Ammon News - AMMONNEWS-Jordanian boxer Ihab Darweesh, the Kingdom’s first Olympic boxer, on Monday won his opening bout in the boxing competition of London Olympics.

Darweesh looked sharp in a 19-7 win over Nigeria's Lukwon Lawal, making history and thrilling the rowdy contingent of Jordanian athletes and supporters who sang and cheered for the light heavyweight.

He is the only boxer among Jordan's nine Olympic athletes.

Darweesh is the second of five boxing brothers from Baqaa refugee camp, just outside Amman. He chased his Olympic dream through several years of international competition, even returning after he collapsed during the 2007 world championships.

"It's a great honour to represent my country," Darweesh said through a translator. "It's an incredible feeling, and God willing, I will progress into the next round. Hopefully I can be a role model. ... Even after the difficult life I have had, I never stopped sport. I always continued and kept preparing."
Darweesh will meet Cuban world champion and No. 1 seed Julio la Cruz Peraza on Saturday





*Jordan Times