BOXING:THERE'S JUST a scattering of students around Dublin City University this time of year, some awaiting the start of the new term, some still trying to finish the last. It's an unusual place to meet someone halfway through his degree in Sports Science and Health talk of plans for professional boxing - and who at the end of the interview whips an Olympic bronze medal out of his backpack, writes Ian O'Riordan.

But then Darren Sutherland is not your usual student. How he got into DCU to begin with is a remarkable story, surpassed only by the story of how he combined his studies with his quest for Olympic glory. Now comes the best part, as Sutherland sets out to become middleweight champion of the world, vowing to complete his degree, even if he wins a million.

"Going professional is very exciting, and very daunting," he says. "I know it's the complete opposite to amateur boxing. It's business now, everyone out to make a few quid off me. My welfare, my health, is the least of their interest. But I know as well that I have the degree to fall back on.

"I want to specialise in strength and conditioning, possibly personal training. I know where I'm going with that, and that gives me the peace of mind to give professional boxing 100 per cent. When it's finished, win, lose, or draw, I can come back to DCU, be a success in another area of my life.

You don't doubt him and not just because of his unquestionable charisma. More because at age 20 he vowed to go back to school to get his Leaving Cert, which is exactly what he did, leaving St Peter's, Dunboyne in 2004 as student of the year.

And also because he vowed to get himself a degree, even if that initially meant he would probably be doing it in Sheffield, where he'd first based himself as an amateur boxer. He would be there, too, had fate not intervened in the form of a leaflet through his front door, advertising DCU's direct entry scheme for elite athletes.

"I'd already missed the CAO deadline, but I just chanced it, put together an application. Then I was called for an interview, and Niall Moyna was one of the main men on the board. I knew I'd the gift of the gab, and just convinced them I would go places, with boxing, and academics. If they'd only give me the chance. In the end Niall Moyna just said if I could box half as good as I could talk, I would definitely go places. And they took me in."

The 475 points he got in his Leaving would have got him in anyway, although that was only the start of the challenge. This was no diploma in leg rubbing; it's a highly scientific degree, and he soon found the combination of studies and training very difficult, particularly as his boxing came round again, just as he said it would.

"At the end first year I was asked into the High Performance Unit. That took me to a lot of tournaments, and I started winning medals. It was getting very hard to combine the two, and for a while I thought I would have to drop out of DCU. Again, I spoke to Niall about it. He told me I was going nowhere, that I'd finish this degree, even if it took me 10 years."

So DCU compromised, allowing him to take certain modules, and defer the rest. It took him three years to complete second year - understandable, given he also qualified for Beijing during that time.

"Giles Warrington, one of my lecturers, is also a very good friend, and a very important mentor for me. I remember telling him, 'I'll qualify for the Olympics, if you help me through second year'. When I did qualify, last April, I still had three modules to complete, effectively within three weeks."

These weren't easy modules either (Genetics and Health; Health Psychology; and Sociology of Sport) and while the other Irish boxers that qualified for Beijing went off on a break, he went into heavy study: "Giles gave me a really intensive three weeks of study, to get ready for the exams. Seven, eight hours a day. I knew I was going to Beijing, but I couldn't celebrate at all. This was something I knew I had to do.

"It was tempting, sure, just to go with the boxing, but DCU had been so supportive of me, and I did promise Giles. Now I have the first two years nicely tucked away. DCU have left the door open, and I will go back, no matter what. But to me, the reason I started boxing was for the professional game. It's how I'm wired. I'm drawn to the drama, the excitement, the power. That's what I'm about.

"Right now I'm talking with managers and promoters. I'm not going to rush into it. I've been offered something in America, but more than likely, I'll be based in England. I'd like to think I'll have everything signed by October. But I'm setting myself very high standards as well. I've always believed that's the best way to go about something. I want to bring a world title back to Ireland. I really believe I can do that."

You're inclined to take his word for it.