Frank Maloney vows to make quick return to boxing

Boxing promoter Frank Maloney has vowed to return to the sport as soon as possible after undergoing an operation at King's College Hospital in London yesterday following a heart attack.

Maloney was initially admitted to the Princess Royal Hospital in Bromley on Monday night suffering from shock after discovering the body of Darren Sutherland at the Irish boxer's flat.

Subsequent tests revealed the promoter had suffered a heart attack. It is now thought the attack happened at ringside in Brentwood on Friday night, after Maloney watched his fighter John McDermott suffer a controversial points defeat to Tyson Fury.

Maloney, now back at the Bromley hospital, said: "Doctors have told me that after some days of rest I will be fine and I cannot wait to return to work in the sport of boxing as soon as possible.

"I had no idea the heart attack had happened at the fight. I did have some chest pains and feel a bit unwell but I just put it down to the stress and excitement of what was happening.

"I can guarantee I will be there at the headquarters of the British Boxing Board of Control on September 23 when they stage their hearing into what I believe was the total injustice of the McDermott result.

"Boxing is my life. I have had plenty of highs in the sport and plenty of lows as well. But nothing will ever compare to shock and sorrow of finding Darren in his flat on Monday night."