All language subtitles for The Greatest (1977)_track4_[eng]

♪ I believe the children
Are our future ♪

♪ Teach them well
And let them lead the way ♪

♪ Show them all the beauty
They possess inside ♪

♪ Give them a sense of pride

♪ To make it easier

♪ Let the children's laughter

♪ Remind us how we used to be

♪ Everybody
Searching for a hero ♪

♪ People need someone
To look up to ♪

♪ I never found anyone
To fulfill my needs ♪

♪ A lonely place to be

♪ So I learned to depend on me

♪ I decided long ago

♪ Never to walk
In anyone's shadows ♪

♪ If I fail, if I succeed

♪ At least I live as I believe

♪ No matter what
They take from me ♪

♪ They can't take away
My dignity ♪

♪ Because the greatest

♪ Love of all

♪ Was happening to me

♪ I found the greatest

♪ Love of all

♪ Inside of me

♪ The greatest love of all

♪ Is easy to achieve

♪ Learning to love yourself

♪ It is the greatest
Love of all ♪

How Cassius Took Rome,
by Cassius Clay Jr.

"To make America
the greatest is my goal.

So I beat the Russian
and I beat the Pole.

And for the United States
won the medal of gold.

Italians said, 'You're greater
than the Cassius of old.

We like your name,
we like your game.

So come make Rome
your home, if you will.'

I said, 'I appreciate
your kind hospitality,

but the United States of America
is my country still.

Because they're waiting
to welcome me in Louisville!'"

That sure is nice of you.

Are you proud
of me, Momma?

You know I am.

Hey, is this how you do it?

No, it depends on
how the other guy shapes up.

Come here.
Try it like this.

Put your hands up,
put your left foot in front.

Yeah. Depends on
how you move.

How you move makes you
a good fighter.

Well, I feel good
this morning.

I'm so proud
of you, baby.

You know, but I just don't
feel right about it,

you turning yourself over
to that white lady.

What's she got
besides a lot of money?

What's she got?
She's got plenty.

She's got the right complexion,
and the right connections

to give your boy
the right protection.

Oh, Cassius.

Hey! Hey, boy, come over here.
Come over here.

You know you're on
Ms. Fairlie's private property?

Yes, sir.

You know where you are, boy?

Yes, sir.

Well, the road's that way.

John!

You know this here nigger?

Yes, sir, Mr. Harry,
I know who he is.

Ms. Fairlie told him
to come.

He's going to work here.

Yes, sir, this here is
the boxing boy.

I'll take him up to the house.

He scare you, son?

Scare me?
He can't scare me.

Can't nobody scare me.

I don't scare.

That sucker must not have known
who he was messing with.

Yeah. You got a good thing
about you.

You're gonna work out well
with Ms. Fairlie.

I will?
Is she here today?

No, she's not down yet.

You'll get your orders
from Miss Sue Ellen.

Work orders?

The only kind of work that
makes sense for me is boxing.

And I'm good, too.

I know it, now come on,
let's go.

Mr. Harry,

when will I see Ms. Fairlie?
It's been a whole week now.

You can see me right now.

Didn't anybody ever tell you not
to touch any of my dogs, ever?

Not even come near.

You get your odor
on them.

It just confuses them.

They don't know
who to go for in a crisis.

All right, but I've been
trying to...

I have all kinds of plans for
you, but they'll have to wait.

I'm late for a fitting.

Oh, I mustn't forget
to have the man make you up

some boxing trunks

in the colors
of my racing silks.

I've been running four miles
every morning

and I've been training...

Ain't that a bitch.

Hey, boy?

What?

Now who told you
it was leaving time?

Somebody want to
come in this gate,

they gotta have
your permission, right?

That's my job.
Ms. Fairlie's orders.

Nobody, especially me,
needs permission of any kind

-to go out that gate.
-Huh?

What I'm trying to say is,

I ain't gonna be a part
of her kennel.

I ain't gonna be
a part of her stable.

And you tell her Cassius Clay
ain't gonna play nobody's boy.

As a matter of ethics, my
clients wouldn't care to intrude

on any prior claim
Trish Fairlie might assert.

I don't like Ms. Fairlie, and
I don't want her in my business.

Ms. Fairlie is out.

Then let's get
down to business.

As a tender of faith,

each of my clients is willing
to put up $1,000.

It's up to my father.

Mr. Clay?

It looks like we got
the makings of a deal.

Good looking boy.

Hello there, how are you?

Fine.

It's a pleasure, sir.

How are you doing?

-Oh, thank you, we'd love it.
-You like that, huh?

What's it feel like having a big
strong man pounding into you

with all his strength?

Well, that's a good question
for another fighter.

Are you saying
it doesn't bother you?

You've never been afraid?

No. Well, I was scared
one time.

After I won
the AAU Championship.

After you won
the championship?

Yeah. That qualified me
to go to the Olympics

and they were held in Rome
this year.

I had to fly over
on a plane.

Just the thought of it
scared me to death.

Well, we're all boxing nuts.
That's why we're doing this.

We told our wives
it'll make us $1 million.

You're only
stating the truth.

The contract gives you gentlemen
half my earnings.

Ooh!
Half your earnings.

You think that's going to make
us $100,000 profit?

No. You didn't hear
what he said.

He said $1 million.
Ain't that right?

Well, why not.
It's only money.

Hey, look. Look, Ronnie.
There's Mr. Hollis' car.

- What are we doing here?
- You see this car?

This baby is bad,
ain't it?

This is Mr. Faraday Hollis',
one of my sponsors.

The one I told you about.
This is his car.

How long does she take
to get up to 60? Two seconds?

I don't know.
Get in, man.

God, man, look at this.
Leather interior.

All these dials
and knobs and shiny...

Hey, what do you punk kids
think you're doing?

Are you going to
leave on your own,

or do I have to
call the cops?

The cops?
You must not know who I am.

I'm Cassius Clay
the Olympic champion.

Mr. Faraday Hollis, who owns
this car, is a friend of mine.

Lia, Obie, this is our boy,
Cassius Clay.

Cassius, this is
Mr. and Mrs. Cruikshank,

Mrs. Hollis and
Miss Hollis, my daughter.

Well, I hear
you're quite a fighter.

Yes, sir.

Well, your sponsors
expect big things from you.

Just the Heavyweight
Championship of the World,

-that's all. Right, Cash?
-Yes, sir, Mr. Hollis.

Would you like
something to eat or drink?

Well...

I am sort of thirsty.
Maybe I'll have some milk.

-Waiter?
-Yes, ma'am?

A glass of milk
for the boy.

Obie, you used to box a little
bit in college, didn't you?

Well, a little bit.

Get up,
see if you can hit him.

Why that was over 25 years ago.

Just see if you can.
Just for fun.

Well.

All right. He's all right,
I'll tell you that.

I'll tell you one thing,

there isn't any other big guy
around that fast.

Would you like to
take a seat?

Yes, I guess I would.

I want to thank you
for the exhibition, Clay.

We don't want to
hold you up from your ride.

That's all right,
'cause my friend Ronnie,

I know he'll be
a little thirsty, too.

Yeah. He was a little shy
to come in at first.

I bet he's thirsty now.
He'll come in now.

Let him stay shy.

It'll keep him
out of trouble.

But I wanted him to meet
your family and friends, sir.

Some other time.

I know you want everything to go
nice and smooth for yourself.

Right?

You understand?

I'm trying to.

Well, don't make waves.

Hey, Cash, wait a minute.
What are you doing?

Man, this thing
is phony,

gold-plated, and it ain't
worth a damn.

I can't believe
you did that!

Oh, God, man, what did you
do that for?

It wasn't worth a shit anyway.

Angelo Dundee.

