This unauthorized biography of Sadam Ali, a member of the 11-man U.S. 2008 Boxing Team, may be modified from time to time, as additional information becomes available:
Sadam Ali, a leightweight boxer from Brooklyn, New York, could be a serious contender in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Sadam's father, David, a real estate broker originally from Yemen, is supportive. "Our relationship is one of respect, and I like it that way," said David. "I see so many fathers arguing with their sons, and I see their relationships getting torn apart. I don't want that to happen to us.... You can have fun and still train hard." His younger sisters, Suha and Senna are also supportive, as are the many relatives who attend his fights in the New York.
Even though he is only 19 years old, Sadam Ali has been training for over a decade in Brooklyn. He started boxing at age 8. During his workouts, Sadam reportedly decides how many push-ups to do by drawing from a deck of cards. If he draws an ace he does 15 push-ups -- 20 for a Joker.
Despite his lighthearted approach, Sadam is serious about fighting. He won the Golden Glove National Championship in both 2006 and 2007.
In August 2007, he won the gold medal at the Olympic boxing tournament in Houston, and thereby won a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.
The next step for Ali is the World Championships in Chicago (October 23 - November 3, 2007). If he places in the top eight at this qualifying tournament, he will be on his way to Beijing.
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