GOING PRO: Dalby boxer Damien Hooper has signed his first professional boxing contract. DALBY'S Olympic boxing sensation, Damien Hooper, said he would have no problem with the extra expectation after inking his first professional boxing deal.
The 20-year-old has signed with managers Matt Clark, Brendan Bourke and Philippe Fondu this week and said he was ready for the next stage of his already well-documented career.
"If you're not being talked about, you're not being recognised," Hooper said.
"I love all the attention… you've got to take it all in.
"I've had 150 amateur fights and 11 years of boxing. This is the next step."
Leading into his debut Olympic campaign last year, Hooper took out the Oceania Championship in 2010, won gold at the Youth Olympics in Singapore and silver in the Youth World Championships in Baku.
He continued that form into 2011, earning a spot at the 2012 London Olympics and an AIBA world ranking of number two.
But the last 12 months have been a whirlwind for the boy from the Darling Downs.
After making his debut Olympic appearance in London he was awarded a national Deadly award for the Most Promising New Talent in Sport, but has had to deal with family tragedies among all the hype.
Hooper reunited with long-time coach Gareth Williams after a small stint in Western Australia and will relocate from his Toowoomba base to Brisbane to be closer to his management and his coaching staff.
Williams has faith in Hooper's ability to become one of the sport's greats, but said he still needs to do a bit of maturing.
"Physically, he's got all the attributes," Williams said.
"He's 21 soon, and sometimes he still thinks he's a normal 21-year-old kid.
"The hard thing is realising that 'I am my future'."
Williams said signing boxers at 20 years old is a gamble because of their maturity levels, but believes Hooper has what it takes.
"Throw any name at me … and I think Damien, potentially, is better than them at the same age," he said.
"He's got the attributes, but it all depends on how things work out."
Hooper knows exactly where his head is at, and is making his intentions for the future very clear.
"I've had a lot of experience," Hooper said.
"A lot of people know my name now, so I need to keep doing well and spread the word about me.
"I want to become a household name."
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