Sutherland spurred on by Italian defeat

DARREN SUTHERLAND is convinced he is just five fights away from the Olympic Games as he prepares for another showdown with Darren O’Neill at this weekend’s box-off for the Athens qualifying tournament.

A disappointing and highly-controversial loss to Englishman James Degale in Italy a couple of weeks ago could have had a big effect on the battling Dubliner and it has — he has come out of it a stronger and more determined fighter.

“I am not going to say I was robbed in Italy — others have said that — but I know I did not get a fair crack of the whip,” he said.