Damien Hooper (born 5 February 1992) is an Indigenous Australian professional boxer. As an amateur he was selected to represent Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the light-heavyweight division.[1]

Damien Hooper
Born (1992-02-05) 5 February 1992 (age 32)
NationalityAustralian
Other namesSuper Hooper
Statistics
Weight(s)Light-heavyweight
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Reach80 in (203 cm)
Boxing record
Total fights15
Wins14
Wins by KO9
Losses1
Medal record
Summer Youth Olympics
Gold medal – first place 2010 Singapore Middleweight
AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships
Silver medal – second place 2010 AIBA Middleweight

Early life

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Hooper was raised by his grandmother, Lillian Weribone, in a Dalby Queensland, Australia. Hooper began boxing at the age of eleven with older brother Troy Hooper. He was in trouble with the law and the local policeman there named Chris Seng had been a pro boxer. He ran the police citizens youth club and suggested that Hooper take up boxing.[2][3]

Amateur

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In 2010, he became the first Indigenous Australian to win a junior world title when he won the 75 kg category at the Youth Olympics in Singapore. In the same year, he won a silver medal at the Youth World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, and was selected in the Australian team for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. He was an Australian Institute of Sport boxing scholarship holder.

The following year, Hooper stepped up a weight division and into open competition. He returned to Baku for the 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships – Light heavyweight 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships, where he made the quarter finals, being edged out by Julio César La Cruz 13:14 and earned direct qualification for the London Olympics. In the last of his 180 amateur fights,

2012 London Summer Olympics

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At the 2012 London Summer Olympics, he beat Marcus Browne then he lost on points to 81 kg gold medallist Egor Mekhontsev of Russia.

Professional boxing

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Before he made his debut in 2013, Hooper signed with Ricky Hatton's Hatton Promotions by 2014 he had 9-0 8KO. Then momentum in Hooper's promising professional career stalled, with the Olympians loss to Rob Powdrill in November 2014 then in 2015 he lost his professional deal with Ricky Hatton's promotional company, He is now with No Limit Boxing. He is currently ranked number 1 Australian light heavyweight and 9th on the WBO Light-Heavyweight rankings.

Hooper vs. Umar Salamov

2017 Hooper (12-1, 8KO) took on unbeaten Russian Umar Salamov (19-0, 14KO) on the undercard to the Pacquiao v Horn blockbuster and got a unanimous decision 96–94 on all three judges score cards to win the WBO International light heavyweight title and vacant IBF International light heavyweight title improving his record to 13-1 8KO.

Hooper vs. Renold Quinlan

In a wild bitter rivalry, he took on hard hitting fellow aussie super middleweight Renold Quinlan Hooper controlled the early action with his long jab and occasional right crosses but the balance of the fight changed in the 5th hooper was down twice but recovered and regained control in the eighth to earn a TKO win over Quinlan at 2min 19sec of the ninth round to move his record to (14-1, 9KO).

Professional boxing record

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15 fights 14 wins 1 loss
By knockout 9 1
By decision 5 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
15 Win 14–1   Renold Quinlan TKO 9 (10) 24 May 2018   Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia Retained WBO International light-heavyweight title
14 Win 13–1   Umar Salamov UD 10 2 Jul 2017   Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia Won WBO International, and vacant IBF International light-heavyweight titles
13 Win 12–1   Nader Hamdan UD 8 2 Dec 2016   Luna Park, Sydney, Australia
12 Win 11–1   Kyle Brumby UD 5 13 Aug 2016   The Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
11 Win 10–1   Marlon Alta UD 6 3 May 2015   Eatons Hill Hotel, Eatons Hill, Australia
10 Loss 9–1   Rob Powdrill KO 1 (10), 0:21 8 Nov 2014   Sleeman Sports Complex, Brisbane, Australia Lost WBC-EPBC light-heavyweight title
9 Win 9–0   Joel Casey KO 7 (10), 1:29 30 Jul 2014   Jupiters Hotel & Casino, Perth, Australia Retained WBC Youth Silver light-heavyweight title;
Won vacant WBC-EPBC light-heavyweight
8 Win 8–0   Josh Webb RTD 3 (6), 3:00 20 Jun 2014   Metro City, Perth, Australia
7 Win 7–0   Young-Don Um UD 6 19 Mar 2014   Jupiters Hotel & Casino, Gold Coast, Australia
6 Win 6–0   Dechapon Suwunnalird TKO 3 (6), 2:37 11 Dec 2013   The Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
5 Win 5–0   Yodkhunsuk Mor Poowana TKO 2 (10), 1:24 16 Nov 2013   Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane, Australia Won vacant WBC Youth Silver light-heavyweight title
4 Win 4–0   Togasilimai Letoa KO 5 (6), 0:37 8 Aug 2013   Southport RSL Club, Gold Coast, Australia
3 Win 3–0   Viliami Toafi TKO 1 (6), 2:47 5 Jul 2013   ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
2 Win 2–0   Kashif Mumtaz TKO 1 (6), 1:04 9 May 2013   Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane, Australia
1 Win 1–0   Garth Murray KO 5 (6), 0:52 20 Apr 2013   Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane, Australia

Personal life

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Hooper's older brother Troy died in 2012 in a workplace accident, two months after he fought at the London Olympics. He traces his Indigenous family ancestry to the Kamilaroi people.

Controversy

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On 30 July, in London at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Hooper stepped into the ring for his Olympic bout wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the Australian Aboriginal flag: the same flag now[when?] approved to fly on public buildings in Australia. The Australian Olympic Committee demanded he make a public apology. Wearing the shirt was said to have breached the Olympic Charter. "I'm representing my culture, not only my country", said Hooper. "I'm proud of what I did."[4]

References

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  1. ^ LONDON TIME (5 February 1992). "London 2012 - Damien Hooper". London2012.olympics.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  2. ^ FISCHER, DOUG. "Q&A: DAMIEN HOOPER". Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  3. ^ "Indigenous Newslines" (PDF). Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. January–March 2011: 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ "How the chosen ones ended Australia's sporting prowess and revealed its secret past". 9 August 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
New title WBC Youth Silver light-heavyweight champion
16 November 2013 – 8 November 2014
Vacant
Title next held by
Liam Conroy
New title WBC-EPBC light-heavyweight champion
30 July 2014 – 8 November 2014
Succeeded by
Rob Powdrill
Vacant
Title last held by
Trent Broadhurst
IBF International light-heavyweight champion
2 Jul 2017 – April 2018
Vacant
Title next held by
Umar Salamov
Preceded by
Umar Salamov
WBO International light-heavyweight champion
2 July 2017 – September 2018