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| Olympic boxer's death 'a tragedy' | Olympic boxer's death 'a tragedy' |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Tributes have been paid to Irish Olympic boxer Darren Sutherland, who was found dead in his London flat. | Tributes have been paid to Irish Olympic boxer Darren Sutherland, who was found dead in his London flat. |
| The 27-year-old, who won a bronze medal last year in Beijing, was discovered on Monday by his manager Frank Maloney. | The 27-year-old, who won a bronze medal last year in Beijing, was discovered on Monday by his manager Frank Maloney. |
| A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the death in Bromley, south London, was not being treated as suspicious. | A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the death in Bromley, south London, was not being treated as suspicious. |
| Former world champion Barry McGuigan said: "It is an absolute tragedy. I would describe Darren as a phenomenal talent." | Former world champion Barry McGuigan said: "It is an absolute tragedy. I would describe Darren as a phenomenal talent." |
| He added: "I believe he would have become a world champion in the professional ranks one day." | |
| Michael Carruth, who won welterweight gold for Ireland at the 1992 Olympics, said: "He had the power, he had the charisma, everything that goes into making a top-class pro, he had the ingredients there. | Michael Carruth, who won welterweight gold for Ireland at the 1992 Olympics, said: "He had the power, he had the charisma, everything that goes into making a top-class pro, he had the ingredients there. |
| He was an excellent fighter and he was a gentleman outside the ring as well James DeGale | He was an excellent fighter and he was a gentleman outside the ring as well James DeGale |
| "Unfortunately we are never going to get to see this now." | "Unfortunately we are never going to get to see this now." |
| Pat Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland, said Sutherland was a superb individual with a terrific personality. | Pat Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland, said Sutherland was a superb individual with a terrific personality. |
| "In Beijing he was the life and soul of the Irish Olympic squad, a guy with a terrific personality and attitude," he said. | "In Beijing he was the life and soul of the Irish Olympic squad, a guy with a terrific personality and attitude," he said. |
| "His Olympic colleagues enjoyed his irrepressible good humour and his keen interest in all of the various sports that Ireland participated in. | "His Olympic colleagues enjoyed his irrepressible good humour and his keen interest in all of the various sports that Ireland participated in. |
| "He was simply a superb individual who had time for everyone." | "He was simply a superb individual who had time for everyone." |
| Britain's Olympic middleweight champion James DeGale, who beat Sutherland in Beijing, spoke of his shock at the Irishman's death. | Britain's Olympic middleweight champion James DeGale, who beat Sutherland in Beijing, spoke of his shock at the Irishman's death. |
| ANALYSIS Austin O'Callaghan, BBC Northern Ireland sports reporter Any professional fighter will tell you that being a pro can be a lonely existence at times. | ANALYSIS Austin O'Callaghan, BBC Northern Ireland sports reporter Any professional fighter will tell you that being a pro can be a lonely existence at times. |
| When you're an amateur you're always travelling with a team and surrounded by people. | When you're an amateur you're always travelling with a team and surrounded by people. |
| Darren was such a positive, warm guy - the life and soul of the party. | Darren was such a positive, warm guy - the life and soul of the party. |
| He just attracted people to him and always seemed to have a positive outlook on life, which makes this news all the more tragic." | He just attracted people to him and always seemed to have a positive outlook on life, which makes this news all the more tragic." |
| "It is very, very sad news - I just can't believe it," he said. | "It is very, very sad news - I just can't believe it," he said. |
| "It is a tragedy. First and foremost, my heart goes out to his family. I just could not believe it; my heart went to the floor when I heard. | "It is a tragedy. First and foremost, my heart goes out to his family. I just could not believe it; my heart went to the floor when I heard. |
| "He was a big part of my Olympic medal journey. I just do not know what to say except he was a brilliant fighter, in fact an excellent fighter. He was a gentleman outside the ring as well. | "He was a big part of my Olympic medal journey. I just do not know what to say except he was a brilliant fighter, in fact an excellent fighter. 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." | "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." |
| Irish Sports Minister Martin Cullen said: "Ireland has lost a sportsman of wonderful ability, a clever and popular man with a future of real potential. | Irish Sports Minister Martin Cullen said: "Ireland has lost a sportsman of wonderful ability, a clever and popular man with a future of real potential. |
| "His early death deprives us of a magnificent talent." | "His early death deprives us of a magnificent talent." |
| Dominic O'Rourke, president of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, said that Sutherland's death had devastated the fighters with whom he came through the domestic ranks. | |
| "They're all in desperate shock," he said. | |
| "He was such a popular young lad within the association. He talked to all the kids and they all loved him. | |
| "He always believed he would qualify for the Olympics and would win a medal, and he achieved it. He was a star of the show." | |
| Sutherland had trained with Brendan Ingle in Sheffield while in his teens but gave up the sport. | Sutherland had trained with Brendan Ingle in Sheffield while in his teens but gave up the sport. |
| He returned to the ring in 2004 while studying sports science at Dublin City University. | He returned to the ring in 2004 while studying sports science at Dublin City University. |
| After his success in Beijing, the fighter turned professional and joined the Maloney camp, winning his first fight in Dublin last December by knockout. | After his success in Beijing, the fighter turned professional and joined the Maloney camp, winning his first fight in Dublin last December by knockout. |
| His next professional fight had been scheduled for next month. | His next professional fight had been scheduled for next month. |
| In a statement, Mr Maloney said Sutherland's death was very sad and unexpected and a tragedy for Ireland and the world of boxing. | In a statement, Mr Maloney said Sutherland's death was very sad and unexpected and a tragedy for Ireland and the world of boxing. |
| "At this sad time my thoughts are with Darren's family," he said. | "At this sad time my thoughts are with Darren's family," he said. |