BOXING Darren Sutherland RIP

The President of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, Dominic O'Rourke has led the tributes to former Irish Olympian Darren Sutherland.

Darren, who won a bronze medal for Ireland at the Beijing Olympics, died in his apartment in Bromley, south London on Monday.

Dominic O'Rourke said: "On behalf of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association I would like to express my condolences to Darren's family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this moment.

"Darren came up through the ranks with us. Even as a youngster you could see that he had the talent to go places.

"He represented his country with distinction every time he stepped in the ring and he was very proud to be capped for Ireland at all levels. This is a tragic loss for Irish sport and we are all deeply saddened."

Darren won three Irish senior titles, two European Union gold medals and numerous Multi Nation gold medals boxing for Ireland in the middleweight ranks.

He also reached the last 16 at the 2005 and 2007 AIBA World Senior Championships.

His amateur career culminated in his bronze medal win at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Darren, Ken Egan and Paddy Barnes were the only Irish athletes to win medals at the Beijing Olympiad.

Darren signed with London based promoter Frank Maloney after the 2008 Olympics and won his first four professional bouts.

He was 27 years old when he died.