Maloney hails Sutherland progress

26 November 2008 – by Mark Doyle

Frank Maloney has revealed that he has been receiving calls from Brian Lawrence at all hours, so excited is the latter by the potential of Irish super-middleweight Darren Sutherland.

Former amateur star Sutherland, who won middleweight bronze for his country in this summers Olympics in Beijing, is currently working with Lawrence ahead of his professional debut in Dublin on December 18.

The pair only linked up for the first time last week but Lawrence has already been blown away by what he has seen, according to Maloney.

“Brian calls me all the time telling me how good Darren is – even late at night, the promoter explained.

“The calls would drive most people mad but at least I can sleep because I know I’ve invested wisely.

“Most of the British Olympic team will be revealing their futures in next week, but I am not interested in any of them.

“I am not a betting man, but I am convinced that Darren will go further than any of them.”

And Lawrence is also supremely confident that Sutherland will make waves in the paid ranks.

“I have worked with a lot of fighters and Darren has the potential to be the best of the lot, he enthused.

“When he spars, things in the gym stop. Darren can fight, has amazing balance and can punch very, very hard.

“Frank has unearthed a special talent without and Darren will become my masterpiece.”