Sutherland proves his point as Healy falls to champ
It was a big performance from the defending champion, who also beat Healy in the third round to win the title last year.
But he was full of praise for the Portlaoise man. He had him on his knees from a big left hook to the body in the opening round, although he admitted afterwards that the punch was probably borderline.
He was subsequently cautioned for a low blow but at that time Healy was all over the place.
Sutherland won the first round 7-1 and came out in the second looking for the quick finish that he had promised. He caught his man with big punches to the head and body but still Healy kept coming forward.
He finished the round with double left hooks to the head and body to win that round 8-1.
And there was even more power in his punches as he came forward at the start of the third.
The outcome was painfully obvious when referee Fergie Whelan stepped in. “I have to hand it to the guy. He took some really big punches and still came back for more,” Sutherland said.
“There was eight months of frustration in those punches but now I know I am back. I needed that fight to prove it to myself and to everyone.
“I intend to retain my title next week and then we will take it from there — go looking for some international competition.”
Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata) installed himself as favourite to add the national senior title to his junior and under-21 titles with a very impressive display that earned him a 23-17 victory over the experienced Carl Frampton (Midland White City).
Always in front, he took a standing count in the third round when Frampton pinned him down on the ropes.
“I faded a little bit and allowed him back into the contest,” he said. “He caught me with a couple of good shots and I should not have allowed that.”
Defending champion Eric Donovan put himself in line for a big showdown with his St Michael’s ABC (Athy) clubmate David Oliver Joyce when he outpointed Limerick man Willie Casey (ALOL) 27-15 in the first of the featherweight semi-finals.
Tonight Joyce, the reigning bantamweight champion, will box last year’s beaten finalist Ross Hickey (Grangecon) for his place in next Friday night’s final.
And that inevitable showdown promises to be a thriller, with Donovan unlikely to relinquish his crown easily.
This year he is going for his fourth successive title — two of them at bantamweight — and he was never going to be troubled last night.
Flicking out an accurate southpaw right, he picked off his man in the first round to lead on the computer scoring 6-1.
In the second he began to put the combinations together, sharp rights to the head and solid left hooks to the body to lead 13-3, before going into the final round with a 10-point lead.
James Moore from Limerick beat Paddy Barnes (Holy Family) 12-10 to win his first light flyweight title and he must defend it against the Belfast man next Friday night after Barnes cleanly and cleverly out-pointed Gary McDonagh (Kilcullen) in a semi-final rematch last night.
Barnes led 7-1 at the end of the first round, 10-2 after two rounds and McDonagh failed to register a single computer point in the remaining two rounds as Barnes went on to win 16-2.
John Joe Joyce (St Michael’s, Athy) served up a classic display of clean punching to beat Karl Frawley (Glasnevin) 22-5 as he launched his defence of the lightweight title.
Last year’s beaten finalist John Paul Campbell from Edenderry meets Dubliner Ciaran Bates in the other semi-final tonight.
Light Flyweight: P Barnes (Holy Family, Belfast) beat G McDonagh (Kilcullen) 16-2.
Bantamweight: R Lindberg (Immaculata, Belfast) beat C Frampton (Midland White City) 23-17.
Featherweight: E Donovan (St Michael’s, Athy) beat W Casey (OLOL) 27-15.
Lightweight: JJ Joyce (St Michael’s, Athy) beat K Crawley (Glasnevin).
Light Welter: A Carlyle (Golden Cobra) beat E Touhey (Moate) RSC RD 3.
Welterweight: R Sheahan (St Michael’s, Athy) beat F Redmond (Arklow) 16-1.
Middleweight: D Sutherland (St Saviours Olympic Boxing Academy) beat E Healy (Portlaoise) RSD Rd 3.
Heavyweight: I Tims (St Matthews, Dublin) beat J Sweeney (Drimnagh) 9-8.
Super Heavy: A Crampton (St Broughan’s, Co Offaly) beat M Sweeney (Drimnagh) 20-8.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
