Liam Santiago: Olympic boxing bronze Medalist, Darren Sutherland, has been found hanged in his flat in Bromley, London. Sutherland was discovered by his promoter, Frank Maloney who was also taken to hospital after finding the Irish professional boxer.

In a statement, Frank Maloney said, ‘It is very sad and unexpected. My thoughts are with Darren’s family and I hope their privacy at this difficult time will be respected by the media. It is a tragedy for Ireland and the world of boxing’. Maloney called round to Sutherland’s flat at around 3pm yesterday. The pair were due to attend a press conference today in Sunderland to discuss his fifth bout as a professional. Maloney was said to have been taken to hospital soon after discovering Darren, for a suspected minor heart attack. However, a source has claimed his condition is not life threatening.

Boxer’s from all over Britain have been paying their respects to the Olympic medalist, including James DeGale, Barry McGuigan, Kenny Egan and Terry Edwards. Sutherland boxed Degale six times in the amateurs winning on four occasions. DeGale said of the tragedy, ‘It is very, very sad news. It is a tragedy, my heart went to the floor when I heard. He was a big part of my Olympic medal journey, and it is just terrible. He was a brilliant fighter and he was a gentleman outside the ring as well. He had an Olympic bronze medal, and his whole life to look forward to. He had a great future, and my heart goes out to everyone who knew him’.

Maloney said before Sutherland’s debut, ‘from the minute I watched Darren in the Olympics he was the only fighter I wanted to sign. I believe he will become my fifth world champion following in the path of Lennox Lewis, Paul Ingle, Scott Harrison and David Haye. On a personal level I haven’t felt this excited since the day Lennox Lewis signed with me in April 1989’.

On behalf of Boxing news 24, I would like to send my condolences to the family of Sutherland.