Obituary: Irish Professional Boxer on Track to Secure a World Title

Darren Sutherland, who has been found by his manager Frank Maloney hanged in his flat in south-east London, was one of Irish boxing's brightest prospects in the professional sport, having joined the paid ranks after winning an Olympic middleweight bronze medal in Beijing last year. He was only 27, and many had predicted that he had the ability to go all the way to a world title.

Born in Dublin to an Irish mother and West Indian father, Sutherland moved to London as a child before relocating to the island of St Vincent. His accent still reflected the years he spent growing up in the Caribbean, although he would ultimately return to Navan, in County Meath, while training and boxing in Dublin, the city he regarded as home.

Nicknaming himself "The Dazzler", Sutherland was viewed as one of the outstanding performers in Beijing, where he lost in the semi-final to Britain's James DeGale, who went on to take the gold medal. While DeGale was snapped up by the English promoter Frank Warren, some shrewd judges suggested Warren's rival Maloney may have got the better deal when he persuaded the Irishman to commit his future to his management and promotional skills.

Despite being 26 when he made his professional debut, relatively old to make the switch from the amateurs, Sutherland had been well schooled. As well as his years with the Irish national squad, he had trained in Sheffield with Brendan Ingle, the wise guiding force behind such diverse talents as Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson and Junior Witter, who had all become professional world champions. When he signed with Maloney, his training was overseen by the respected London trainer Brian Lawrence.

"He was an absolute diamond to work with, a joy, and he had so much talent," said Lawrence. He added that Sutherland had suffered a rapid physical and emotional decline in the past two weeks, and had been due to see a specialist about his depression.

Former three-weight world champion Duke McKenzie said he believed Sutherland could have gone on to become a star, emulating the likes of Barry McGuigan and Steve Collins, who became household names in their homeland and beyond as they won world titles. "Of all the fighters who came back to the British Isles with medals, I thought he was the best," said McKenzie.

Sutherland had won three senior Irish amateur titles while fighting out of the St Saviour's Amateur Boxing Club in Dublin. He was viewed as accommodating and accessible by those around him, and had earlier rejected numerous offers to turn pro to pursue his dream of winning an Olympic gold medal.

Regarded as the major personality of the Irish team in Beijing, Sutherland enjoyed a success that earned him national renown. He made his professional debut amid considerable public interest in Dublin last year, where he spoke of his wish to fight for the Irish title. All four of his wins had been scored by stoppage, and he had been scheduled to make his next appearance in the ring next month in Sunderland.

Maloney collapsed after finding the body of his fighter, and is receiving hospital treatment for a minor heart attack.

• Darren John Sutherland, boxer, born 18 April 1982; died 14 September 2009