A talented 18-year-old Lanarkshire boxer is set to make his professional debut in ‘the biggest card’ in Scotland since ‘Jim Watt or Ricky Burns’.
Marcus Sutherland, from Shotts, will be making his professional boxing debut on March 10 in the undercard of the Braveheart event, which will see Nathaniel Collins versus James Breech Jnr for the BBBofC British Featherweight Title.
The 800 people attending the event at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Glasgow will see Marcus’ first pro-fight against Jordan Spence.
However, Marcus isn’t nervous about the crowd at all.
He said: “The bigger the crowd, the better it is for me, it’s a good feeling knowing that I’ll be fighting in front of so many. The more people, the better. It will definitely be the most people I have fought in front of.
As a top amateur boxer, Marcus represented Scotland and was even in the Commonwealth Games selection set-up, however, he decided to move to the professional game early.
He said: “I had a decent amateur career, but I always knew that I wanted to start in the professional game early and progress and adapt quicker.
“I wasn’t a fan of the set-up because I needed to be there five times a week and chuck my job, but I am three years into an apprenticeship to be a bricklayer, so I wasn’t up for it.
“I would say that my style is more suited to the pros anyway because I like to set up shots and take my time, but you don’t have the time to do that in amateurs when you’re needing to get points.”
Marcus has been training since he was 11 years old, starting out at Robroy Boxing Club under the mentorship of his trainer James ‘Tiger’ Lyons.
Despite also being a trainer at the gym, Marcus’ dad, Davie Sutherland, admits that he had to try and take a step back from Marcus and his training.
He said: “I try to stay out of the way of Marcus. I am a dad at the end of the day.
“The pro game is a hurt game, you’re going for knockouts, whereas the amateur game is all about points.
“I love boxing, but the worst thing in the world, is watching my boy box. I f*cking hate it.
“It is horrendous watching your boy getting upset, it’s not necessarily the hitting. It’s not great, although I love the sport.
“I am over the moon with him though, and I am so proud of what he has done so far. Most boys chuck it when they start going out with their pals. He has stuck with it.”
To prepare for his first professional boxing match Marcus has begun training at Fighting Scots Gym in Bellshill.
Davie said: “He has been training with Francis since turning pro, and his gym is amazing. It is a proper pro gym.
“Professional boxing is dangerous, and you have to be ready for it, that’s why he needs to be in a space solely focussing on it.”
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