Irish Olympic medal-winning boxer Darren Sutherland was found dead at his home in London today today by manager Frank Maloney.

Reports say he hung himself.

The 27-year-old, who was of mixed race origins, won a bronze medal for Ireland at the 2008 Games in Beijing and was one of Ireland's most exciting professional prospects.  He lived in in Bromley, south London.

In a statement, the boxing promoter said: "It is very sad and unexpected.

"At this sad time my thoughts are with Darren's family and I hope their privacy at this very difficult time will be respected by the media.

"It is a tragedy for Ireland and the world of boxing."

A London police spokesman said Sutherland was pronounced dead at just after 3 p.m. His death is not being treated as suspicious. His family have been informed.

The fighter made his professional debut in Dublin last December, winning by a knockout.

Sutherland, who was born in 1982 in Dublin, won a bronze medal for Ireland in the middleweight divison at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

Sutherland reached the semi-finals of the boxing tournament in the 2008 Olympics and took a bronze medal. He lost his fight to James DeGale in the semi-finals, 10-3. Sutherland announced that it was his last amateur boxing match.

 Sutherland represented the St. Saviour's ABC in Dublin and won the Leinster senior title in 2005, 2006 and 2007. He faced Darren O'Neill in each of his national finals, winning the All-Ireland title 2006, 2007 and 2008.

At the World Championships in 2007, he was beaten by Alfonso Blanco, who went on to win a silver medal in the competition.

He is the third-ranked European boxer in the middleweight division.