Damien Hooper


Damien Hooper 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.

Early life

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 had been a pro boxer. He ran the police citizens youth club and suggested that hooper take up boxing.

Amateur

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

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

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 took on unbeaten Russian Umar Salamov 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.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
15Win14–1 Renold QuinlanTKO9 24 May 2018Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia.png" />Retained WBO International light-heavyweight title
14Win13–1 Umar SalamovUD102 Jul 2017Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia.png" />Won WBO International, and vacant IBF International light-heavyweight titles
13Win12–1 Nader HamdanUD82 Dec 2016Luna Park, Sydney, Australia.png" />
12Win11–1 Kyle BrumbyUD513 Aug 2016Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia.png" />
11Win10–1 Marlon AltaUD63 May 2015Eatons Hill Hotel, Eatons Hill, Australia.png" />
10Loss9–1 Rob PowdrillKO1, 0:218 Nov 2014Sleeman Sports Complex, Brisbane, Australia.png" />Lost WBC-EPBC light-heavyweight title
9Win9–0 Joel CaseyKO7, 1:2930 Jul 2014Jupiters Hotel & Casino, Perth, Australia.png" />Retained WBC Youth Silver light-heavyweight title;
Won vacant WBC-EPBC light-heavyweight
8Win8–0 Josh WebbRTD3, 3:0020 Jun 2014
7Win7–0 Young-Don UmUD619 Mar 2014Gold Coast, Australia.png" />
6Win6–0 Dechapon SuwunnalirdTKO3, 2:3711 Dec 2013
5Win5–0 Yodkhunsuk Mor PoowanaTKO2, 1:2416 Nov 2013Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane, Australia.png" />Won vacant WBC Youth Silver light-heavyweight title
4Win4–0 Togasilimai LetoaKO5, 0:378 Aug 2013Southport RSL Club, Gold Coast, Australia.png" />
3Win3–0 Viliami ToafiTKO1, 2:475 Jul 2013Auckland, New Zealand.png" />
2Win2–0 Kashif MumtazTKO1, 1:049 May 2013International Convention Centre, Brisbane, Australia.png" />
1Win1–0 Garth MurrayKO5, 0:5220 Apr 2013

Personal life

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. He is recognized in the Australian Olympic Committee list of

Controversy

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 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."