Woodhall is now a respected ringside analyst for BBC television and next week he starts work as high performance manager with England's Amateur Boxing Association. It is in that role that Woodhall will approach 18-yearold Khan. He said: "I don't know if Amir has already decided what he is going to do, whether or not he is going to turn professional.
"So I've said to him 'just give me five minutes of your time' and Amir told me he'd have no problems with that. What will I tell him when we meet? That he's too young to turn professional.
"I believe Amir's personal development as a boxer will be stunted for two years if he turns over, because he'll be boxing opposition who are well beneath him.
"Amir is brilliant, there's no doubt about that. He will win major titles as a professional and I wouldn't blame him if he turns because of the money he can earn. But when it's all over, 10 or 15 years from now, I believe he'll look back with regret at not winning an Olympic gold medal."
Woodhall, now 36, will work under Terry Edwards, the ABA's new high performance director and the coach who helped Khan to that silver medal in Athens.
If Edwards brings experience of international amateur boxing to a revamped ABA management structure, Woodhall offers a more personal take on the sport. He is keen to stem the flow of young talent to the professional ranks.
Woodhall said: "I'm not going to tell them 'don't do it' but timing is the key. Boxers can't expect to be funded and then turn pro at the most convenient time for them.
"I want a commitment at least until next year's Commonwealth Games. And from some of the boxers we'll be looking for a long-term commitment for the 2008 Olympics."
Can he convince Khan to go for gold? If Woodhall's five-minute performance achieves a positive response, this part-time actor will deserve an Oscar to go with all his other honours.
