Dean Sutherland is eager to prove why he should be considered one of the best boxing prospects in Scotland.
Aberdeen fighter Sutherland returns to the ring for his fourth bout on November 30 at the Crowne Plaza in Glasgow and is looking to round out his debut year as a professional with a 100 per cent record.
Sutherland will take on Halifax’s Vinny Atkins (5-1), who has two stoppage victories this year.
He made the transition from kick-boxing to boxing earlier this year and is signed with Kynoch Boxing. Sutherland splits his time between Aberdeen and Dundee for training and sparring and has been impressive in his opening three fights.
Sutherland said: “I showed I have good hand speed in my last fight against an opponent that was durable. I now want to show people I can get people out of there quickly. I’ve been tested early on in my career but I would like to show why I should be considered one of the best prospects in Scotland.”
The 20-year-old’s eagerness to rack up as many bouts as possible is evident, with a busy 2019 the main aim for Sutherland. He is ambitious to be aiming for title fights by the end of next year, which is a realistic goal if he continues to build on his early promise.
His opponent will be revealed closer to fight night but Sutherland anticipates it will be his last four-rounder, as he builds his ring endurance for future contests.
Sutherland added: “We’ve mainly been focusing on having that explosive power over four rounds. Next year we will probably move on to six. You’ve got to have an engine behind you and be able to control the pace of the fight.
“When it’s a 12-rounder, unless you’re getting out early, you have to think tactically. It will be a challenge, as in kick-boxing I was used to fighting five two-minute rounds. I’m doing 12 minutes in the ring just now but I won’t rush into 10 or 12 rounds.
“I would love to get fast-tracked and pushed towards the top 10 rankings in Britain but your career is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. I would rather get the correct training and make sure I’m ready for each fight.”
