The Story of an American Prizefighter Who
Went to Iraq to Kill Bugs and Built
an Olympic Team Instead
Suzy Pepper
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Price: $14.95
Softcover | 191 pages | ISBN: 0-9768304-0-X
Summary
Termite, flanked by two machine-gunned soldiers, pulled into the Baghdad soccer stadium to meet his new boxing team. Twenty-four Iraqi boxers, many without shoes, awaited his arrival, this chance for an opportunity to be on an Olympic team. As mortars went off blocks away, he watched them spar in their impromptu try-out. Lacking even mouthpieces and headgear, blood was spilled quickly in their desperate attempts to catch the eye of the American coach. Termite’s heart broke for them – these proud boxers with ripped gloves who wanted to represent the New Iraq. Out of condition and rusty on fundamentals, he nevertheless told the Arabic television stations covering the event, “The Iraqi boxers have huge hearts. They will make the country of Iraq proud.” Looking straight into the television camera, Termite announced the slogan for these new fighters. With a raised fist, he shouted, “Iraq is back!”
Termite Watkins achieved the impossible. When asked by a coalition leader what the chances were of getting an Iraqi team into the Olympics, Termite was honest, “One chance in a million.” He took that one chance and made it happen.
The newly released book, Termite, by Suzy Pepper details the obstacles this bold Texan overcame to see Iraq in the Olympics. It is the story of a boy who was terrible at everything who became a national Golden Gloves champ at just sixteen. It is the story of a man who felt the pain of losing a world title fight. Most importantly, it tells of man who refused to give up on a ragtag group of Iraqi boxers. The dreams of this team that he loved were now his, and he made it happen.
About the Author
Suzy Pepper grew up only a few houses from Termite in Houston, Texas. She received her B.A. from the University of North Texas and her M.A. from Kean University. Published in the educational field, this is her first book. She resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her children, Bailey and Tim.
