14.09.09 – 27 year old Irish Olympic bronze medal winning boxer Darren Sutherland has been found dead at his home tonight.
Sutherland won bronze for Ireland at the 2008 Games in Beijing and made his pro boxing debut in Dublin last December.
According to Skyports.com, Sutherland was discovered hanged at his flat in Bromley, South London by his promoter Frank Maloney.
Maloney: “It is very sad and unexpected, at this sad time my thoughts are with Darren’s family and I hope their privacy at this very difficult time will be respected by the media.”
“It is a tragedy for Ireland and the world of boxing.” said Maloney.
The Irish Minister for Sport Martin Cullen extended his sympathy to Sutherland’s family. Cullen to RTE Sport: “I was very saddened to hear of the death of boxer Darren Sutherland and offer my deepest condolences to his family, Ireland has lost a sportsman of wonderful ability, a clever and popular man with a future of real potential. His early death deprives us of a magnificent talent. May he rest in peace..”
Darren Sutherland R.I.P (1982 – 2009) – Memories of an Irish hero and a great guy
Dear Darren,
By Conor Ward
How sad for us that you have ceased to be,
Before we learned of your desperate strain,
Before glory filled nights , in your majesty,
Holding rich emblems of your hard earned gain,
To behold that beaming smile upon your face,
It evokes the tragic truth of such lost romance.
To think that you will not live to grace
That shadowy stage, to fight, to dance,
To give heart and soul, to take that chance,
That we shall never look upon thee more,
Never to relish your dignity, passion and warmth.
We are so much the poorer for your passing,
But for all the kindness you showed friend and foe,
Of the wide world you stood alone, to think
Till love and fame to nothingness did sink.
Please feel free to leave thoughts and reflections on the tragic loss of Darren Sutherland