Damien "Super" Hooper, one of the top light heavyweight prospects in the world, was knocked out in just 21 seconds today in Australia, blasted by a right hand to the side of the head by Rob Powdrill, a late replacement opponent more experienced in Muay Thai and kickboxing than in the sweet science.
Hooper (9-1, 8 KO) had to date been all that he was believed to be, steamrolling over his first nine opponents. But even though it's a rare thing indeed and damn hard to do, it really does just take one shot to pull any upset, in any fight. Powdrill (4-1, 1 KO) was able to land a shot on Hooper's temple, and the 22-year-old couldn't make it back to his feet.
Hooper said he was "embarrassed" by the loss, but mostly took it with dignity, praising Powdrill and saying he'll take a bit of time off before he gets back to his career.
This is certainly a shocking setback for Hooper, whose 80-inch reach and Olympic pedigree still make him a highly intriguing prospect, and the shot was in such a location that it's pretty bogus to start wondering if he has some major chin issue just because of this outcome. It will be more about the mental side now. If Hooper can brush this off, his future's still bright. But that can be easier said than done.
Also on the card, Rivan Cesaire (13-5-1, 3 KO) retained his Australian welterweight title over Paddy Murphy (11-1-2, 5 KO) via ten-round majority decision, welterweight prospect Cameron "The Hammer" Hammond (11-0, 5 KO) stopped Romeo Jakosalem (15-9-1, 8 KO) in nine rounds, and Kazakh bantamweight Zhanat Zhakiyanov (24-1, 17 KO) knocked out Roberto Lerio (16-21-1, 6 KO) in the second round.