In just under four years, the eyes of the world will turn to London for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

For 16-year-old amateur boxer Divante Jones, however, his sights have been set on the United Kingdom's capital for several years now.

"It's always been my goal to box in the London Olympics. Then watching the 2008 Olympics, and seeing how hard those guys worked, it motivated me even more," said Jones.

Jones trains with his father, Albert, in their garage-turned-gym at their Hephzibah home. The two came to an agreement before the current school year that it would be best if Divante, now a high school junior, were home-schooled, which would allow for more training time, given Albert's 12-hour work schedule.

"A lot of the greatest boxers in the world were trained by their fathers. Oscar De La Hoya was trained by his father. Floyd Mayweather was trained by his father. We're not trying to reinvent the wheel; we're just trying to follow suit," Albert said.

Divante, a former member of the Augusta Boxing Club, now trains unaffiliated. The decision, for which Augusta Boxing Club director Tom Moraetes gave his blessing, allows for him to undertake a more-strenuous workout regimen and spar against the more-seasoned professional competition.

According to Albert, each day Divante will do upwards of a hundred push-ups and a hundred sit-ups, as well as other unorthodox fitness techniques, such as hitting a truck tire with a 12-pound sledgehammer for 15 minutes to gain punching power.

"If you're going to be in it, you need to be in it all the way," said Albert, who spent time as a trainer at Augusta Boxing Club. "If you want to be extraordinary, you've got to rise to the occasion."

Though his routine may sound rough to some, Divante has grown to appreciate the hard work in hopes that it will result in a trip across the Atlantic in 2012.

"At first, it was a little different, but to be the best, you've got to go that extra mile," Divante said.

"In the morning, while other kids are getting ready for school, I'm up running and doing sprints. To be the best, that's just what you have to do."

He recently parlayed his efforts into a win over one of Georgia's other top amateur boxers, Mitch Foley, at the Chiefs Cup in Atlanta. Divante will return to state capital on Dec. 16 to compete in the Georgia State and Regional Championships.

Though the focus in the Jones household is on London, Divante and his father have plans for him to turn professional shortly after what they hope is an Olympic appearance. With a bright future seemingly ahead of his son, Albert left little doubt as to how great he believes his son will be.

"Before it's all over with, he will be the greatest pound-for-pound amateur and professional boxer of all time. That's our goal and that's been our goal ever since he started boxing," Albert said.

Reach Joey Jones at (706) 724-0851 or christopher.jones@augustachronicle.com.