Sutherland confident he can beat the system

A RECENT haircut helps accentuate the gaunt features and steely eyes of a man who might have been to hell and back — and is prepared to go the route again.

Darren Sutherland may well have to follow that familiar path when he takes on Alfonso Blanco from Venezuela for a place in the quarter-finals of the world championships in Chicago in the early hours of tomorrow morning (1.30am Irish time).

A place in the quarter finals will guarantee qualification for next year’s Olympic Games in Beijing, but a treasure chest of riches could await the 26-year-old Dubliner as the professional ranks beckon.

He is generally regarded as a ready-made pro. He has a lethal left hook and packs a bone crunching right hand. And he likes nothing better than a punch-up where he can beat his opponent into submission.

His style does not suit the refinements of the computer scoring system which decides contests in amateur boxing. Over here, a clean and accurate jab can go unnoticed unless the opponent’s head is rocked back.

It is hardly surprising that Sutherland detests the system, but admits that he has learned to live with it — until after next year’s Olympic Games at least.

“There is a knack to boxing the computer,” he insists. “Sometimes you can go in and throw four or five punches, but if you throw them that quickly you will still only get the one point. I have a great jab so, if I throw a nice, clean good left hand and rock the head back, I’ll get the one point just for that. So it’s all about clean punches that the judges can see.

“With the computer it is very important to make a quick start, because it is very difficult to make up a deficit if you fall more than three or four points behind in the first round. Then you can end up making mistakes because you are chasing the guy and he is standing back and picking you off.”

He produced a workmanlike performance to grind out a two-point victory over Andranik Hakobyan (Armenia), on Saturday night, but it was enough to get the show on the road and he is eager to get in with Blanco, the South American champion. Blanco’s big punch is his overhand right that was so destructive against Vijender Singh from India.

“I always keep my hands up, so I should be able to cope with that,” said Sutherland. “I don’t want to say I am taking my opponent for granted, but I am confident.”

With five boxers through to the last 16, it is hardly surprising morale is at an all-time high in the Irish camp. Light heavyweight Kenneth Egan was very impressive beating Julio Castillo Torres (Ecuador) 16-10 yesterday morning, dominating from the outset.

“He proved to be stronger than I thought,” Egan said. “He was throwing right and left hands, but I was able to time his hooks and once I got that, there was no problem. My own timing was perfect.”

Tomorrow he meets an old foe, Manjo Sivolija (Croatia), whom he beat by 10 points when they met in the EU championships in Sardinia three years ago. The Croatian has gone on to greater things — winning a silver medal at the worlds in China two years ago and then a bronze medal at the European championships in Pula.

“He is the biggest we have seen at light heavyweight, but he is not someone that Kenny can’t beat,” high performance director Gary Keegan said.

Lightweight Eric Donovan followed light fly Paddy Barnes into the last 16 with an 18-3 victory over Johnathan Batista (Dominican Republic).

He will join Paddy Barnes and Kenneth Egan on tomorrow’s programme but there will be no place for his St Michael’s clubmate, Roy Sheahan, who was very disappointing against Ruslan Khairov (Azerbaijan), losing 20-3 in their welterweight contest.

Heavyweight John Sweeney from Dungloe has a huge task against Russia’s Rakhim Chakhkiev today. The Russian is favourite for the gold medal, where heavyweights must get to the semi-finals to gain Olympic selection.