Devastation at Darren’s death
The body of the 27 year old Dubliner was found in his flat in Bromley, London, yesterday evening. Foul play is not suspected.
In a statement, promoter Moloney said: “It is very sad and unexpected.
“At this sad time my thoughts are with Darren’s family. It is a tragedy for Ireland and the world of boxing.”
Sutherland was due to have his next fight in a month’s time as he moved towards a possible Irish title fight.
Last year in Beijing Sutherland, a Sports Science student at Dublin City University, contributed to Ireland’s massive medal haul at the Beijing Olympics when he took the middleweight bronze medal.
Made for the pro game, it came as no surprise when he signed a professional contract with Frank Maloney.
He won his first professional fight at his alma mater, DCU, the week before Christmas and when he recorded his fourth professional victory over Gennaidy Rasalev from the Ukraine at York Hall last June he was already on his way to becoming the first Beijing Olympian to challenge for a professional boxing title.
He was a former EU champion, won a gold medal at the Olympic qualifiers in Athens last year and he will be remembered for his great fights with Darren O’Neill from Paulstown in recent times.
Last night O’Neill said he just could not put his feelings into words.
“We are all devastated,” he said. “Shocked. I just don’t have the words to express my feelings right now.
“I know everyone will look back at the great rivalry that was between us. We were great rivals we were also very close friends. We travelled on the same teams.
“We trained and sparred each other in the same gym. There is that bond between boxers that you don’t find in any other sport.
“Outside of the ring he was such a nice guy. Those of us who knew him knew what he was really like.
“Some people would regard him as being arrogant but it was not arrogance. He just had that confidence in himself and in his own ability and he went about his business in a professional way.
“It is just so disappointing because he had such a great future ahead of him. He was such an ambitious guy and he had accomplished so much in what has turned out to be such a short career. He was so energetic and so full of life, you got a great buzz of him. This is heartbreaking for us all and my sympathy goes out to his family who were so supportive of him and all those in High Performance who were so close to him.”
Dominic O’Rourke, President of the IABA, said Irish boxing was devastated as the tragic news spread quickly throughout the boxing fraternity.
“We just don’t know how to get our heads around it,” he said.
“Darren was so full of life – larger than life – he was great company and he could talk for Ireland as well as box for Ireland and his infectious personality set him apart.
“He won worldwide admiration inside and outside the ring and that was brought home to me tonight with the number of calls I have had from all over Britain and all over Europe. The phone has not stopped ringing.
“My immediate memory of him was when we visited the hospital after the Olympics and how the kids took to him and the manner in which he was able to relate to him. He was so patient with them.
“Tonight my thoughts and my sympathy and my prayers go out to his family.
“They must be devastated at the loss of such a fine son.”
His club in Dublin, St. Saviours Olympic Boxing Academy, where he trained under the former professional fighter, John McCormack, was also devastated by the news of his passing.
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