Damien Hooper turns pro

[The Spider]

Originally Posted by Ole Mongoose

After consulting a little known search engine named Google - yes, he does.

Don't rely too much on BoxRec though - you can always pick people out that do.

[boxon123]

Originally Posted by Ole Mongoose

After consulting a little known search engine named Google - yes, he does.

I could only find him training Amateurs! I thought someone might have been able to enlighten me but I guess it was too hard. In case you have not notices they are two different sports.

[Sandman_]

They need to get him good sparring. That's why the training environment he's in is so important.

The real hard work early in his career should be done behind closed doors in the gym so they can accurately gauge where he's at & who he should be matched with.

And I hope they don't take him over to the UK to fight against local favourites in the opponent's backyard as happened with Jarrod Fletcher. Fletcher should have been tested in sparring against higher calibre opponents before being matched with a talented pom in the other guy's backyard. Finding out you're out of your depth when the bell rings is all too late.

My concern with Hooper being based in Brisbane is that he won't get the sparring. If he was in Sydney, he could spar with the likes of Geale, Mundine & Bika. Even though they're not in Sydney he should also do some work with the likes of Danny Green & Brad Pitt.

Good luck to his management team. Hooper is the best talent we've got and I hope they do very well with him.

[Lilo]

Originally Posted by boxon123

I could only find him training Amateurs! I thought someone might have been able to enlighten me but I guess it was too hard. In case you have not notices they are two different sports.

He's training Cam Hammond and Paddy Murphy at the minute. He worked with Brit Don Broadhurst for a while too.

Originally Posted by Sandman_

They need to get him good sparring. That's why the training environment he's in is so important.

The real hard work early in his career should be done behind closed doors in the gym so they can accurately gauge where he's at & who he should be matched with.

And I hope they don't take him over to the UK to fight against local favourites in the opponent's backyard as happened with Jarrod Fletcher. Fletcher should have been tested in sparring against higher calibre opponents before being matched with a talented pom in the other guy's backyard. Finding out you're out of your depth when the bell rings is all too late.

My concern with Hooper being based in Brisbane is that he won't get the sparring. If he was in Sydney, he could spar with the likes of Geale, Mundine & Bika. Even though they're not in Sydney he should also do some work with the likes of Danny Green & Brad Pitt.

Good luck to his management team. Hooper is the best talent we've got and I hope they do very well with him.

I'd imagine they'd send him to UK for a little while just as Browne did, there are so many talented SMWs/LHWs there to spar.

[20a87]

Should have signed with Mundine.

[Sandman_]

Originally Posted by Lilo

I'd imagine they'd send him to UK for a little while just as Browne did, there are so many talented SMWs/LHWs there to spar.

There's plenty of talented fighters in and around his weight division in this country as well. My point is if he's based here he should be sparring with them and not just with blokes he's comfortable working with in Brisbane.

I don't have a problem with him going to the UK for sparring but I think it's worth bearing in mind that the three best fighters this country has turned out in the last 25 years have all laid the foundations for their professional careers right here in Australia.

Judging by last year's Olympics, the UK has it's own crop of talented up and comers. What we don't want to see is our best young talent fed to one of them in England as an opponent (with an English referee & judges).

There's plenty of time for fighting overseas when the time comes but Hooper would do well to build up some momentum and a following in his professional career here first.

[The Spider]

Any word on when we might see Damien Hooper debuting? Last heard it would be in early 2013.

[swingin]

Originally Posted by 20a87

Should have signed with Mundine.

that would do wonders for his already tarnished image...

[The Spider]

Any word on when we might see Damien Hooper debuting?

Last heard it would be early 2013, and here we are in March and absolutely zippity do dah?

[Lilo]

Imminent news about Hooper et al.

[The Spider]

Originally Posted by Lilo

Imminent news about Hooper et al.

Olé. At long last

[Lilo]

April 20th Brisbane. Hatton Asia Pacific show

[The Spider]

Originally Posted by Lilo

April 20th Brisbane. Hatton Asia Pacific show

On the St Clair vs Reyes card. Nice work

[percy davo]

On the same card 3 Aboriginal Olympians. Damien Hooper, Cameron Hamond, Brad hore.
looks like a good fight card and apparently The Hitman is coming over to watch.

[dawsosj]

good to hear, hopefully he pulls his head in a bit behaviourally wise, he has all the tools to be a fan friendly boxer who could make some noise