No, you got those hands too low.
Now get them up.

Hustle, hustle!

And the hands,
the hands!

Cassius, don't lean back
like that!

What, you prefer this sucker
to hit me in the head?

Come on, sucker,
try it.

And hold your hands up.
Don't hold them so low. Come on.

Hey, Birdie, how are you?

Is that the new kid?
The one from Louisville?

Yeah, that's him.

He won the light-heavy gold
medal over there in Rome.

Name of Clay.
I know. I saw the film.

I bet you worry if he pulls
his head back like that

and a guy comes at him
it could really lift.

All right, so he's got
a couple of bad faults.

You'd better change that.

Sometimes I don't even know
who the hell the trainer is.

But I'm learning.

Whenever I want him to
throw a left hook, I say to him:

"Jeez, what a beautiful left
hook that was."

And he goes out
there and does it.

All right, time!

Hey, kid, I want you to meet
Dr. Ferdie Pacheco. He's the

best fight doctor and savviest
guy in the boxing business.

Except for you and me.

Huh?

See, you know more than he does,
else I'd have him training me.

And me, I know more, too, else
you wouldn't be going around

showing me off as
your prize new boy.

He's articulate,
ain't he?

No offense, kid.

I never saw a heavyweight
move around like you do.

See, 'cause there's never
been a fighter with my problem.

Never been a fighter
with such a pretty face.

And I owe it to my public
to keep it that way.

-Time to shower, I imagine?
-Go shower, go.

Hey, kid!

How much roadwork
did you do this morning?

-Six miles.
-I thought I told you only four.

Oh, I lost track
making up a poem.

You see what I mean?

Are you aware that
Lamar Clark has knocked out

-his last 45 opponents?
-He's a bum.

That sucker can't go
two rounds with me. Two rounds.

-You're calling the round?
-Can I quote you?

Yeah, I know
what I'll do.

I'll get him in two.

"When you come to the fight,
don't block the aisle and don't

block the door. Archie Moore's
going to fall in round four!

Besmanoff will stay to seven,

then he'll think he's gone
to heaven!"

Hey, you,
what's happening?

You're sure looking good.
What you doing?

How about a date or something?
Let's take a ride.

Nothing freaky.

Nothing freaky?
Come on, woman, get in the car.

Do you recognize me?

I mean, have you ever
saw me before?

I mean, you know who I am,
don't you?

How the hell
would I know?

Seriously, you don't
recognize me?

I bet you one thing:

Before the night's over,
we will know each other.

Oh, yes, indeed.
I will know you.

Yes, ma'am.

'Cause we're going to have
a good time tonight.

-That's right.
-Give me five.

You know a little soul,
don't you?

Give it back.

Yes, ma'am.

Would you park over here? It's
that building on the left there.

I want you to
answer me one question.

Are you anywhere
as good as you look?

I'm better than I have been but
not as good as I'm gonna get.

Mmm!
Come on, I can't wait.

Hey. Hey, look. Hey!

Hey, brother!
Say, brother!

Look here a minute.
I got a message for you.

Look, I'm busy now, man.

It's important message,
man.

Important? Ain't no more
important than what I got to do.

I have a message for you. I want
to invite you to our mosque.

Ain't nothing no more important
than what I'm getting ready

-to do now. So leave me alone.
-Yeah, but what

-you going to do, brother?
-Wait.

Hey, baby! Wait!

Oh, man, you made me
miss the woman. She's gone.

Man, I did you
a good favor, brother.

Did me a favor?

That's worse than
dope and alcohol.

That white woman.
Worse than alcohol.

Man, you're crazy.
This pretty white woman?

-I'm not kidding.
-That's right, brother.

She's gone.

Have you ever
heard of Malcolm X?

I've heard of Malcolm X.

He's in the mosque
and I want to invite you.

-There's no Malcolm X over here.
-Would I lie?

-Malcolm X in the ghetto?
-He's right over here.

-Would I lie to you?
-Do you know who I am?

-I know you.
-What's my name?

- You're Cassius Clay.
- That's right.

And you know I can fight?

-Don't worry about that.
-Don't lie.

I wouldn't lie. Two minutes
of your time. That's all.

-I ain't gonna stay two minutes.
-That's all.

-That's all it take two minutes.
-Malcolm X is over here?

Right now. Right now.

- I wouldn't lie to you.
- Right.

Alright? That's all
it will take.

He's a devil.

Every time you
see a white man,

think about the devil,
and you'll see him.

Think of how it is
on your slave fore-parents'

bloody, sweaty backs,
that he built this empire.

That's right!

'Cause today, the richest of all
nations, by its evil

and its greed make him hated
around the world.

This blue-eyed devil
took away your name,

took away your language.

Took away your culture.

And what does he
offer in return?

A religion that says:

We're all going
to sprout wings,

fly up into the sky.

God will have a special place
for us called heaven,

while the white devil
enjoys his heaven right now!

And we have accepted
this brainwashing.

Christian religion,
we've embraced it.

We have believed in it.

But, now, the Honorable
Elijah Muhammad

offers you
the Nation of Islam.

The Muslim religion.

A program of independence
for the black man.

How many of you want to follow
the Honorable Elijah Muhammad?

Yes, sir!

How many of you will
stand up for Allah?

You know, all this time,
I've been standing up

for a white man. A blonde-
headed, blue-eyed Jesus.

That's right.

Give him
a haircut and shave,

he'll be like
the same honky policeman

on the street
busting your head in.

Never even
thought about that.

Champ, I got somebody
I want you to meet.

This is Bundini Brown.

He was with Sugar Ray Robinson
and Johnny Bratton five years.

I want you to meet him.
Hey, Champ.

I don't care who
you've been with. I'm tired.

Champ, he's the only man I know
that talks more than you do.

Shoot.

"Float like a butterfly
and sting like a bee.

You can't hit
what you can't see."

Hey, man,
who in the world are you?

I mean,
what would Johnny Bratton

or Sugar Ray Robinson
need with you,

as great as they were?

'Cause you just
don't train the body.

You got to get into the soul.

You can talk all the philosophy
and stuff you want.

Sonny Liston is the king,
and it shall remain that way

until he gets in the ring
with Cassius Clay.

"The old master painter
from the faraway hills,

who painted
the violets and the daffodils,

said the next champ
gonna come from Louisville."

Man, you're all right.

Crazy, just like me,
spouting poetry.

Put this one in
your little bag.

"When I start fighting,
I'm going to be known

as the greatest of them all.
Because they all will fall

in the round I call."

Why do you call
the rounds on people?

Well, I predict because it sells
tickets. Makes people come.

How big is it for you to win
the Heavyweight Championship?

I dream about it.
I always dream about it.

I dream about all the things
I've had to give up,

up until now. All the ice cream,
all the cake, all the pie.

I dream about the things

I'm gonna have to give up
to get that title.

Mainly pretty women, man.
That's hard to pretty women.

You're gonna give up the
best part of life. Me and you

should have been together
when you was 12 years old.

What makes you think

little old Cassius Clay can
beat the big bad Sonny Liston?

'Cause you'll float like
a butterfly and take his crown.

And you and I both know
that he's headed for defeat.

On that we both agree,
but there's only one thing:

We have yet to
get that chump in the ring.

That's right, brother.

I'm here to tell you all,
you think I'm just talking.

You think I'm
just running my mouth,

but these two fighters
in here are slow.

They have no class,
no speed, no skill.

Floyd Patterson and Sonny Liston
are not in my class.

They're not fast enough,
and you've been robbed.

You're wasting money.

How can you have a heavyweight
title fight without me?

They're ducking me.
They want to brush me off.

They say I'm a loudmouth,
but you wait, you just wait.

