Olympic hero Kenny Egan just had to say no to wealthy Irish American businessman Joey Winters when he turned down a U.S. lotto style bonanza worth a whopping $250,000 in hard cash to stay amateur.

Winters wanted to build a new Irish boxing team around the Olympic silver medalist, but Egan finally said no to his megabucks payday on Friday.

The Dubliner will receive the biggest high performance grant in the history of the Irish Sports Council - in the region of €60,000 a year - to lead Ireland into the 2012 London Olympic Games.

But that is nothing compared to the cash advance that was on offer in the States in an unconditional offer from Winters.

Multi-millionaire Winters put the cash on the table in an effort to land Egan as the leader of his new pro boxing team.

"That money was there for me no matter what I did afterwards," Egan confirmed.

"I could have been knocked out in the first round of my first fight as a pro and never fought again and I'd still have walked away with the cash.

"Joey wanted to bring an Irish guy over and make him a superstar, but I had to ring him on Friday and tell him I wasn't going to be his superstar in the making.

"He took it well, he understands that my heart wasn't in it and that I want to lead the Irish boxing team to the London Games and remain an amateur.

"If I wanted to chase money I could have signed on that dotted line and taken the plane to America, but I didn't get into boxing to become a millionaire."

Egan freely admits he had to pick up the phone and make the most expensive call of his life on Thursday night, a call that cost him millions.

Ultimately the one piece of silver the Dubliner brought home from China last August outweighed all the gold on offer from Winters.

"If it was all about money I'd be in America right now but I never entered boxing to become a millionaire," added the 26-year-old middleweight.

"The night I won the medal I told you in Beijing that I wanted a house and stability, and I could have got all that by taking the pro offers that came my way in America.

"Joey was offering me cash upfront with no questions asked and no conditions. The money was ready to go straight into the bank.

"I could have bought a house back here, rented it out and chased the American dream but after a long period thinking about it, talking about it and taking a good look at the pro game I finally realized that my heart wasn't in it.

"It's done now, the decision is made and I am much happier in myself that all the speculation is over. Even my posture is better since I made my mind up and went public with the decision. I know I have made the right decision."

For months now Egan has been the most courted boxer on the planet - and he has seen the ugly side of the professional game.

"The fact I was in America twice meeting promoters and looking at fights did raise questions but I had to go and have a look, I wanted to see what I was worth," added the Neilstown native.

"I didn't sign anything although when we went to New York the first time and one promoter had a contract ready for me to sign.

"He gave it to us on the Monday and came back to the hotel on the Wednesday with a pen in his hand looking for me to sign a contract that was an absolute disgrace compared to the offers I was getting on the West Coast of America.

"Then when we heard what I was being offered elsewhere he was able to match it! Imagine if I had been gullible enough to sign that first contract.

"It was buttons, but then he could match the other offers in the blink of an eye. That's what we were dealing with, but I had my Neilstown coach Gerry Fleming with me and he saw me straight."

The future is already in motion for Ireland's Olympic hero. He's back in the High Performance gym at the National Stadium with coaches Billy Walsh and Zaur Antia, counting down to the National Championships in March.

"People were telling me to turn pro and others were saying I should go back and win the gold medal in London, but it is not going as easy as saying it," admitted Egan.

"I am thrilled to be part of the amateur team still, to be part of the High Performance scheme and to be a part of a future that is so exciting for Irish boxing."

Egan's decision to stay amateur is a massive shot in the arm for the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, the Sports Council and for the team that brought home medals from Beijing.

"We lost Andy Lee after the last Olympics so I am delighted that Kenny is staying with us this time," said coach Walsh.

"What he did in China will act as an inspiration for all Irish boxers, and to have him with them now in the gym is going to give them all such a boost. It is great news for our sport."

Egan will also act as an advisor for the Sports Council as part of his new High Performance grant.

He will be asked to advise Ireland's Olympians on how to prepare for London and how to turn their medal ambitions into gold, silver or bronze.

"I will pass on all my Olympic experiences, the good and the bad," added Egan.