Damien Hooper | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1992-02-05)5 February 1992 (age 33) Toowoomba, Queensland Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Other names | Super Hooper |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Light-heavyweight |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Reach | 80 in (203 cm) |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 15 |
| Wins | 14 |
| Wins by KO | 9 |
| Losses | 1 |
Damien Hooper (born 5 February 1992) is anIndigenous Australianprofessional boxer. As an amateur he was selected to represent Australia at the2012 Summer Olympics in thelight-heavyweight division.[1]
Hooper was raised by his grandmother, Lillian Weribone, in aDalbyQueensland,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 namedChris Seng had been a pro boxer. He ran the police citizens youth club and suggested that Hooper take up boxing.[2][3]
In 2010, he became the firstIndigenous Australian to win a junior world title when he won the 75 kg category at theYouth Olympics inSingapore. In the same year, he won a silver medal at theYouth World Championships inBaku, Azerbaijan, and was selected in the Australian team for the2010 Commonwealth Games inNew Delhi. He was anAustralian 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 2011World Amateur Boxing Championships, where he made the quarter finals, being edged out byJulio César La Cruz 13:14 and earned direct qualification for theLondon Olympics.
At the 2012 London Summer Olympics, he beatMarcus Browne then he lost on points to 81 kg gold medallistEgor Mekhontsev ofRussia in the last of his 180 amateur fights.
Before he made his debut in 2013, Hooper signed withRicky Hatton'sHatton Promotions by 2014 he had 9-0 8KO. Then momentum in Hooper's promising professional career stalled, with the Olympian's loss toRob 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
In 2017, Hooper (12-1, 8KO) took on unbeaten RussianUmar Salamov (19-0, 14KO) on the undercard to thePacquiao v Horn match and received a unanimous decision 96–94 on the judges's score cards to win theWBO International light heavyweight title and vacantIBF International light heavyweight title improving his record to 13-1 8KO.
| 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 | WonWBO International, and vacantIBF 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 vacantWBC Youth Silverlight-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 |
Hooper's older brother Troy died in 2012 in a workplace accident, two months after he fought at the London Olympics. He traces hisIndigenous family ancestry to theKamilaroi people.
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 theAustralian Aboriginal flag. The Australian Olympic Committee demanded he make a public apology. Wearing the shirt was said to have breached the Olympic Charter. "I'm not saying I don't care [if there are sanctions]. I'm just saying that I'm very proud of what I did," he said. "I'm Aboriginal, representing my culture, not only my country but all my people as well. That's what I wanted to do and I'm happy I did it." Although the Australian Olympic Committee criticised him, the IOC said they would take no action.[4]
| Sporting positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional boxing titles | ||||
| New title | WBC Youth Silverlight-heavyweight champion 16 November 2013 – 8 November 2014 | Vacant Title next held by Liam Conroy | ||
| New title | WBC-EPBClight-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 | |||
