderland light-heavyweight outpointed Belarussian Ramazan Magomedov to reach the quarter-finals of the World Championships in Chicago, guaranteeing a place at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

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He is Wearside's first Olympian since swimmer Ian Wilson competed at the 1992 Games in Barcelona, but Jeffries admitted he did not expect his dream to come true.

"I've had to do it the hard way," the emotional 22-year-old told the Echo today.

"When I saw my draw on the first day, I was gutted. I knew that if I got past a good Dutchman in my first fight, I'd then have to meet the American team captain and Pan-Am champion, or the world number two. I didn't think in a million years that I'd get this far, but I think I'd forgotten how good I was."

After returning from last year's Commonwealth Games without a medal, Jeffries had hand surgery that kept him out of action for 11 months.

His form was patchy after returning for England and a hamstring injury saw him dropped from the Great Britain Olympic programme.

Victory over Birtley's Gary Barr at Sunderland Amateur Boxing Club's dinner show last month re-opened the door, and Jeffries has taken full advantage.

"After I had a year out with my hand, then lost two of my first three fights this year without really performing, I thought I was going backwards," he said.

"I was devastated when I was taken off the program a couple of months ago for another injury and so close to hanging my gloves up and looking to make my living a different way.

"After speaking to my mam, dad and girlfriend about it, they made me give it another go. My dad has always believed in my ability even more than me.

"I got really stuck into training back at my home gym and thanks to all my coaches at Sunderland ABC for getting me back on track."

Jeffries – whose dad Phil was in the crowd – was ahead at the end of every round in Chicago last night, taking a three-point lead into the second round, seven points into the third and 11 points into the last before running out 16-8 winner.

Only one British boxer – Amir Khan – qualified for the last Olympics in Athens, while two went to each of the previous two Games.

Jeffries became the fourth to qualify via the current World Championships, following Manchester's Joe Murray, Birmingham's Frankie Gavin and Sedgefield's Bradley Saunders.

He faces Kazakhstan's Yerkebuian Shynaliyev in tonight's quarter-finals, with the winner guaranteed at least a bronze medal.

"I'm over the moon," said Jeffries. "It really is a dream come true. I have got what I wanted, so a medal would be a real bonus.

"A Kazakh won the light-heavyweight gold at the last Worlds, but this is a different lad. He has beaten some really good lads to get to the quarters.

"I've not seen him fight; I just know he's a strong southpaw and a little bit shorter than me."