I'll show all of you,
because in the near future,

I'll whup Sonny Liston,
Floyd Patterson.

I'll be crowned the greatest
heavyweight champion

of all times. And there can be
no title fight without me.

Sonny Liston!

Attention, the true heavyweight
champion is here!

I've been looking
for you all over!

I want you to get all your money
off the craps table.

I'll bet you,
I'll whup you right now.

I'm too fast
for you, sucker.

I say you ain't nothing
picking Floyd Patterson.

Well, why don't you face me,
since my mouth is so big?

I'm going to destroy you.

I bet you all the money you've
got right here, right now.

Right now,
I'll knock you out, sucker!

Right here.
Come on, sucker.

You hear me?
This is Cassius Clay,

the greatest fighter
in the history of all boxing!

You are nothing!
You are nothing!

You hear me,
you gambling sucker?

I'm talking to you.
You can't duck me forever.

You can't
duck me forever.

You know who I am.
Floyd Patterson.

You knocked him out once.
You'll knock him out again.

I'm the one that you don't want.

You're a faggot.

A faggot?
I got something for you.

I'll show you while
everyone's watching.

I've never seen you
with ladies.

-You're a faggot.
-Don't see me with ladies?

You got
two pretty ones there.

That's why
you'll get whupped.

Quit acting a fool. You're
embarrassing colored folks.

Embarrassing colored folks?
As ugly as you are?

You, the heavyweight
champion, representing us

looking like you look.
I'll tell you what I'll do.

I'm giving you 24 hours

to saddle your horse up
and ride out of Las Vegas.

Saddle up your horse
and be out of town.

Is this the Daily News?

Well, I'm a citizen
who lives in Colorado.

I just saw something
I'm sure you want to know about.

Cassius Clay is in town.

Yes, Cassius Clay!
He's in town.

I just saw a big red bus
with the name Cassius Clay

painted on the bus
and the sign says,

"The world's most
colorful fighter."

Yes.

I'm serious. This is no crank
call, it's no joke.

Cassius Clay is in town.

As a matter of fact,
I'm looking out the window now.

He's outside Sonny
Liston's house

with a bunch of men
on the bus.

Yes, they were
all colored.

Well, I don't like to say this,
but they are all niggers.

Yes.
It's going to be...

Trouble?
I don't really know.

He's not here to play checkers.
So I'm calling you now.

Call the police,
or get the newspapers,

because you have a scoop.

I've come to haunt you.

I've come to haunt you.

Sonny Liston, where do you liv,
you big, ugly bear?

You big, ugly bear.

I know you're
out here somewhere.

You're no champion.

I know you're in
there somewhere.

Where you at,
Sonny Liston?

Come out of that house.
I know you're sleeping in here.

I know you're in there
somewhere, all comfortable.

Come out of your house,
Sonny Liston.

Come out of your house, sleepig
with all them rich folks.

I'm here to get you. You're
trying to get some sleep...

Get off my land!
You black faggot bastard!

- Who you calling...
- You!

You ugly sucker, you.

Get that bus
away from here.

I've come to get you.

Get out of here.

Look at that savage.

Get away from here.
Get off my land!

Police,
arrest that pervert!

Look at that wild man!

Hold that sucker.

Get out of here.
Get out of here.

You know
I'm the champion.

Why don't you arrest that fool?
Get him off my property.

When are you
going to fight me?

Faggot bastard.

Why don't
somebody do something?

What the hell is this?

Ain't you ever seen
one of those before?

I know what it is.
That's a bear trap.

Al Carrara's here. He's got a
message from Sonny Liston.

-Oh, yeah, how you doing?
-How you doing?

I've been authorized to give you
this message

if you won the fight.

The champ wants you to drink
your orange juice

and milkshakes. You've talked
yourself into a title fight.

He hopes you can
keep your big mouth shut

or he'll ram his
fist so far down your throat,

it'll take him
a week to pull it out.

I'll tell you what to do,
message boy:

You go back and tell him
that I appreciate

the opportunity of
fighting for my title,

'cause it's
going to be mine.

Also, tell him that after
the fight, don't worry,

because he will
not be unemployed.

He can be
my chief sparring partner.

You go tell him that.

- I'll see you.
- That's right.

Tell him that,
message boy.

Be sure he gets mad.

♪ I believe the children
Are our future ♪

♪ Teach them well
And let them lead the way ♪

♪ Show them all the beauty
They possess inside ♪

♪ Give them a sense of pride

♪ To make it easier

♪ Let the children's laughter

♪ Remind us how we used to be

♪ Everybody searching
For a hero ♪

♪ People need someone
To look up to ♪

♪ I never found anyone
To fulfill my needs ♪

♪ A lonely place to be

♪ So I learned to
Depend on me ♪

Boy, you can ride a bike.
How you doing?

-Fine, how are you?
-All right.

No, you. Ladies first.
I forgot.

Oh, no,
after you, Mr. Clay.

You must be a lot thirstier
than I am.

No, I can wait.

Mr. Clay? How do you...
Where do you know me from?

Lots of places.

No, the picture on your album
cover, The Greatest.

Oh, that album cover
The Greatest.

How many times
have you heard that?

-About 6,000 times.
-Mmm!

No, my kid brother
keeps listening to it.

-Is that right?
-Mmm-hmm.

-Come on, ladies first.
-Thank you.

You looking at something?

No, I'm not
looking at nothing.

Well, it's just your, uh...

Anything special
about my, uh...

No, nothing special.
Well, it is...

Well, what I mean is...

You don't sound at all sure
about what you mean, Mr. Clay.

-Come on, let me have a drink.
-Go ahead, you take a drink.

You know what?

Yours looks
pretty special, too.

Look, I'll tell you what.

Don't waste time.
Just answer me a few questions.

-Questions?
-Number one: What's your name?

Number two:
Where do you live?

And most of all, number three:
Can I pick you up and

take you out tonight?

Well, my name
is Ruby Sanderson.

-Hold it. Repeat that.
-Ruby Sanderson.

I live at 411
South Poinsettia.

-Mmm-hmm. 411.
-But I've already got a date.

Oh! Well, whoever it is,
he can't be as nice as me.

The sucker can't be
as pretty as me.

So why don't you find some way
to just

drop him and cancel
that date tonight?

-Are you asking me to?
-Yeah, baby.

-Then that's what it takes.
-Out of sight.

-Well, what time 8:00?
-8:00.

Be pretty.
'Cause I'll be pretty.

-You are fine.
-All right.

All right.
See you later.

Be on time.
Don't be too slow.

Women are always late.
Especially you colored girls.

What Jackie Robinson was really
saying, "If you give me a place

on your team, I'll show you
what a nice fellow I am."

Just a regular human being like
everybody else, only my skin

is kinda funny. But before long,
you won't even notice that.

That's what happened
because we have

more black players
now than ever.

If we keep on depending on the
goodness of the man's heart,

second baseman of the Dodgers is
as far as you'll ever get.

Because no majority ever
gave the minority

a fair share of the loot
without force.

Well, force is something we
can't really do

'cause we're not united. Once we
unite, we will have that force.

For every one of them in the
world, there's two non-whites,

going on three.
Don't forget that.

That sounds a little different.
The "white minority."

Still got the edge on power,
but it's moving the other way.

And that's what's really
important.

Thanks to people like you,
everything'll be okay.

-Salaam-Alaikum.
-Salaam.Thank you, brother.

See you tomorrow.

I saw who you were with.

It was Malcolm X,
wasn't it?

Yes, sir,
that's who it was.

Cash,

all your life you've been
training for one thing:

The World Heavyweight
Championship of the world.

That's right, and I will be the
next heavyweight champ of the

world. I go to bed thinking
about it, I dream about it.

