Boxer Steve Sutherland
FORMER WGC schoolboy Steve Sutherland has warmed up for his first Olympic Games with a series of fights in Europe.

Sutherland, who went to Monk's Walk School, will box for Australia in next month's sporting showpiece in Beijing.

At just 17, he will be the youngest boxer in the Australian team out in China and will fight in the flyweight class.

To prepare for the Olympics, Sutherland has gained more experience fighting European opponents.

A former English schoolboy champion, Sutherland first went to Croatia, where he trained with the Croatian and Italian teams.

He then flew to the Czech Republic and fought in the Grand Prix in Usti, where he came up against German Ronny Beblik in the quarter-finals.

This was a step up in class and a tough fight for Sutherland as Beblik is ranked 15th in world and the teenager lost on points over the four rounds 25-12.

He then flew to Germany and fought in the Chemistry Cup, which is another major tournament.

This time the former Welwyn lad reached the semi-final and faced Juan Carlos Payano, the Dominican Republic fighter currently ranked four in the world amateur standings.

Sutherland lost on points at the end of the third round and had to settle for a bronze medal.

Nevertheless, the competition gave the teenager Aussie sensation a great deal of experience and a good taste of what is to come at the Beijing Olympics.

Now a full time amateur boxer, Sutherland had a week home with his family in Victoria before flying back to the Australian Institute of Sport.

National champion Sutherland, who fights in the 48-51kg class, will spar in Canberra until July 20 before then jetting to Thailand to train with the Thai national boxing team.

He then heads straight over to Beijing for the Olympics in August.

Proud dad Gregg said: "Steve's aim at the Olympics is to win his first fight and then take it from there.

"Steve is making a big name for himself in Oz.

"He's having his own website built, he's been interviewed on the sports radio station SEN and has also just had a documentary made about him on ABC TV."

Sutherland secured his trip to the Olympics by winning the Oceania qualifying tournament in Apia, Samoa, earlier in the year.

At 17, Steve is the youngest member of the Australian boxing team and will become the youngest fighter to ever represent the country in the Olympics when he steps into the ring in Beijing.