Roche shocked at Sutherland’s death
Former Olympian Michael Roche has said that he was deeply shocked to hear of the death of Irish middleweight Darren Sutherland in London yesterday.
Sutherland, 27, a bronze medal winner at the Beijing Olympics last year, was found dead in his flat in Bromley, south London by his manager Frank Maloney on Monday afternoon.
Police have ruled out foul play.
Coincidentally, Roche, from the Sunnyside club in Cork, was in London yesterday to meet Maloney along with Dublin heavyweight Ian Tims, an ex-Irish teammate of Sutherland’s.
Speaking from London, Roche, the only Irish boxer at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, described Sutherland’s death as a sad day for Irish sport.
“This is shocking news and our hearts go out to Darren’s family.
“I just couldn’t believe the news when I heard it. Darren was a fantastic talent, a young man with a great future ahead of him.
“He always gave it everything when he boxed for Ireland as an amateur and he got off to a great start in the pro ranks.
“This is a very sad time for all Irish sport, not just boxing.”
Sutherland, who boxed out of the St Saviour’s OBA club as an amateur, won three Irish senior titles and two European Union gold medals in the amateur ranks.
His amateur career culminated with a bronze medal win at the Olympics Games in Beijing.
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