Damien Hooper on career rebuild: “I’m the young lion and I’m very hungry”

DAMIEN Hooper has always been touted as one to watch.

The talented 24-year-old burst onto the scene following a series of impressive performances at the London Olympic Games. Hooper was swiftly signed by Hatton Promotions and made his professional debut shortly after.

However, the promising career that he always seemed destined to have has been sidetracked due to some issues outside of the ring. But on Friday night, Hooper plans to continue his resurgence, starting with hard-nosed former world title challenger Nader Hamdan.

Hooper (11-1, 8 KOs) will compete on the undercard of close friend and training partner Brandon Ogilvie, who will face rival George Kambosos in a highly publicised collision at Sydney’s Luna Park.

And as Hooper admits, competing on the same card as Ogilvie has driven him to greater heights in his latest training camp in Perth.

“It motivates me a lot,” said Hooper to Aus-Boxing. “We push each other in training – and we are always having a laugh – and enjoying it. We both have the same goals I can say proudly that I’ve seen him turn into a great young man and he is a great professional in training.”

“It blows me away with how much talent and potential he has and besides boxing, I’m proud to be one of his best mates.”

Despite being in a good place both mentally and physically, the training camp for the fight with Hamdan has not been without its difficulties. Hooper’s cousin Layla tragically lost her battle to cancer, forcing Hooper to return home earlier than anticipated to mourn with his loved ones. But with the help and support of his team, Hooper is still ready to fulfil his obligations.

“It’s been very difficult training away from home for this camp,” he explained. “I’ve had a loss of my first cousin Layla, who lost her battle with cancer. I had to come back to Queensland a week earlier to attend her funeral. But Brandon and his father Bradley have helped me push through training and stick to my guns. Layla will be in my thoughts on the night and I fight with her brother Troy alongside me.”

“I’m very excited to be fighting Nader Hamdan, it would definitely have to be his experience and the things he has accomplished as a fighter. Full respect to Nader, but I’m not one bit intimidated.”

“I believe in my ability and how much I want it. He is standing in my way, this is my time now. I’m the young lion and I’m very hungry.”

Although Hooper is at a different stage of his life to his older opponent, they appear to share a common mentality when it comes to the sport.

“Boxing is a lifestyle for me and I’ve been doing it for thirteen years now,” concluded Hooper. “It’s helped change my life, helps me succeed and gives me a pathway to a better future. I can walk into a construction site or pick up an apprenticeship and live happily ever after.”

“But boxing takes me places and it makes me proud of who I am. It makes my family proud and it lets me represent my people – the best country and culture in the world – I love boxing and boxing is my type of lifestyle.”

As for Hamdan (44-12-1, 19 KOs), who has split two fights since breaking a three year retirement, his comeback is about the desire to test himself in an industry that typically looks down at men on the wrong side of 40.

“It’s now just about me challenging myself,” continued Hamdan. “I love this lifestyle, keeping super fit and fighting another young bull. It’s just in my blood, I love it. I’ll keep fighting for as long as my body keeps going.”

“I just enjoy being super fit, for me it’s just a victory in itself. When you stay away and don’t train for two or three years, it’s a challenge in itself to try to get back to fighting fitness and prepare for eight, ten or twelve rounds.”

Hamdan knows that he is going into this fight as a heavy underdog, but labels have never interested the former world title challenger. At this stage of his storied career, Hamdan is essentially in competition with himself.

“I don’t see this fight as an opportunity,” he added. “I look at it as – I’m going up in weight – my last fight I depleted myself and went down in weight. I don’t need to do that anymore at this age, I see this as another good solid fight with a young bull. I want to defeat this guy and I want to show myself that I’ve still got it.”

“People have told me because of my age, I should hang them up, you listen to them and you begin to believe it. Then I don’t want to believe it. Who are people to say I can’t do something anymore because I’m a certain age? That’s what they believe; it’s not what I believe. A fit person, a healthy person, is a happy person.”

“I’m a lot wiser and a lot smarter. When I’m in the ring, I’m there to fight; I’m there to win. I’m going to be in there to give my best. That’s what I always bring.”

The narrative of old bull versus young bull is no longer foreign to Hamdan. And as far as he is concerned, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I can see a young kid that’s been off the tracks and turn his life back around,” he concluded. “I used boxing to do the same thing. I came from the boy’s home and entered the boxing world and I did what I had to do.”

“I’ve read about this kid and I know he has had some troubles. I congratulate him on finding the right path to get out of that way of life. He obviously needs this to move forward and get on with life. I’m glad he took this path and not the other path of crime and trouble and jail.”

“He’s at the start of his career and I’ve been there and done that, for him it will be a learning experience. For me it’s always a learning experience and I look forward to the challenge.”

Photo: Rightcross Boxing