Frank Maloney Boxing: “Dazzler” Sutherland Faces Degale Rival

ByBoxing Press

Darren Sutherland bids to get one over bitter Olympic rival James DeGale at Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Stoke-on-Trent on May 29.

The Dubliner will face Georgian Vepkhia Tchilaia (9-8) who took Olympic gold medallist DeGale the distance on his professional debut in February.

Sutherland, 27, beat DeGale four times as an amateur, but lost their biggest clash in the Olympic semi-finals last August.

An eventual clash between the cocky Londoner and Sutherland who had to be content with a bronze medal in Beijing will be one of the richest in boxing.

And Sutherland (2-0) is happy at the choice of 21-year-old Tchilaia as the opponent in a six round super-middleweight bout that will be televised live by Sky Sports.

His promoter Frank Maloney said: “DeGale’s camp claimed he was taken the distance by Tchilaia because of his awkwardness.

“There isn’t much they can say if Darren walks right through him like he did his first two professional rivals.

“I just hope DeGale keeps winning because two years down the line we will have a big, big fight against Sutherland in an arena or football stadium,

“Darren’s trainer, Brian Lawrence believes he will be so far ahead of DeGale by then that the fight will not happen.

“Darren wanted a decent test, and if he can stop Tchilaia it really will give him a boost. This guy is a decent test and been preparing since last month.”

Top of the talent crammed card is local hero Chris Edwards (12-13-3) who defends his British and Commonwealth flyweight title against Derby’s Usman Ahmed (5-1-1)

Also on the top class bill, local hero Scott Lawton (26-4-1) faces Welshman Gary Buckland (15-1) in an eliminator for the British lightweight title.

An eliminator for the British super-featherweight title sees Dewsbury’s Gary Sykes (11-0) square off with Manchester’s big ticket seller Anthony Crolla (13-1), in what promise to be a fierce ten rounder.

Tickets (£35 and £75) for the show which also features other top fighters from Stoke including Scott Miller and Alex Ibbs are on sale and available from www.frankmaloney.com and 0871 226 1508.