Boxing News Boxing News
Damien ‘Super’ Hooper looked like a pupil of the Ricky Hatton school of body punching as he crushed bitter rival Joel Casey in the seventh round of their fight at the Jupiter’s Hotel & Casino in Broadbeach, Australia.
The first six rounds saw Hooper box smartly against an opponent who had attempted to get under his skin on social media.
However, in the seventh, Hooper upped his attacks and viciously ripped home hooks to Casey’s torso. Two left hands to the ribs forced Casey to seek the sanctuary of the canvas and although he managed to get back to his feet, the writing was on the wall.
With the three-knockdown rule in effect, Hooper was relentless and after Casey tasted the ring apron twice more, the fight was waved off by referee Adrian Cairns.
The win takes Hooper’s record to 9-0 (8 KOs) and allowed him to add the vacant WBC EPBC light-heavyweight crown to his WBC Youth Silver title.
“It was a world class performance,” enthused Hooper’s trainer Gareth Williams. “He stuck to the plan of box and break him down and then opportunities came. One of the commentators [on Fox Sports] said it was the best performance he has seen in an Australian ring over the last two years.
“He was listening perfectly, his long punches were beautiful and when he went down to the body he dropped him [Casey] three times in the round and finished him. Kerry Hope was also in the corner as well as Irish Paddy Murphy and both said he is world class. We couldn’t have asked for a better performance.”
Hooper will return to action against an ‘as yet to be confirmed opponent’ on October 8.
