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Aberdeen boxer Dean Sutherland trains with ring legend Freddie Roach and spars with Olympians in United States

Aberdeen boxer Dean Sutherland (l) with legendary trainer Freddie Roach.
Aberdeen boxer Dean Sutherland (l) with legendary trainer Freddie Roach.

Aberdeen boxing star Dean Sutherland has trained with ring legend Freddie Roach in Los Angeles ahead of a Commonwealth title shot.

Undefeated Sutherland will face Louis Greene for the Commonwealth super-welterweight belt at the Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen on Saturday, November 26.

Ahead of the biggest fight of his career, the 23-year-old worked with Roach at the trainer’s Wild Card Boxing Club.

Roach trained legendary eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao and four-division world champion Miguel Cotto.

During his time at the Hollywood-based gym, Sutherland also sparred with two former Olympians, now undefeated pros.

Ring great Roach, 62, has worked with more than 50 world champions including Oscar de La Hoya, James Toney, Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Roach told Sutherland he has a “bright future” in boxing.

Sutherland said: “I did pads with Freddie Roach and it is normally only his own fighters he does that with.

“He has so much boxing knowledge, it was a great experience.

“Freddie gave me some tips about positioning and a few other things.

“He was very impressed and said I have a big future.

Dean Sutherland at Freddie Roach’s Wildcard Boxing Club in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Photo supplied by Dean Sutherland

“You can see the passion and love he has for the sport.

“We have messaged back and forth since then which is great.”

Dean Sutherland training back home in Aberdeen at the Granite City gym. Picture by DC Thomson/ Chris Sumner

Sparring with former Olympians

Recognised as one of the greatest trainers in boxing history. Roach has produced 36 world champions.

It is a significant marker of Sutherland’s rising status Roach did pad work with the highly-rated Aberdonian.

During his time at the Wild Card gym, Sutherland also sparred with two former Olympic stars, now undefeated in the pro ranks.

He faced Mexican Raúl Curiel, who competed in the 2016 Olympics at welterweight.

As a pro, Curiel has 11 wins from 11 bouts, nine by knockout.

Curiel has won his last six fights by stoppage.

Sutherland also went up against Armenian Arman Darchinyan, who fought at the 2020 Olympics.

Darchinyan has won two from two professional bouts.

Sutherland said: “It was really exciting to go to the Wild Card, one of the best-known boxing gyms in the world.

“The amount of champions that have been produced by Wild Card and Freddie is ridiculous.

“I went to Freddie’s private gym for my sparring sessions.

“The levels of boxers was amazing. Boxers who are the top in their countries and the standard was top-notch.

“I didn’t know who I was going to be sparring at the time, but it turned out to be two former Olympians.

Arman Darchinyan (l), Dean Sutherland and Raul Curiel (r) at the Wildcard gym, Los Angeles. Supplied by Dean Sutherland

“A Mexican who went to the Olympics in 2016 and is currently 11-0 with nine knock-outs.

“The other guy I was sparring was at the 2020 Olympics for Armenia.

“He is a middleweight at 2-0 and also trains under the Freddie Roach banner.

“To get those rounds in was brilliant – the sparring was top quality.”

Dean Sutherland with following a sparring session at the Wild Card gym. Supplied by Dean Sutherland

USA trip vital for title preparation

Sutherland has an impeccable pro record of 13 wins from 13 fights.

He has already secured three titles – the WBC International silver, WBO Youth and BUI Celtic straps.

Sutherland aims to add a fourth title when facing England’s Greene in a top-of-the-bill bout at the Beach Ballroom next month.

Greene boasts a pro return of 14 wins (eight by stoppage) and three defeats (one by stoppage).

He stopped previously undefeated Tomasz Nowicki in Poland in May this year.

Greene has previously fought for the WBO European welterweight title, losing by stoppage to Lewis Crocker in August 2020.

He also fought for the IBF European title in December 2018, losing to Larry Ekundayo by unanimous decision.

Northern Sporting Club’s Billy Stuart will also fight for the Scottish title on the under-card of Sutherland’s Commonwealth title bout.

Aberdeen’s Dean Sutherland (in red) won the WBC International Silver welterweight title against Michele Esposito.

Sutherland said:  “It was good to change things up by going to the United States.

“I never want to be in a comfort zone.

“Getting rounds in with completely different styles of fighters was great.

“It was important preparation for the Commonwealth title fight.

“The more tools I have, the more prepared I will be to adapt.”

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