Najah Ali is the symbol of hope and freedom of new Iraq

For just one evening, Najah Ali felt 10 feet tall and unbeatable.

Iraq's only Olympic boxer added another triumph to his war-torn nation's unexpected success at the Olympic on Wednesday, beating North Korea's Kwak Hyok Ju 21-7 to advance to the second round in the light flyweight bracket.

Ali, the games' smallest fighter at 1.5 metres (4-foot-11) and 48-kg (106 pounds), outslugged his taller opponent from the start, peppering the Korean with jabs and combinations.

With his nation's flag on his chest and his American coach's chosen slogan "Iraq Is Back" across his back, Ali punched, feinted and danced across the ring for four impressive rounds.

When it was over, Ali pumped his fist over his head and jumped for joy while a handful of flag-waving Iraq fans screamed and chanted his name. Just reaching the Olympics was a triumph - but winning was unimaginably better.

"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."

Ali's victory arrived on the heels of the Iraqi soccer team's wins over Portugal and Costa Rica.
After the fight, Ali received several kisses from Maurice "Termite" Watkins, a Texan who went to Iraq last year to provide pest control for the US Army - and wound up coaching 21 Iraqi fighters.

Termite and his mighty mite pursued their dream from the Philippines to Michigan's Upper Peninsula - and for four rounds in Athens, everything came together.

"I felt as good as a man can feel," Watkins said. "Whether he wins another fight or not, he's a winner now in the Olympics."

Ehad Hussain, Iraqi press attache, was unsure of his nation's total number of Olympic boxing wins, but Iraq has never won a medal.

"How can I express my feelings?" Hussain said. "It's a wonderful thing for the people of Iraq. Just a wonderful thing."

The Iraqi boxing programme largely was ignored when Uday Hussain ran the nation's sports programmes. Ali has seen the torture and abuse of athletes, mostly soccer players, who didn't live up to Hussain's standards.

Ali, a college graduate who was working in a furniture factory before joining the team, was introduced to boxing by his father, a former Iraqi champion.

"I'm sure he's jumping now in front of the screen," Ali said.