Australian boxer Damien Hooper signalled his immediate intention to turn professional after his pursuit of an Olympic medal ground to a halt on Saturday.

Light heavyweight Hooper, considered Australia's best hope of ending a Games medal drought that stretches back to Graham `Spike' Cheney in 1988, was thumped 19-11 by Russian fourth seed Egor Mekhontcev.

The defeat signalled not only the end of Hooper's London Games, but also his amateur career.

"I want to turn pro - I've showed to the whole of Australia I went further than most amateur boxers ever in Australia," said Hooper, adding there were offers on the table but he had not yet made up his mind who he would sign with.

"I've put my name out there ... it's going to be exciting in the pros, contracts and those things promoters want, I think I can do that and take Australia to the next level.

"I want to go straight away ... I want to learn as much as I can and maintain it, turn myself into a champion."

His amateur career ended on a forgettable note with Hooper hopelessly outclassed by his Russian opponent.

Minus the Aboriginal flag T-shirt that caused a stir following his opening round win, Hooper could not get a punch through Mekhontcev's defence, as he lost every round.

Coach Don Abnett said he sensed immediately that his fighter was off his game.

"(I knew) the first round," Abnett said.

"A switched on Damien can beat all of them."

Asked why he wasn't switched on, Abnett said: "It's the pressure of here, the boy's reputation, it affects him."

Hooper believes he may have gone in with the wrong tactics as he attempted a measured approach.

"Just the wrong strategy the first two rounds and I just said `screw it' and went out in the third round and showed everyone I should have done that from the word go," Hooper said.

"When I said `screw it' in the end I started to come strong but it was too late then."

Australia's last remaining male fighter at the Olympics will fight for a place in the quarter-finals on Saturday night with light welterweight Jeff Horn taking on Tunisian Abderrazak Houya.

Tags: Amateur Boxing