Posted on 08/19/2004 8:09:56 AM PDT by spycatcher
Ten months ago, light flyweight Najah Ali wasn't on the Iraqi boxing team, because there was no such thing. On Aug. 18, the 4'11" 106-pounder in convincing style, 21-7, over a heavily favored opponent, North Korea's Kwak Hyok Ju, who is 5'4".
In his first major international fight -- he only has about 35 bouts to his name total -- Ali controlled matters from the outset, leading 9-3 after one round. The shortest man in the Olympic boxing tournament danced around the ring agilely and snuck inside his taller opponent's reach to land frequent, powerful shots.
He did it with sharp right jabs, quick feet that kept him out of danger, and a singlet with the words "Iraq Is Back" on it.
He also did it with the support of Maurice "Termite" Watkins, a former American pro fighter, used car salesman, rattlesnake killer and insect exterminator who traveled to Iraq on a contract to exterminate flies plaguing a U.S. Army facility in Baghdad.
Watkins ended up coaching several aspiring Iraqi boxers. Ali was the one who impressed the coach the most and asked what the chances were of making it to the Olympics.
"I said basically it was slim to none," Watkins recalls, according to the Cincinatti Post. "That it was maybe one in a million. He slammed his hand down, pointed his finger at me, and said, 'Great, we don't need the million. All we need is the one. Let's make this happen.'"
Although Ali failed to qualify for the Games directly, he got his wish in the form of one of five IOC exemptions provided to his troubled nation.
The inexperienced boxer received additional help from USA Boxing's head coach Bash Abdullah, who invited him to train with his team. Ali returned the favor by inviting Abdullah to join Watkins in his Athens corner.
And now, like his fellow Olympians on the Iraq soccer team, Ali is surprising the world and giving his nation a reason to rejoice.
I love how well the Iraqis are doing. I think that speaks volumes about the direction Iraq is going.
Saw him fight yesterday, and he's pretty darn good. (CNBC telecasts 3 hours of boxing every day from 5pm to 8pm EST). I'm rooting for him bigtime.....a real nice kid.
Float like a butterfly
Sting like a bee
His name is
Najah Ali.
"It's a victory for Iraq and for Iraqis all over the world," said Ali, who looks much younger than his 24 years. "I'm a symbol for a lot of people looking for a good life. I'm a symbol for freedom."
Iraq produces an olympic athlete? That's funny, I thought Iraq was nothing but a cesspool of terrorists and bloodshed and evil American oppressors. I wonder where I got that idea?
I am sure kerry will say, he took this young man under his wing.
Wow. Just....wow.
I think someone could make a very compelling and damning piece against Michael Moore by juxtaposing statements and images of Iraqi atheletes celebrating and discussing their freedom with Moore's downplaying of the severity of Saddam's tyranny.
There should be some video footage at the Republican convention about the progess in Iraq...Kerry had his little home movie...we should have a film that highlights the many little victories in Iraq and Afghanistan that have helped to give hope to the Muslim/ Arab world...their hope in a brighter future will make us safer here at home...even liberals will see that (although they will remain in denial in order to prevent their little world from collapsing).
Heck, just read what some of the Iraqi soccer players said.
They'd be part of the unsurgency "for sure" if they weren't in Athens.
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