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Dazzler's dilemma

Sutherland's machoism will be his downfall, warns Glenn

Glenn McCrory Posted 1st July 2009 view comments

I like Darren Sutherland. He's a good, solid kid and I thought he did well against Gennadiy Rasalev on Tuesday night.

He showed he's got guts by coming through what was easily the toughest of his four professional fights so far.

Darren will probably go on and be a very good fighter - as Rasalev might - and he loves a tear-up, loves to entertain, which he did at the York Hall.

Sutherland's desire to put on a show led to him receiving a nasty cut against Rasalev

Sutherland's desire to put on a show led to him receiving a nasty cut against Rasalev

But that might well prove to be his downfall. It may sound harsh, but he will not go on to win a world title if he keeps boxing like that!

Machismo

There is nothing wrong with wanting to put on a show, but there is too much machismo with Darren. That's why he got caught a few times, that's why he got cut and will not make our Sunderland bill on July 12 as a result.

Winning a world title requires longevity and Darren Sutherland needs to think about that. He was caught a few times by a novice, so what is going to happen when he's in with a guy who's been there 20-odd times? Yes we all love a good scrap but ultimately boxing is about hitting - and not being hit.

Glenn McCrory
Quotes of the week

Darren let his emotions get the better of him and he got carried away and you just can't afford to do that in this sport. Anyone can get knocked out by anyone at any given moment and it is something he is going to have to sort out - but it it will be hard because it is clearly in his make-up.

It may sound harsh at this early stage of his professional career, but this is not a kid we're talking about here; this is a 27-year-old Olympic bronze medal. His trainer, Frank Maloney, anyone needs to tell him that he just can't keep fighting like that.

I have seen him in the gym and in the ring first-hand and his attitude is that he is going to knock everybody out and be the best in the world. There's nothing wrong with that of course but if you set that goal, your only concern should be reaching that goal - not putting on a show against a three-fight novice.

And the only way you can do that is by winning. Not always having the crowd on their feet and ending up being caught. Once Rasalev had caught him, he should have taken a step back and re-assessed the situation, realised that he cannot just go in there and blow everyone away.

One-dimensional

There is nothing wrong with Sutherland coming forward. He puts his punches together well and he does have variation, but I do think he needs to refine his approach, become less one-dimensional.

Right now it's as if he can just go out there and plod forward, ploughing through everyone that's put in front of him. We all know boxing doesn't work like that.

He made some silly mistakes and reacted to getting hit, ended up in a tough fight that he should never have been in. I think Frank Maloney was a bit shocked by it all, seeing his young hope get hit a few times, but maybe it is a lesson Darren will learn from.

I hope so, because I really like the kid. He is under pressure as an Olympic medallist with what looks like the whole of Ireland following his every move and I wonder if the rivalry with James DeGale is also adding to this need to blast everyone out.

Sometimes you can be too macho for your own good. Look at Ricky Hatton; no-one remembers how or who he fought in his fourth professional fight, but if there is one thing he has taught us is, if you go charging in trying to blow the other guy away, eventually you will pay for it.

Winning a world title requires longevity and Darren needs to think about that. He was caught a few times by a novice, so what is going to happen when he's in with a guy who's been there 20-odd times? Yes we all love a good scrap but ultimately boxing is about hitting - and not being hit.

Lunatic

One man who proved that point was another fighter I have got so much time for: Jason Booth.

He is just my kind of fighter, simple as that. He has won titles at flyweight, super-fly, bantam and super-bantam and has had his problems outside of the ring as well. The truth is, he is just a good old-fashioned lunatic!

But we saw against Rocky Dean, he can channel that energy very, very well. To throw that many punches (he averaged practically 100 a round) all night long after arriving 35 minutes before fight time says it all. And as we kept mentioning in commentary, it was not just hot in the York Hall the other night, it was absolutely sweltering.

Booth didn't let it affect him though and showed what a cracking little fighter he is. For me, he is actually the best domestic fighter we have out there right now, or at least my favourite. The trouble he has is his lifestyle and training have probably held him back.

I am not sure he will ever go on to win a world title, even though I would love to see it. Maybe he deserves a crack and maybe, just maybe he is the sort of kid that will take that chance and surprise us all.

He is just the sort of guy that, if you give him that incentive he will prove you wrong... I hope Darren Sutherland is the same.

What did you make of Sutherland's showing? Will he go on to be more successful than DeGale? And what about Jason Booth's performance and world-title hopes? Fill in the feedack form below...

Comments (3)

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Johnny Holborn says...

I do agree with Glen about not getting too involved when he (Sutherland) could have won the fight comfortably without it and the eventual cut etc. Having said that it is nice to see a novice boxer actually being given an actual opponent that can, in some way shape or form, actually give him a fight. I say this as, like me, many people from Sunderland who witnessed the show at Crowtree Leisure Centre, who saw Tony Jeffries have to deal with a fighter/boxer in words only. Protecting your boxers is good, but giving them a stooge so they can have a 100% cast iron win to prove how much of a Mackem he is in front of a home crowd is a disgrace. In short, Tony is better than that but i and many other Mackems have more respect for boxers, some without his privilege, who have to fight dangerous journeymen from their way up. Well done Darren, you fought the wrong fight strategically, but you at least proved you have people around you that are willing to give you a challenge. Unfortunately though, it's the boxers who sell more tickets that have the limelight, even if they are actually achieving little at that time. It's my belief that if a boxer doesnt knock opponents out, get into scraps, sell thousands of tickets but can actually have an unbeaten record, that its not enough to be noticed. Just look at the rankings, many have unbeaten or great records but are not known by the media. Let's get real before criticising Darren for not resting on his Olympic privilege. Good on him and his team.

Posted 12:52 3rd July 2009

Crombinator ! says...

I agree Glenn, 2 Smooth is the most likeable British boxer we have. I don't think there would be anyone out there who would begrudge him a shot at world honours. You made the comment on Tuesday that if he was a banger he would have had that shot, or even a title by now. But with a workrate like he showed against Rocky Dean (who should be commended for his work rate too) he can certainly win at bantamweight.

Posted 09:16 2nd July 2009

John Griffin says...

Round two was obviously a bad round for Sutherland when he got caught far too many times and cut, but overall it was a decent performance. Pity the fight ended the way it did as Darren was getting into a nice stride and showing his class in rounds three and four. He has to learn not to get involved like he did. I was worried when before the fight he said he wanted to put on a show and this fight might turn out to be valuable experience for him. He has the ability to pop in and out of range and the accuracy of punch, so there's no need for him to be getting involved. A more experienced, more powerful opponent could havestopped him with that second-round display. It's hard to say how far Sutherland or DeGale will go at this stage but I think Sutherland is more rounded and maybe more powerful so probably has a better chance of going all the way. I have to agree with Glenn about Jason Booth; I love watching him. What a beautiful boxer to watch. Great performance last night, he gave Rocky a boxing lesson with his skill, movement and accuracy. Incredible workrate to throw so many punches considering the circumstances with the heat inside the venue and his late arrival. I'd love to see him win a world title and if he had more power I think he'd be a dead cert to do so, though he has so much ability and experience now that he could it. Let's hope so anyway...

Posted 23:18 1st July 2009

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