Every boxers’ dream is to fight at Madison Square Garden, and Dean Sutherland will get a shot like no other.
Sutherland, a 19-1 fighter from Scotland, has largely fought on small hall shows for his entire professional career.
But he couldn’t believe his luck as the opportunity of a lifetime that he had always dreamed of finally came to fruition.
Sutherland will face a huge step-up against unbeaten Irish boxer Callum Walsh on the weekend of St Patrick’s Day.
It will be held in The Theater at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York, the smaller hall of the sensational venue which has played host to some bumper clashes.
Anthony Joshua‘s famous 2019 upset to Andy Ruiz Jr and Muhammad Ali‘s Fight Of The Century, have all been held in the bigger hall of the nostalgic site.
And despite not competing in the larger arena, Sutherland is relishing the opportunity.
He told talkSPORT.com: “It’s honestly the biggest opportunity for me, I’m so excited.
“This is the key reason for this fight. I could have had a keep-busy fight, but this was better, it is a worldwide platform.
“It’s on Fight Pass, it’s heavily backed by the UFC and I want to deliver on the worldwide platform.
“If I turned down this opportunity, then why am I even in the sport?”
So far in his career, Walsh has attracted all of the attention having become a bigger star with Dana White‘s backing.
GettySutherland has the opportunity of a lifetime against White’s fighter Walsh[/caption]
His fights have been staged on the UFC platform with White in attendance, since the inception of his professional career in 2021.
He has built up quite the fanbase stateside, given the Irish core in New York, and will no doubt be the crowd favourite.
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But Sutherland intends to throw himself into the lion’s den head first, to earn himself that exact promotional deal for his own career with White.
He continued: “Of course, yeah that would be amazing.
“Definitely at the end of the day, that is one of the objectives I have for 2025 is to get signed up by a big promoter.
“It’s probably worked in my favour not having one now, but once I do beat Callum, it will be UK and US promoters on notice.
“I want to have whoever treats me the best with the best terms and can get me them opportunities.
“But the whole idea of me fighting the UFC’s only fully backed professional boxer, there is a lot riding on this fight.
“I am ready to capitalise and I’m ready to put my name in the spotlight.”
Sutherland has had a unique journey into the sport turning over to become full-time three years ago.
But he is thankful for his journey and is extremely delighted he was able to give up his job as a full-time electrician to fulfil his dream.
“Yeah so luckily enough through my sponsorship, I’ve been full time now for three years,” he concluded.
“But my first three years as a professional boxer, I was a qualified electrician.
“I had to win my world youth title, my WBC international title while full-time.
“But yeah, the backing of my sponsors and everything has been unreal for me.
“I’ve been begging for an opportunity like this, I didn’t think it would be as big.
“It’s incredible, and I just can’t wait to get out there and show everyone what I can do.”
