Sutherland to turn pro

Ireland’s Olympic boxing bronze medallist Darren Sutherland has signed professional terms with Frank Maloney.

The 26-year-old Dubliner, one of three Irish boxing medallists in Beijing, is expected to make his debut in his home city on December 18.

Sutherland was beaten by eventual gold medallist James DeGale in the middleweight semi-final. As a professional he will fight at super-middle.

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 my fifth world champion following in the footsteps of Lennox Lewis, Paul Ingle, Scott Harrison and David Haye.”

Sutherland’s fellow Irish boxing medallists Kenny Egan and Paddy Barnes have both intimated they expect to stay amateur and target London 2012.