Sutherland set for Pro Debut

DARREN SUTHERLAND will have Georgi Iliev taped when he makes his long awaited professional debut at Dublin City University on December 18. The Olympic bronze medallist faces the Bulgarian who knocked out Castlebar's Keith Cresham on a previous visit to Ireland in a six-round super-middleweight bout. 'Dazzler's' promoter Frank Maloney promised: "As far as his opponent is concerned, we will be getting tapes of him and studying them." Sutherland who is training in London is currently holed up in Kent at Maloney's family home where dinner table talk is boxing, boxing and boxing. Maloney said: "My wife puts her ear plugs in when Darren and I get talking. I don't know who talks the most. "He has the big punch and the charisma to go all the way. He's also a likeable person and the family enjoy having him around. "Being based in England is a big sacrifice because he loves home and his family, particularly him mum. "But it's the only way to do things. Pro boxing requires complete dedication. You've got to give up everything really if you want to make the grade, and Darren is doing this." Rendell Munroe's European super-bantamweight title defence against Fabrizio Trotta tops the DCU bill which will be televised live in Britain and Ireland by Sky Sports. Kiki Martinez (19-1), who knocked out Bernard Dunne in seconds, boxes a six rounder on the undercard. London based Irishman Martin Power (19-3); the former British bantamweight champion faces a tough test against Gary Davies (7-2-1). In a special attraction Craig Watson (13-2) defends his Commonwealth welterweight title against Adnan Amar (22-1), a protégé of Dubliner Brendan Ingle. A third title bout on the bill sees Jason Booth (30-5) risks his Commonwealth bantamweight crown against Sean Hughes (15-7-1). Tickets for the big Dublin bill cost 100 Euros and 50 Euros and are available from www.frankmaloney.com, www.ticketmaster.ie. To order from Ireland by phone call 08 18 719300, and from UK 0871 226 1508.