So, I mean, so what's...
Why are you bringing this up?

Don't you realize what the
papers are going to do?

They say Malcolm X is the most
dangerous man in America today.

They say he's the most dangerous
man in the world,

but he walked up here by
himself. No bodyguards.

I don't see no police out here.

But he's the most dangerous man
in the world?

Why are whites so afraid
of the name Malcolm X?

Well... because... I don't know,
maybe it's his religion.

Look, Angelo, when it comes
to boxing, you're the man.

You're the sole reason
for me being where I'm at today.

Now, why are you
worried about religion?

Just take care of the boxing.
I'll worry about my religion.

'Cause you already got a faith.
Why don't you stick with it?

My faith, Christianity,
is the white man's faith.

Your Jesus is white.
Your angels are white.

Your Lord's Supper is white.
Everything's white. I have to

wait until I die
before I go to heaven.

While you have everything now.

I mean, why... Let me worry
about my religion.

Champ, Bill McDonald is
on the phone.

He wants to see you
down in his office.

I don't think he
likes you no more.

Now he's all upset.
He heard about Malcolm X.

What do you mean,
he don't like me no more?

All right. All right.

He don't like nothing
but some money.

Whatever nigger
can make some money.

If Liston wins, then they'll be
his nigger.

Look.

What do I care
about Bill McDonald?

Wait a minute, baby, look.
Just play it cool, will you?

Don't get aggravated
and don't get him aggravated.

After all, there is a
compromise, for Christ's sake!

All right,
for Allah's sake.

Okay, for Allah's sake.

All right.
We'll make it.

I love you.

You flew to New York
last week with Malcolm X?

Mmm-hmm.

Visited a mosque
of the Nation of Islam there?

You have two black Muslim
security guards in your camp,

and Muslim women
doing your cooking?

Why? I don't understand.

What do you mean, why?
I don't eat pork no more.

I'm going to accept
the Islamic faith.

Malcolm X is
a brother and a friend of mine.

And I have cooking
who I want to cook at my house.

Malcolm X should be...

I can go where I want
with Malcolm X.

Malcolm X and his family
are your guests here in Miami.

That's right. What about it?
He's a black.

He's my brother.
He's my friend.

I can do what I want to.
I want you...

-Why am I explaining to you...
-Wait a minute!

Listen. Listen. Listen
Fire the guards and the cooks.

Persuade Malcolm X
to get out of town,

and go on
radio and TV tonight

and tell
the American people

that you have no connection
with the Muslims.

Why? Just because
of the fight?

Just because I'm going
to make some money?

You think I'll deny the Muslim
faith, which I love and accept?

You think I'm going to
deny Elijah Muhammad,

the great leader
for the black people of America?

You think I'm gonna deny
my friendship with Malcolm X?

- You're not Muslim yet.
- I'm going to be one.

Well, I'm gonna tell you
something. You're not one yet

and you'll make over $400,000
in this fight, plus the...

I don't care about that.
You're making money, too.

You're making money too.
You wouldn't be in on it.

Listen to me.
Listen.

You have a chance to make
millions if you win the title.

I'll compromise,
if that's the case.

I'm not going to
deny my religion.

I'm not gonna run
Malcolm X out of town.

I'm not going
to fire my cooks.

I'll stay quiet.

I won't do nothing
until the fight's over.

That's no concession at all.
You're not giving up a thing.

Either you make this
announcement to the public or

the fight's off. You'll never
get another chance at the title.

-Is that why I'm here?
-That's right.

-I'll announce it right now...
-Announce what?

...unless you tell
me what you'll do.

Here's what I'm
not going to do.

I'm not gonna
renounce my religion.

You already said that.

Don't run off
at the mouth, Cassius.

I'll call off the fight.

Call the fight off.
To hell with you.

At least you'll get to meet my
people two days ahead of time.

They weren't
coming till Friday.

Oh, good. I want to meet
your mother.

Yes, she'd like to
meet you, too.

How do you know for sure,
when he put it to you,

you'd be
giving all this up?

When you think about it,
it was simple.

For me to turn down what I
believe in and my people,

the black people, just to please
white folks, to get this fight.

In probably some 10 to 15 years
from now when I'm no longer

fighting, and the white has
no more use for me,

and black people remember what I
did and turn their backs on me,

then I'm really
in trouble.

Hey, Cash!

Yeah.

Angelo, what's up?

Mr. McDonald
wants to talk to you.

Mr. McDonald,
I'm surprised to see you.

I thought about
what you said,

about your right to
your religious faith.

That's part of
the American principle.

Thank you.

We don't want you to say
anything till after the fight

if that's all right.

After the fight. Right. Give
a little, take a little, right?

I'll see you tomorrow.
Everything is still on.

Thank you.

Quiet.
Quiet, everyone.

The heavyweight champion
of the world, Sonny Liston.

Weighing 218 pounds.

I'm the greatest fighter
that ever lived.

The world is going
to find out tonight.

Slip on out of here, Sonny.

No telling what Clay's going
to pull.

No, I'm going to wait
on that faggot nigger.

Give him
my evil eye.

Stare him down,
same way I done Patterson.

I've come to
destroy Sonny Liston.

Don't you also
know how great I am?

People say I'm just talking.
They call me a bigmouth.

After this,
you're going to see.

I am the greatest.

Tell the whole world.
Tell them all.

I'm the man.
I'm the man.

Tell the whole world
I'm the champ.

I'll destroy that sucker.

I'm the greatest.
I'm the meanest.

There he is.
There he is.

You don't scare me.
You don't scare me.

I can't wait. I can't wait.
I can't wait.

I'm going to
knock you out, sucker.

I'm going to
knock you out.

I'm pretty. You're ugly.
You won't have a chance.

You're too slow.
I've been watching you.

Floyd Patterson was scared
of you.

Floyd Patterson was scared
of you. I'm not scared of you.

- I don't care about your fist.
- Yes. That's right.

He's scared of you.
But I'm not scared of you.

-You're a fag.
-A fag?

You ain't nothing!
You ain't nothing.

-Sit down!
-You ain't nothing!

-Sit down!
-You ain't nothing!

You ain't nothing!
You ain't worth nothing!

'Cause I'm gonna
kick your you-know-what.

I'm gonna beat you.

Easy, easy.

Your blood pressure.

-Come on, doc.
-What is it?

Two hundred over 100 and his
pulse is going wild.

If his pressure doesn't go down,
there'll be no fight.

Come on. Let's go.
Get him out of there.

That's 120 over 80.

Now, why did you do that, Cash?
You scared the hell out of us.

I heard Liston
wasn't scared of nothing.

As a matter of fact,
he scares everybody.

Everybody is
scared of him.

So I figured if I act crazier
that would really scare him,

because you never know
what a nut's going to do.

It scared you all, too, huh?

Clay puts a jab on the mouth.

Another one-two.
A left and a right to the jaw.

A right that grazes the chin
of Sonny Liston.

Clay feints a left hand

and gives a right that goes
over the head.

Liston catches up with Clay, and
drives both hands to the body.

He's hooking hard
to the midsection.

For the first time in the figh,
Liston looks alive.

Clay is way ahead as he drives
a right hand to the jaw.

Liston is
puffing around the eye.

Over in Liston's corner,
he's badly beaten up.

They're applying
ointment to the eye.

That right eye
is very swollen.

I doubt if
Liston can continue.

And if he cannot,
there will be a new champion.

No, Sonny Liston
cannot continue.

Cassius Clay is the champion
by a knockout,

as Liston cannot come out
for the second round.

Clay does a victory dance.
His handlers are jubilant.

They're picking him up.
The crowd is going wild.

