On September 14th, 2009, Darren Sutherland died at the age of just 27. At the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the boxer was a bronze medal winner in the middleweight category.
It was an Olympic Games which demonstrated the prowess of Ireland's amateur boxing tradition. Sutherland was joined by the likes of Kenneth Egan and Paddy Barnes among the medal winners.
Yet, while Barnes would go on to box at two further Olympics before turning pro, and Egan contributed some stellar work in raising the awareness of mental illness and addiction, Sutherland's short life is commemorated in the memories of those who knew him best.
James DeGale, the former IBF super-middleweight champion, who retired today, is one who was both foe and friend of the Dublin boxer. Having faced off against each other in the semi-final of the Beijing Olympics, DeGale ultimately came out on top and went on to claim gold for Great Britain.
Although not particularly liked during the early stages of his professional career, DeGale earned himself a lot of admirers in 2015 when he discussed the impact Sutherland's passing had him.
Prior to claiming his world title for the first time, DeGale explained the touching tribute he paid to his fallen opponent:
It was so sad to hear about it. To put his initials on my shorts was just a bit of respect for him and his family who must have found it so hard.
We were rivals as amateurs but we had a lot of respect for each other. When I'm going to be World champion, he is going to be World champion. We are going to lift this together. Maybe it is just his initials on my shorts but we will do it together.
When DeGale overcame Andre Dirrell to claim the IBF title in 2015, 'D.S' was emblazoned the shorts of the new World champion.
