Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) boxer Damien Hooper is a young man on the rise whose ambition to reach the top in his profession has no boundaries or limits.

The 18-year-old openly talks about his desire to one day become a professional world champion and, given his achievements within the amateur ranks, few would doubt his ability to reach those lofty heights.

Damien became the first Indigenous boxer to win a junior world event when claimed gold at last month’s Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. He comfortably beat Columbian Juan Carlos Carrillo 12–4 to win the 75kg middleweight title.

He heads into competition at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi as a boxer tipped to be amongst the medals.

‘Damien has a very good chance of a medal, probably our best chance, despite his age,’ AIS and national assistant coach Don Abnett said.

‘It’s going to be a tough division for him with the Indian boy Vijender Singh, who is ranked the number one senior middleweight in the world, in there. But anything is possible with Damien, he is very talented and, like a lot of Indigenous fighters, has an awkward but unique style as he hits his opponents with some interesting combinations.’

‘A lot of the drills he does he’s worked on himself, they have not come from me, he is a real talent. I have been a coach since 1981 and there are probably only ten really outstanding boys that I have seen in that time and Damien is one of them.’

Abnett believes with the right attitude and commitment Hooper is capable of winning a medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games.