Cassius Clay, the heavyweight
champion of the world

and a beaten-up
Sonny Liston.

I am the greatest!

When did you know
he wasn't coming back, Champ?

Hold it. Hold it, hold it.
First things first.

Now, listen, let's get it
straight. Just don't forget it.

Sonny Liston was
supposed to destroy me.

How wrong all of you were.
And you got to admit it.

You got to all bow and tell me
that I'm the greatest.

That's right. That's right.
That's right.

I have another announcement
I have to make.

The name Clay, Cassius Clay, my
name is no longer Cassius Clay.

That's right.
You've heard the rumors.

I am a Muslim.
That's my religion now.

My religion is Islam, and the

Honorable Elijah Muhammad
has named me Muhammad Ali.

You are a black Muslim?

Black Muslim. It's just Muslim.
We have white Muslims,

brown, red, yellow.
We have all colored Muslims.

We have different
colored Christians.

You don't ask a man if
he's a black or white Christian.

Another announcement
I want to make.

My manager is now the son of
the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

The Lowell sponsoring group
has-- as my wishes,

has allowed him
to be my manager.

Herbert Muhammad.
I want you to meet him also.

Could you come here,
brother Herbert? From now on,

he will be my adviser
and he will call the shots.

He's a spiritual leader.

I've a question. What does he
know about boxing, Cassius?

And what about your
Louisville sponsor, Cas?

Do you think we're going
to go along with

this black Muslim business?

You'll still be
Cassius Clay to me.

You want to
keep me a slave.

I'm known as Muhammad Ali.
Cassius Clay is dead.

You, of all people,
should know that.

Why should I
know that?

Because it was your article
I read this morning.

You said, "Sonny Liston will
murder Cassius Clay."

Boy, I got all the girlfriends
tonight, and all these ugly men.

Hey, Champ.
How you feel, baby?

I feel pretty good.

Just a little
hot and thirsty.

Could have a cold ginger ale
or something.

Okay, let's go.

Whoa, whoa.

This dress. You know, I don't
like these types of clothes.

It's too short.
Your chest is showing.

I don't want you parading around
all these people, especially

with me. Let me get a waiter
or waitress.

They can take care of it.

I've been sitting here. I'd like
to get up and move

around some. Come on.

Come on. Hold it. I said no.
Just stay right here.

Let me get you a drink.
You must be--

Come here. Hold it.

Why are you so anxious to run
around here and find me a drink

in this type of dress?

Parading around with your legs
out and your breasts showing.

-You bought me this dress.
-I bought you the dress for me.

For me and you.
I told you.

For me to watch
around the house,

not for everybody
out here to see.

I need a drink. And it ain't
going to be no damn ginger ale.

Get off of me!

- You make no sense.
- Stop it.

It don't make no sense.
You'll dress like I tell you.

You come with me.
Get through here.

How are you going
to be my woman

if everything you are doing
is embarrassing me tonight?

My woman walking around
with her chest all out.

Your knees all out and your
dress 5 inches over your legs,

with horny crackers and niggers
looking at you,

drooling at the mouth.

Well, you bought this dress.
You picked it out.

-Let me out.
-Hold it, woman. Hold it now.

If it was just a dress,
it wouldn't be so bad.

It ain't just a dress. Look at
all that makeup on your face.

You told me you were going
to stop it. Powder and rouge.

You're smoking,
even took a drink.

I don't belong to you.

-We're not married, you know.
-Come here.

How you going to
be my wife?

Everything you doing
don't represent me.

You're against my religion
and everything.

I'll tell you something what
you're going to do tonight.

This dress is going to come down
two inches over your knees.

Let me out of here.

Stop it, Cash,
you're tearing it.

Come back here, woman!
You've got no clothes on!

What happened
to your dress?

I explained to Mr. Muhammad

that this contract
gives his man

twenty percent of
all ancillary rights,

including
closed-circuit television.

And I told him

there was a bonus
of $50,000 for him personally,

the day the Champ
signs the deal.

Mr. Muhammad said,
"Not enough money."

All right,
so we agreed already.

We'll make him
a final offer.

Seventy-five.

If you're going to give me
that much money

for my fighter
to take 20 percent,

you really ought to
give him 40.

You're crazy.

No way.
That can't happen.

Better than that...

is to cut out
all of you middlemen,

start our own
ancillary company,

and give him 50 percent.

I wouldn't try that.

You don't know it,
gentlemen,

but almost every black fighter
in the history of boxing,

ended up broke.

That is not going to happen
to Muhammad Ali.

Maybe you don't know the
reputation I got, Mr. Muhammad,

as a prophet.

Hmm?

So many times I've said,
something terrible

is going to happen
to a particular fellow.

And what
do you think happens?

He comes to grief.

That's very
interesting, Mr. Curtis.

You see...

because I'm a bit of
a psychic myself.

Oh?

And I'm predicting that if any
grief comes to anyone I know,

there's going to be
twice as much of the same

to whoever caused it.

Muhammad,
do you know

you've been
reclassified in the draft?

No, sir. All I know is the
last they had me pretty dumb.

I was classified 1Y.

That's because you flunked
the intelligence test, right?

Yeah, I flunked it. I told you
all I was the greatest.

-Never said I was the smartest.
-Right.

They've got you
reclassified 1A,

which means
you can be inducted at any time.

Ain't that something? That shows
you how wise they are

to reclassify me,
switch me to 1A,

without giving me a test.

Maybe they got some
heavy mail about why

you're not over there
doing your job.

How would you feel
about that, Muhammad?

Being sent to Vietnam?

Don't feel nothing.
I'm not excited at all.

You mean you're not interested
in going over there

to fight for freedom?

Fight for freedom? Fight whose
freedom? I'm not free

right here. We've places
on Miami Beach I can't go.

My people aren't free.
Fighting for who?

I'm talking about
fighting the enemy.

Whose enemy? Man, the Vietcong
never called me no nigger.

They're your enemy,
not mine.

Niggers ain't crazy.

Incredible,
totally incredible.

Sport's personality,
now page one,

newspapers throughout the worl,
radio, and TV.

He fought them
one at a time.

Maybe the pound for pound
greatest in history.

Now he challenges
the policy...

if not the conscience,
of the nation.

Sam Geisen,
for News Center.

Now they've
reclassified you 1A,

which means you can be
inducted at any time.

That shows you how wise
they are to reclassify me 1A,

without even
checking me out.

Maybe they got some heavy mail

about you not being
over there doing your job.

How would you feel
about that, Muhammad?

Being sent to Vietnam?

How would I feel?
I haven't even thought about i.

-Don't bother me at all.
-Can I have a little service?

You mean you're not
interested in going there

to fight for freedom?

Fight for freedom?
Fight for whose--

Who wants to hear that
loudmouth, Muhammad Ali?

You can't talk
that way about...

Surprised you!
Tricked you, didn't I?

I'm sorry.

No, that's all right. Don't
be sorry. I like your spirit.

What I'd like right
now is some service.

What can I do for you?

Well, you know I'm
new in town, right?

I don't know my way around.
I don't know nobody.

Well, to tell you
the truth, I'm lonely.

A man like you,
lonely.

"A man like you,
lonely."

You figure because
I'm Muhammad Ali,

nice looking,
I have everything I want:

Parties, women, just everything
waiting for me, right?

-Something like that.
-Well, it's not so.

And then it is so. I don't
have too much trouble,

but I don't appreciate things
that come too easy.

I was just walking
across the street,

I saw this pretty sister
over here.

I thought I would just come
over here and, uh...

What I'm really
trying to say, sister... um...

Do you know
what I really want?

Some cupcakes?

Um...

We have...
Our specialty is bean pie.

And we have
carrot cake and...

