Sutherland sets sights on London Debut

DARREN SUTHERLAND will make his London debut at York Hall, Bethnal Green on Tuesday July 30. Ireland's Olympic bronze medallist (3-0) is back page news in the Emerald Isle, but is desperate to make a splash in England. Sutherland, 27, has made London his base since turning professional with Frank Maloney last year. He trains in the city centre at 'The Real Fight Club' under the watchful eye of Brian Lawrence and now lives on the outskirts of the capital in Bromley. Maloney said: "There is a big Irish community in London and I am sure they will turn up in their droves to support a man who is a national hero back home. "I'm sure fans in London's East End will like what they see because the York Hall crowd are the most knowledgeable in Britain." Sutherland's three stoppage wins since switching codes gave earned him rave reviews and shown why he is considered one of world boxing's best prospects. Maloney added: "There is a race between Britain's Olympians and Darren to see who wins a major professional title first."It is all about the right fights at the right time, but I wouldn't mind betting it is either Darren or my other Beijing medallist Tony Jeffries." Heading the Sky televised bill is Nottingham's Jason Booth (32-5) who makes the first defence his British super-bantamweight title against Thetford's Rocky Dean (14-10) The action packed card also features a fierce British featherweight title eliminator between Harrow's Sikh slugger Akaash Bhatia (14-0) and Welshman Jamie Arthur (14-2).