Ricky Hatton and David Haye have both paid tribute to the Beijing Olympian Darren Sutherland, who committed suicide in his south London flat on Monday.
Irishman Sutherland was found hanged by his promoter Frank Maloney, who was admitted to hospital with shock and underwent an operation yesterday.
Sutherland, 27, had joined the paid ranks last year after winning an Olympic bronze medal in the middleweight division, and was preparing for his fifth professional fight. He and Maloney were very close, the promoter believing Sutherland would become his next world champion – in the wake of Haye and Lennox Lewis.
Hatton joined those who have paid tribute to the Irishman. "It's absolutely tragic. I was following Darren's career with great interest. I think out of all the Olympic guys he was one of the best. All of the Olympic boys have looked sensational but he had a little bit of class, he was very exciting and stood out. He had a very good professional style."
Haye, who had joined Hatton in his gym in Hyde, Manchester, to publicise his November world title challenge against 7ft Russian Nikolai Valuev – there is no promotional link between the pair, they merely share a broadcasting partner in Sky – concurred.
Hatton added: "It's tragic and a sad, sad loss for boxing and more importantly a sad loss for his family and friends. The only words that can sum it up are 'absolutely tragic' and my heart goes out to his family."
Meanwhile, boxing promoter Maloney insisted he will return to boxing and attend a hearing at the Boxing Board of Control next Wednesday, after it emerged he underwent a chest operation at King's College Hospital in London yesterday, following a heart attack.
Maloney was initially admitted to the Princess Royal Hospital in Bromley on Monday night suffering from shock after discovering the body of Sutherland at the Irish boxer's flat. Tests then revealed the promoter had suffered a heart attack.
It is believed the attack happened at ringside in Brentwood on Friday night, after Maloney had watched his charge John McDermott suffer on the wrong end of a controversial points defeat to Tyson Fury.
"I can guarantee I will be there at the headquarters of the British Boxing Board of Control on September 23 when they stage their hearing what I believe was the total injustice of the McDermott result.," said Maloney.
"Doctors have told me that after some days of rest I will be fine and I cannot wait to return to work in the sport of boxing as soon as possible. I had no idea the heart attack had happened at the fight. I did have some chest pains and feel a bit unwell but I just put it down to the stress and excitement of what was happening. Boxing is my life. I have had plenty of highs in the sport and plenty of lows as well. But nothing will ever compare to the shock and sorrow of finding Darren in his flat on Monday night."
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