Everything here
is freshly baked.

Well, if that's the case,
I'll take some bean pie.

I'll take some cupcakes.

I'll take some
carrot cake,

and most of all, I'll take you
out to dinner tonight.

I can't go out to
dinner with you.

I mean,

you'd have to
ask my parents.

Yeah, I've already done that.

I've already
asked your parents.

I've talked to them already.
I figured you'd say that.

So I'm a step
ahead of you.

You know my parents?

Yeah, I know your parents,
I know you.

I've watched you
at the mosque.

I saw you at
the religious services.

I even talked to your father,
met your mother.

I even know your name.

What's my name?

Your name is Belinda, right?

Well, what did they say?

Well, they told me that
I'd have to watch it.

Your father said, because
you're still kind of young, yet.

What'd you say?

I said to him I
realize you're young.

I can wait a few days.
You're gonna get older.

But, uh, you're so big
for your size,

I told him I hope
you stop growing.

They're fighting.

Ooh!

He hit that woman.

-What's that?
-Look.

Can anybody tell me
how I can stay out of jail?

Well, you gotta make that
first step to find out.

"Kiss ass, kiss ass,
nigger man," they holler.

Nigger was yesterday.

What did Herbert say?

Herbert said I can take the step
or not take the step.

It's up to me.

I mean, you know,
Herbert is my conscience.

Herbert had two brothers,
three brothers

that went to jail
for not going into the Army.

I'll wait
for you here.

Good luck, fellas.

Line up
in alphabetical order.

First four in front
and so forth.

"You're about to
be inducted into

the Armed Forces of
the United States,

in the Army, the Navy, the
Marine Corps, or the Air Force,

as indicated by
the service announced

following your
name when called.

You will take one step forward

as your name and
service are called.

And such a step
will constitute your induction

into the service indicated.

John Allen, Navy.

James Austin, Army.

Louis Cerrato, Army.

Cassius Clay, Army.

Cassius Clay, Army."

Will you please step forward and
be inducted into

the Armed Forces
of the United States.

I'll take him into
the Major's office.

All right.

Follow me, please.

"Lyle Cornels."

Sit down, young man.

Yes, sir.

You'll have another chance
in a few minutes

to reconsider
and be inducted.

You'll go back,
they'll call your name,

and they'll tell you once again
to take that step.

Well, sir, I'd rather
not do that

'cause it'd just be
wasting everyone's time.

It's not a waste of time.
It's standard procedure.

But there are a few things
that I would like to tell you

before you get
that second chance.

The first is that your legal
defense is ridiculous.

I'm a lawyer
in civilian life,

and your claim to be an
Islamic minister is just silly.

So is your case on the grounds

of your own
religious convictions.

Lots of your fellow Muslims
are in the Army now.

Public opinion is going to be
much rougher on you because

of the special rewards and the
privileges that you've had.

They're not going to be
satisfied to see you

in a dungeon. They're going to
want your blood.

Excuse me, Major,
I couldn't resist butting in.

How do you do? I'm Colonel
Cedrich. Sit down, please.

First thing
my kid'll ask me tonight is,

"Did I talk to the Champ?"

You know, I saw both the Terrell
and the Williams fights,

and Patterson
in Las Vegas, the year before.

We were just talking, Colonel,
the young man and I,

about what it means
to resist induction.

Mmm-hmm. Have you talked about
what it means to accept

for a man of
Mr. Ali's particular talents?

I wonder if you realize
how unlikely it would be

for the Army to send you as
a combat soldier to Vietnam.

If we draft
a chemistry professor,

we don't put him into
a combat infantry unit

with a rifle in his hands.

And we wouldn't put
a rifle in your hands.

-Of course not.
-Morale is very important to us.

And sports are very
important for morale.

Do you know what Sergeant
Joe Lewis did in World War II?

Yes, sir. I think he
boxed exhibitions,

did personal appearances,
and things like that.

Right.

Now, there are no guarantees,
but you can be quite sure

that's what you'll be doing
after basic training.

We'd be crazy to use you where
you don't have the most value.

Value for who? I mean everybody
knows where I stand.

I'm against the war in Vietnam.

I've said on occasions
in the press I don't think

black people should go
to Vietnam and fight Asians,

yellow people, who've never
lynched us, raped us,

called us "niggers", deprived us
of freedom, justice, equality,

for the same white man who's
not freeing us here in America.

Really, my conscience
won't allow me to go.

However, I won't have to go.

You offer me deals where I
probably won't have to fight

or I could have it easy,
or do like Joe Lewis did.

But still, I know
that you're using me

to lead other people
to the service,

which is leading them
to the slaughter.

And my conscience
will still bother me.

Sir, I'd just
rather go to jail.

...Sentences you to five years
in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Come to order, please.

Bail to be continued.

We plan to appeal,
Your Honor.

You made that clear,
Mr. Eskridge.

Court is adjourned.

All rise, please.

Come on now,
don't worry.

We have at least two years,

the attorney told me,
before the appeal.

What if you lose? You'll
spend five years in prison.

Well, if we lose that's
the will of Allah.

We'll just get used to it.

Anyway, you haven't gone
to Las Vegas

and you haven't
gone to Hawaii.

You haven't
gone to Miami.

And just let it
stay like that.

Attorney, you are my legal
adviser on legal affairs.

I don't need no legal advice
on where to have honeymoons.

Mmm-hmm. You're going to pay
with credit cards, right?

Well, just let me
have a look at them.

Yeah, there you go.

I don't understand.

Is that all of them?
You got any more in there?

No. That's it. What's wrong. You
think they're not up-to-date?

Oh, no. They're fine,
they're fine.

Why did you put them in
your pocket? I might need them.

Do you know how much it'll
gonna cost to take this case

to the Supreme Court?

We never
talked about fees yet.

Fees can always
be deferred.

I'm talking about
court costs.

I mean what kind of bread
are you talking about?

How much do you have
in the bank?

Uh...

Well, you need that
and a lot more. Believe me.

Excuse us, please.

Excuse us.

Are you still
number one?

It'll all be going out, and
nothing coming in to live on.

You made it to the top
of the mountain, Champ,

but it's as steep going down
as it was coming up,

and a hell of a lot faster.

You got to get used to
another kind of life.

Look, I mean, I don't care
about that.

I've been broke
longer than I've been rich.

-I mean, I can adjust to that.
-We'll see.

I mean, in just the last
few days things have changed.

The conditions are changed.

It's still the same
for me. Isn't it for you?

How can it be when I'm not
the champion?

They took my title.

Ali, I don't want you
for your title.

I appreciate that,
and I know it.

But if I'm not the champion,
I have no source of income.

I mean, this whole marriage
thing, you'd better stop

and reconsider. Maybe it's
something you don't want to do.

I've already made my
mind up what I want to do.

So, the rest is
left up to you.

Well, I'm not winning
no popularity contest.

I'm a draft resistor.

"The nigger won't
serve his country.

He's against the Vietnam war.
He's not patriotic."

How do we know
some redneck cracker

don't try to do something
harm to you, me, and the family,

thinking it's patriotic
on America's part, or something?

Well, you know what?

It might be too dangerous
married to you,

so I think that I'd
just better take another...

Hold it, hold it now. It ain't
that serious. Now come here.

It really that serious.

Maybe I'm putting
too much emphasis.

I'm not trying
to scare you.

Do you really want me to tell
you what I think you should do?

Yeah.

Well, if you take the good
with the bad, add it all up,

if I were you,
I would marry me.

Hold it. Now give me just
a little kiss on the lip.

Come on now, pretty girl,

you can just give me
a kiss on the lip.

I don't want to wait
until we marry

just to find out what
a kiss is like.

Just something light.
Not serious.

