Sutherland goes pro with Maloney by British Boxing Oct 16th 2008

Olympic bronze medallist Darren Sutherland is the first Olympian from the home nations to turn professional and will be managed and promoted by Frank Maloney. Sutherland, 26, has signed a three-year contract with Maloney and makes his professional debut in his home city, Dublin on Thursday December 18. The historic homecoming will be staged at Dublin City University where Sutherland is studying Sports Science. Sutherland will campaign as a super-middleweight and his fights will be exclusively televised live by Sky Sports. Maloney said: "From the minute I watched Darren in the Olympics he was the only fighter I wanted to sign." "I believe he will become the my fifth world champion following in the path of Lennox Lewis, Paul Ingle, Scott Harrison and David Haye. "This is a long term mission and will be an incredible journey. I invite the Irish public to join Darren on what will be a fantastic ride. "On a personal level I haven't felt this excited since the day Lennox Lewis signed with me in April 1989." Sutherland's medal in Beijing was one of the finest achievements ever by an Irish sportsman in the Olympics. After a first round walkover, Sutherland outpointed Algeria's Nabil Kassel and Venezuelan Alfonso Blanco before losing to eventual middleweight winner James DeGale in the semi-final. Sutherland had won four of their previous five encounters against the Englishman and it would be no shock if their paths crossed in a major professional fight Sutherland is expected to work with several British and American trainers before deciding who to team up with. Maloney expects to announce the Irishman's first professional opponent next month. Ticket for Sutherland's professional debut at DCU will be on sale next month, and the card will also feature leading British and Irish fighters.

Go back Comment on this article | Send to a friend | Print

There are no comments. Click here to be the first who comment on this article.