Ireland’s bronze medallist from the Beijing Olympic Games, Darren Sutherland, will take on a Georgian opponent in his third professional fight this evening. Sutherland, who is promoted in the UK by Frank Maloney, faces Vepkhia Tchilaia in Stoke-on-Trent tonight in a six round middleweight contest.
The Dubliner has easily won his opening two professional fights, the first ending in three rounds and the second in less than half a minute.
In that respect, he has yet to be tested and Tchilaia comes into the meeting with nine wins and nine losses.
It’s hardly a frightening record but five of his wins have been knockouts or stoppages, so he can hit.
Sutherland, who has been training with Cuba’s super middleweight prospect, Luis Garcia, and Commonwealth middleweight champion Daren Barker, hopes to fight three times between now and Christmas when he will then move up to 10 round bouts.
Tonight’s fight is live on Sky Sports 1 from 10pm.
