Damien Hooper

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.

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 boxing career

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.

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 in the last of his 180 amateur fights.

Professional boxing career

Early stages

Before he made his debut in 2013, Hooper signed with Ricky Hatton's Hatton Promotions. By 2014 he had 9-0 record. Then momentum in Hooper's promising professional career stalled, with a first round knockout loss to Rob Powdrill on 8 November 2014.

Hooper vs. Salamov

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

Hooper vs. Quinlan

On 7 April 2018 at the Convention & Exhibition Centre in Brisbane, Australia, Quinlan stepped up to a weight division for a bout with long-time rival Renold Quinlan. He won by technical knockout in the ninth round.

Professional boxing record

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.

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 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.

Legal issues

In May 2014, Hooper was fined $1,750 after admitting slapping a taxi driver. In August 2014, he was granted immediate parole on an 18 month jail sentence after pleading guilty to spitting on a police officer. In September 2023, Hooper pleaded guilty to robbery with personal violence and was sentenced to 27 months in jail with immediate parole release. In December 2024, he was remanded in custody after being charged with rape.