BEIJING • Sadam Ali said he wants to entertain the world.

Boxing is his instrument. It’s his song. It’s his act.

Ali, born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Yemeni immigrants, is the first boxer of Arab descent to compete for the United States. Monday night at the Workers Arena Ali had his first huge chance to entertain the world.

Ali almost lost his chance to shine earlier this year when he tested positive for the banned stimulant cathine, a drug closely related to amphetamines. Ali argued that the drug was a part of a combination of drugs given to him to fight an attack of bronchitis. Ali was facing a two-year ban from amateur boxing but accepted an indefinite voluntary suspension while appealing the case to the International Amateur Boxing Association.

It was concluded that a team doctor had given him mixtures or suggested mixtures of cold medicines that when combined created the stimulant.

Ali, whose national team is based in Colorado Springs, has been a Junior Olympic national champion. He has been Police Athletic League national champion and a U-19 national champion. He won the bronze medal in the 2006 World Junior Championships.

All are good, and all bring a measure of respect. But there’s no stage larger in amateur boxing than the Olympics.

Ali appeared to develop stage fright Monday. The 19-year-old was soundly beaten by Romania’s Georgian Popescu, 20-5, in front of a crowd that oohed and ahhed at every big shot from the Romanian.

“I was disappointed in my performance,” Ali said, his voice beginning to quiver. “I didn’t look like I was supposed to. I’m sorry to everybody back home. I didn’t fight my fight. I was very sloppy.

“I was falling over with my punches and looking sloppy. I was supposed to go out there and take the lead. Everything just wasn’t in place. I was leaning over too much. It just wasn’t me out there.”

The primary thing out of place, at least according to USA Boxing coach, Dan Campbell, was Ali. Campbell said the plan was for Ali to use angles to get at Popescu. The plan wasn’t to stand in front of Popescu or go directly at him – which is what Ali did and which is what cost him the bout.

“We had a plan, and he executed it in the first round, and it was an even fight,” Campbell said. “For some reason he abandoned it. … We did not want him standing in front of this guy. We did not want him pulling straight back. It was one of the things we talked about in the dressing room, we talked about going out there, we talked about in the corner. But he consistently did it. Then he went away from it.”At times it looked as if Ali and Popescu wanted to wrestle instead of fight. Popescu was getting the better of that, too.

“He shouldn’t have been there,” Campbell said. “If you’re not there, you can’t get pushed around.”

It’s the end of the Olympics for Ali, but not for boxing.

Ali said he plans to take a couple of months off, and then turn professional.-Columnist Milo Bryant can be reached at 636-0252 or milo.bryant@gazettedev.gazette.com. Check out Milo’s blog, The Extra Milo, at milobryant.freedomblogging.com

Olivia Christensen, left, and Katie Ehrlich tried out their locker combinations Sunday during the Palmer Ridge High School dedication and open house. Residents voted for the tax bond on the $46 million building in 2006. Photo by