Damien Hooper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Damien Hooper |
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| Statistics | ||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Super Hooper | |||||||||||||
| Rated at | Light-heavyweight | |||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in | |||||||||||||
| Reach | 80 in | |||||||||||||
| Nationality | Australian | |||||||||||||
| Born | 5 February 1992 Toowoomba, Queensland Australia |
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| Boxing record | ||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 15 | |||||||||||||
| Wins | 14 | |||||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 9 | |||||||||||||
| Losses | 1 | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Damien Hooper (born 5 February 1992) is an Indigenous Australian professional boxer. He is known for his powerful punches. As a young amateur, he was chosen to represent Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He competed in the light-heavyweight division.
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Early Life and Starting Boxing
Damien Hooper grew up in Dalby, Australia. His grandmother, Lillian Weribone, raised him. He started boxing when he was eleven years old. His older brother, Troy Hooper, also boxed.
Damien faced some challenges early in his life. A local policeman, Chris Seng, was a former professional boxer. He ran a youth club and suggested Damien try boxing. This helped Damien find a new path.
Amateur Boxing Success
In 2010, Damien made history. He became the first Indigenous Australian to win a junior world title. He won the 75 kg category at the Youth Olympics in Singapore. This was a huge achievement for him and his community.
That same year, he won a silver medal. This was at the Youth World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. He was also picked for the Australian team for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Damien received a special scholarship from the Australian Institute of Sport for boxing.
The next year, Hooper moved up a weight class. He also started competing against older, more experienced boxers. He went back to Baku for the 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships. He reached the quarter-finals. He narrowly lost to Julio César La Cruz by one point. This performance earned him a direct spot in the London Olympics.
Competing at the 2012 London Olympics
At the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Damien Hooper fought well. He defeated Marcus Browne in his first match. Later, he lost on points to Egor Mekhontsev from Russia. Mekhontsev went on to win the gold medal in the 81 kg division. This was Damien's last amateur fight, ending a career of 180 amateur matches.
Professional Boxing Career
Damien Hooper turned professional in 2013. He signed a deal with Ricky Hatton's company, Hatton Promotions. By 2014, he had an impressive record of 9 wins and no losses, with 8 knockouts.
However, his professional career faced a setback. He lost a fight to Rob Powdrill in November 2014. In 2015, he also lost his deal with Hatton Promotions. He is now with No Limit Boxing. Damien is currently ranked as the number 1 Australian light heavyweight. He is also 9th in the WBO Light-Heavyweight rankings.
Big Fight: Hooper vs. Umar Salamov In 2017, Damien Hooper (with a record of 12 wins, 1 loss, 8 knockouts) took on Umar Salamov. Salamov was an unbeaten Russian boxer (19 wins, 0 losses, 14 knockouts). This big fight happened before the famous Pacquiao v Horn match.
Hooper won the fight by a unanimous decision. The judges scored it 96–94 in his favor. This victory earned him the WBO International light heavyweight title. He also won the vacant IBF International light heavyweight title. This improved his professional record to 13 wins and 1 loss.
| 15 fights | 14 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 9 | 1 |
| By decision | 5 | 0 |
Damien Hooper has a professional record of 14 wins and 1 loss. He has won 9 of his fights by knockout.
Personal Life
Damien Hooper's older brother, Troy, passed away in 2012. This happened in a workplace accident, just two months after Damien competed in the London Olympics. Damien is proud of his Indigenous heritage. His family ancestry is linked to the Kamilaroi people.
