OnThEGRiND BoXiNG

Saturday June 27th, 2009
by Jonny Stapleton

Irish Olympic Boxing hero Darren Sutherland believes he is adapting well to life as a pro, and believes his next two fights are just another round in the development of a “novice” fighter.

The fact Sutherland is fighting twice in the space of ten days had some pundits suggesting that Frank Maloney was trying to bolster the Blanchardstown native’s record in a bid to fast track him up the paid ladder.

The fighter who most claim is the best of all the Beijing Olympians to graduate to the pro game, reiterated the one step at a time mantra and claimed there is not complex plan or a world title deadline.

The Olypmic Silver Medalist stresses that he is developing his boxing skills and not just his record.

“This fight is just another routine development fight for a novice professional with only 3 pro fights. It will be over 6 rounds. Each fight is building on my pro experience. It is definitely just one fight at a time at the moment. I am not under any deadline as such. I will just listen to my team and look to learn and improve with each fight. I am also looking forward to boxing at London’s legendary York hall, Bethnal Green. I hope we get a good turn out to cheer us on, on Tuesday. I am scheduled to box again ten days later up in Sunderland on 10th July. It is a tough schedule but I am confident i can handle it. For now just concentrating on 30th,” the talented and likable puncher claimed.

Before heading for Beijing, the former DCU student, expressed a desire to turn professional, and it was regularly highlighted that his style was more suited to the round scoring of the paid ranks, rather than the points scoring of the amateurs.

Despite that suitability there still is a period of transition, but Sutherland believes he is progressing well and adapting to the paid game more each fight.

“I think I am adapting well to life as a professional boxer, but I am learning all the time. It is all about experience. The pros and amateurs are like too different sports since the introduction of the computer scoring system. Even though I am an experienced amateur, it is almost like starting out again now that I am pro. I am learning to be patient now and just concentrating on taking it one fight at a time,” he added before stating that he doesn’t know who he will be fighting this coming Tuesday.