US taekwondo champ outclasses sole Iraqi fighter

American Steven Lopez proved unpopular at the taekwondo competition as the Olympic and world champion overpowered Iraq's sole entrant Raid Rasheed in their opening match.

American Steven Lopez proved unpopular at the Olympic taekwondo competition in Athens on Saturday as the Olympic and world champion overpowered Iraq's sole entrant Raid Rasheed in their opening match.

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A majority of the crowd chanted, "Iraq, Iraq!," drowning out the occasional "USA, USA!" at the Faliro Sports Pavillion as Lopez hit Rasheed with a variety of kicks in the under-80kg welterweight first round.

There was loud booing from the crowd when the bout ended 12-0 in Lopez' favour.

US athletes in general have had a mixed reaction from spectators at Olympic events, especially when they were pitted against Iraqis.

"I expected that the crowd would not be on my side," 25-year-old Lopez said after the fight.

"We have the power that's why people are envious. Wherever we are playing, even if it is the world championships or the Olympic Games, people want us to lose," he added. "I just hoped that in the Olympic Games, politics would be out of the picture."

Lopez won the under-68kg featherweight gold at the 2000 Sydney Games when the combat sport made its Olympic debut.

He has stepped up to win two world crowns in two other weight divisions, including the 2003 welterweight title.

"I attacked from the first minutes and I was able to make my moves," he said.