Thank you.

I'm glad you made
the right decision for us.

I hope so.

Muhammad Ali, would you take
this beautiful lady,

Miss Belinda Board,

to be your
lawful wedded wife?

If so, will you say,
"I do."

I do.

In New York, Joe Frazier

knocked out Buster Mathis
in the 11th round.

With Muhammad Ali now
out of the picture,

that means that in New York,
Massachusetts, Maine, Illinois,

Texas, and Pennsylvania,
Joe Frazier's now recognized

as the heavyweight champion
of the world.

Some world.
Six states.

And the main reason
I didn't go to Vietnam

is because of
my religious beliefs.

My religion teaches me not to
take the lives of other humans,

and that is the Islamic,
Muslim religion.

The Islamic religion
has no color distinction

as all religions shouldn't have
a color distinction.

All people are
God's people,

for all souls are nearer
and dearer to the Creator.

He's coming back.

Ellis won
the decision in 15 rounds.

That, according to the World
Boxing Association,

makes him the new
heavyweight champion.

That goes to show you

how great my hometown is,
Louisville, Kentucky.

Who would believe
that we would have

two world heavyweight champions
at the same time?

Cancellation of his passport has
made it impossible for my client

to earn his living.

But for the proposed
fight with Frazier in Toronto,

he doesn't
need a passport,

only the permission
of the court

to drive 75 miles
across the border,

for a mere 18 hours.

Now for this, we propose to
post a bond

of $100,000 to
insure his return,

plus 70 percent
of the purse in escrow

against any
income tax claims.

Oh, and as many marshals as
the government deems necessary,

to ride in his car, both ways,
and sit in his dressing room.

May it please the court,
the government objects

very strongly
to this proposal.

To grant a convicted felon
the same rights...

The district court,
in my home city

has just granted Abbie Hoffman,
a white defendant,

also appealing
a five-year sentence

in the Chicago Eight Case,

the permission to leave
this country for 26 days,

and to go to Cuba,
Your Honor.

Hoffman isn't planning to earn
$1 million on his trip.

Objection. That's completely
irrelevant.

Objection sustained.

Petition denied.

If I were you, I wouldn't even
think about retiring.

You see, 'cause you've
still got boxing in your blood.

That's why I
called this meeting.

Herb, I'm glad you did,
because you're right.

I do have boxing in my blood,
and I want to fight again.

I know.

Where would you like to have
your first comeback fight?

Name a state.

How does Georgia
sound to you?

Georgia?

Me in Georgia?

Governor Lester Maddox?

The mayor of Atlanta
is a Jewish liberal,

who was elected with the support
of a black state senator

named Leroy Johnson.

And Mr. Maddox needs
the help of both of them

in order to function.

So, Mr. Maddox went on the air
about half an hour ago,

in order to tell the world

how he feels about
an Ali fight in Georgia.

Do you mind?

Hello.

No, this is Angelo Dundee.

Go ahead,
I'll hang on.

You mean to
tell me that

we might get
Joe Frazier after all?

Go ahead,
I got it.

Right.

Right, I got you.

Thank you.

Gentlemen, these are
the words of Lester Maddox.

"We're all
entitled to our mistakes.

I see no reason
for him not to fight

in the state of Georgia."

I knew something
was gonna happen!

I knew things
had to work out!

I can't believe it.

We're going to finally
get Joe Frazier.

No. Not Joe Frazier.
Not right off.

Not the first fight.

Yank Durham said we let him down
too many times.

Oh man, he's got some nerve.

It wasn't our fault because
things worked out like they did.

He knows that.

Every time we got a state
that'll allow us to fight in it,

somebody stops it.

Now you can't
blame Yank for that.

He says go fight
somebody else.

Prove you can get a license.
Then you got Joe.

Ain't that something.
After all we've done.

Three and a half years
of waiting.

Now he's startin'
to talk funny.

How about Jerry Quarry?

Jerry Quarry?

He's big, strong,
and slow.

Hey, and he's white.

Now I see.
Boy, you all are smart.

Now I see
what you're doing.

Muhammad Ali,
the draft dodger, Muslim,

fights the great
white hope, Jerry Quarry.

Stops this
bigmouth nigger.

Boy, we all stand
to get rich now.

Or lynched.

Did you see them
evil eyes looking at us?

But when they
looked at us twice,

their eyes popped
when they saw who it was.

They really don't
believe what's happening.

Yeah, I wouldn't believe
what was happening either

if I was a white man.

Here's a draft
dodger nigger,

who ain't allowed to
fight in America,

but winds up in Georgia,
of all places,

and gonna whup a white man.

Would you believe it?
That's right.

That's why we gonna
put something on it.

- That's a bold nigger.
- That's right.

Hey, Champ.

Hey, Drew.

You gonna dance, Champ?

I'm ready.

You gonna dance?

That Jerry Quarry's
in trouble.

You gonna
shuffle on him?

Oh yeah, I'm gonna show 'em all,
I'm really the champ.

There you go.
Throw that punch on him.

Yeah. I'm too fast for him.

I'm gonna shock the world.
They think we're through.

We gonna show 'em
I'm the real champ.

This is
the resurrection.

Yeah, I'll be the greatest
of all time.

Right.

What's that?

Get down!

Get out of town,
you black son of a bitch!

These crackers are crazy!

-Who is it?
-It's for you, shall I take it?

Stay low, stay low.

I'll take it.
Hold it. I'm going crazy.

Stand up. Stand up.

Hello, who is it?

Nigger, you ain't fighting
no fight in Atlanta.

If you're in town tomorrow,
you're gonna die.

Now, we call the police.

We're not going to
do no such thing.

Stay cool.
We ain't going nowhere.

First thing in the morning,
we'll check into a nice hotel.

We're not giving
nobody any excuses,

especially
Governor Lester Maddox.

We came here
to get Jerry Quarry.

That's my job,
and we're gonna get him.

And there ain't no redneck
crackers running us out of here.

Ali! Ali! Ali! Ali!

Muhammad Ali and Jerry Quarry.

Ali looking very good
in the third round

after that forced idleness
of over three years.

Quarry picks out a left hand,
takes a jab on the chin.

Quarry seems to be cut
around the left eye.

That's going to
be bothering him.

Ali misses a left hand
over the head.

Ali is in with
a light jab on the nose.

Quarry drives him into a corner
and holds on for a moment.

And the referee gets them apar.
Ali feints a left hand.

Quarry's back towards the rope.

And there is the bell.

Quarry goes back to his corner
with a badly cut eye.

And Quarry cannot continue.

He is very unhappy about it.

But, nevertheless,
he's game.

He goes over
to congratulate Muhammad Ali.

Let him through.

Let him through, please.
Come on.

Let him through,
please.

Are you the same lady
I saw at my fights before?

I come to
all your fights.

Thank you.

I like fans like you.
Keep on coming.

Don't worry, I will.

Until I see them
carry you out on a stretcher.

Did you say, "Carry me out
on a stretcher"?

I mean... why would you
want to see me

carried out on a stretcher?

What have I ever
done to you?

I don't know you.

God won't always
let the devil win.

I want to be there
when they bust your guts

and split your face.

I want to be there.

If there's a God in heaven,
it will happen,

and I wanna be there!

You conceited nigger.
I'm going to be there.

How many of you
want to be like me one day?

Me!

Ok, then. Obey your
mothers and fathers,

get your school work,
don't drink,

don't smoke,
stay out of bad gangs.

You hear me?

Muhammad Ali,
you're free, you're free!

Right! I just heard it
on the radio!

The Supreme Court says so!
You're free!

You just heard
what on the radio?

Right, the Supreme Court
says you're free.

I won
the draft decision?

