By Nate Anderson: Undefeated 2008 Irish Olympian Darren Sutherland (2-0, 2 KOs) stopped Siarhei Navarka (6-23, 1 KOs) tonight in the third round at the Robin Park Centre, Wigan, Lancashire. Having dominated the first two rounds with single power shots to the body and head, Sutherland suddenly opened up with devastating combinations in the 3rd round and was landing with authority until referee Phil Edwards decided that he had seen enough and stepped in and halted the fight at 0:26 of the 3rd round.
It was a good thing that he stopped the fight when he did because Sutherland, 26, was throwing very hard punches and was landing cleanly with most of them at the time of the stoppage. Navarka, 29, from Belarus, had a bruised right eye but aside from that, he stayed upright throughout the fight.
“You’re not going to blast everyone out with single shots,” Sutherland said after the fight. “They told me in the corner to start putting them together in twos and threes. Even though I was hitting him, he was kind of expecting it. As soon as I changed it up, I got him out. Though his record wasn’t great, I was learning in there. To pace yourself and throw body shots.’
Ricky Hatton, who was at ringside for the fight, proclaimed Sutherland to be the best of the 2008 Olympian from the UK, and said that he’s more suited to the pro game. Although Hatton didn’t single out any of the other former British Olympians, James DeGale might be a name that Hatton had in mind when he said that.
Sutherland, now a super middleweight, came out fast in the 1st round throwing incredibly hard jabs and left hooks to the head and body of Navarka. The sound of Sutherland’s shots landing was incredibly loud, almost as if Sutherland was punching with heavyweight like power in a compact 168 pound frame. During the round, Navarka did little other than take shots. Sutherland was focusing more on throwing one punch at a time in this round, but it was a testament to Navarka that he was able to take some of Sutherland’s single shots because he was throwing very hard, especially with his right hand.
Near the end of the round, Sutherland landed two incredibly hard right hands that snapped Navarka’s head back and made a sickening sound each time they landed. Sutherland bounced constantly on the balls of his feet and circled slightly around the ring as he would shoot laser like jabs that would explode on impact and hard left hooks.
Sutherland’s jabs were the equivalent of a mini power punch and it was enough that he was throwing them, as they were doing a lot of damage to Navarka’s face. Near the end of the 1st, Sutherland landed a perfect left hook as Navarka was coming in range to try and throw a shot of his own. The impact of the shot stopped Navarka dead in his tracks, paralyzing him for a moment and causing him to stop whatever momentum he had at the time.
In the 2nd round, Sutherland continued landing beautiful jabs and incredibly hard left hooks to the head and body. Sutherland did a great job of mixing up his punches to the head and body, keeping Navarka guessing constantly which location they would be landing. Trying to keep Sutherland from landing as hard, Navarka tried to get in close to smother Sutherland’s power shots. However, at close range Sutherland proved to be just as powerful, landing short right uppercuts and clubbing shots. Sutherland finished the round strong, throwing hard left hooks to the body.
In the 3rd round, Sutherland came out looking completely different, now throwing combinations to the head and body and giving Navarka huge problems. It was like Navarka was being machine gunned by a cannon, as each shot was landing rapidly with a ton of power and making a lot of noise as they would land. The referee decided to step in at this point and stop the fight rather than letting the brave Navarka take anymore needless punishment.
I have to agree with Hatton, Sutherland does look like the best of the 2008 Olympian, and incidentally, much better than James DeGale, even though he lost to him in the Olympics. In the pros, it’s a whole different game and with his incredible power and jab, Sutherland seems more suited to the pro style.
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