The draft, everything.
It's all over.

Kids, I'm free!

Are we going to
whup Joe Frazier?

In the words
of the decision,

"It is indisputably clear

that the Justice Department
was wrong,

as a matter of law, in advising
that Ali's beliefs

were not religiously based
and were not sincerely held."

Now these
are strong words, gentlemen,

and the decision
was unanimous.

This is going to be
the biggest event of all times.

I want you to get
it right, right?

When Ali meets
"Smokin'" Joe Frazier.

Joe says
your hands are bad.

Joe says my hands are bad?

I've had hand trouble,

but my hands will
be ready for Joe Frazier.

Tell Joe Frazier
my hands are well,

and I'm gonna
hit that sucka so hard...

Please get this down,
I'm talking too fast for you.

I'm gonna
hit that sucka so hard

it's going to jar
his kinfolks in Africa.

Go back and
tell him that now.

Ali! Ali! Ali!

It's the 15th and final round

for the Heavyweight
Championship of the World.

Two great champions,
Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali.

Both undefeated.

And the title could hang on
the result of this round.

The referee, Arthur McKinney.

There have been no knockdowns
in the fight so far.

This fight is so close.

The referee
dances around them.

Frazier is relentless,
coming after his man,

but Ali is tying him up
on the inside

as they go to the ropes.

Frazier's got
his hands down low.

He's very, very tired.
Both men are tired.

This is the final round.

There's a left hook
to the jaw by Frazier.

Ali is down.

Get up! Get up!

The only knockdown
in the fight so far.

Ali was wide open
for that punch

and down he went,
flat on his back.

We'll see how he can make out.
We're ready for action again.

Frazier comes after him,
trying to finish him.

Both men are very, very
tired and exhausted.

They go to close quarters.

Ali tries to shake off
the results of that punch.

The only knockdown
of the fight so far.

This could be the finisher.
The round is almost over now.

It's the 15th and final round.

And the scoring in New York
is on a rounds basis.

A hard right to the body,
thrown by Frazier.

Another, and then a left hook
to the body by Frazier.

The referee comes over again
to get them apart.

Ali looks very,
very tired indeed.

And so does Frazier.

The round is almost over.

Frazier ducks under
a couple of lefts.

And it's all over.
The fight is over.

The massive crowd
at Madison Square Garden

is up on their feet
cheering what probably could be

the greatest fight
of all time.

Joe Frazier, the winner,
by a unanimous decision.

Ali in his corner,
a bit disappointed.

- We'll get him next time, Champ.
- Yeah...

Baby, you did fine.
Real fine.

Let's get him dressed
so they can X-ray that jaw.

All right. All right,
everybody out, huh?

Please, everybody out.

Please, everybody out.

Okay, you heard him.
Come on, move it.

I learned a big lesson.
I'm glad it all happened.

I played too much
and wasn't serious.

Clowning and talking.

I got just what I deserved.
But let me tell you something.

Next time, we'll get him
next time. I promise you.

Like I told you
when you were a kid,

"As long as
you keep on trying."

Hold on, hold on! Back it up!
Let him out! Let him out!

That's the artist in him.

Was it ever a fight?

To tell you the truth,
I didn't know what to expect.

How could you?
He's never lost before.

The question is:
What happens now, Ferdie?

He'll get up in the morning,
and he'll scream for a rematch.

Sure.

And Frazier's not
going to give it to him.

I mean, after all the crap
he's taken from Ali.

Listen, he's just going
to make him squirm like

going through
a bunch of junk fights

just to get another shot
at the title, that's all.

I'd rather see him quit.
Right now.

What are you afraid of, Angie?

Time.

Time, Ferdie.

And the man himself.

Buster Mathis takes
a left and a right to the jaw.

He is hurt.

Ali measures him
and drives a right to the chin.

And Mathis is down!

Chuvalo's
driven into a corner.

A left and right
to the jaw by Ali.

Two more.
Three lefts to the chin.

Chuvalo tries to fight,

but he's ripped
with a right to the jaw.

Jerry Quarry is hurt.

And Ali is asking the referee
to stop the bout.

Ali puts a jab on the mouth
and a right uppercut to the ja.

Quarry is staggering
and the fight is over.

Patterson goes into a crouch,

takes a left hand high
on the head.

Ali drives a right
over the head,

drives a right to the head.

A left on the chin,
thrown by Muhammad Ali.

A grazing right to the jaw.

A left and a right
to the head.

Bob Foster, the light
heavyweight champion.

Ali feigns being hurt.
Puts a jab on the mouth.

Foster sticks out a jab,
takes a grazing right,

a left uppercut to the jaw

and Foster is down
and maybe out.

Ali is finding Joe Bugner
is a tough customer.

Bugner backs to the ropes.
Both hands to the head by Ali.

Bugner hooks a left
that goes over the head.

Drives Ali into the ropes
and holds him there.

Norton moves into Ali,
driving both hands to the body

and the referee
gets them out of a clinch.

At long range,
Norton feints a left hand.

Puts a jab on the mouth,
at the bell.

What do you think
you're doing out there?

Just because you
won the first round.

His mouth's bleeding.

How can you tell if
your jaw is broken?

It makes
a sound, Champ.

I heard something pop.

I can hear it.

There's a fracture,
but it's in line.

I can move it around
with my tongue.

What do you want
to do, you want to stop it now?

No, don't call it off.

Doctor, what do you think if
we let the fight keep goin'?

Nothing but a lot of pain,
but it's going to hurt bad.

If there's any danger
he could be hurt for life

I'll make that decision.

If it's just a matter of pain.
He can make it.

God will help you,
if you help yourself, Champ.

Norton drives
Ali into the ropes.

A right and a left to the head.
A right to the body.

Norton is very much in
command of this fight

as the referee gets
them out of a clinch.

Norton goes in
with a left hand to the head,

drives a right hand
to the body of Ali.

Another right to
the body by Norton

and a very tired Ali
tries to hold on.

He misses him
with a right hand.

There's a left and a right,

and there's the bell.

And Ali is awfully tired.

And rumor has it that he may
have a broken jaw.

The crowd is stunned
as they see Ali

on the verge of defeat.

We're waiting
for the decision.

Ken Norton carried the fight
in the later rounds.

Ali seems to have something
wrong with him.

And they're worried
in his corner.

Norton is the winner
by a decision.

A very jubilant Ken Norton.

A very happy Norton.

And the pro-Norton crowd
is taunting Ali.

A tired Ali, and a beaten Ali,
goes towards his dressing room.

You nigger son of a bitch.
We finally got you.

Who's the prettiest?
Who's the greatest?

Who's the prettiest?
Who's the greatest?

Easy. Easy.

It hurts.

Only X-rays will
tell us how bad it is.

Oh!

Can I speak to
my baby alone, please?

Hi.

I'm sorry.
I'm sorry I lost.

I should've stopped it, Ferdie.

I should've when I had the idea.
I should've stopped it.

I shouldn't have let it
go past the sixth round.

He may
never fight again.

How do you
feel, son?

I'm all right.

I just want you to
promise me one thing.

That this is
the last one.

Mama, I can't make
no promise like that.

Look, I was just talking.

I had my mouth open,
I was clowning

and I just got hit
in the wrong place.

You won the fight
you wanted most,

with the Supreme Court.
That was no split decision.

Now you don't
have to go to jail,

you got money put by

and four of the most
gorgeous babies.

And you and Belinda
have got everything.

Belinda, where is Belinda?

Why's she not here?

- She's down the hall.
- Down the hall?

She's all right.

- Why is she down the hall?
- She's ok.

Champ, where
are you going?

Belinda, why isn't
she here?

She's in shock.

Shock?
What do you mean shock?

Ali is dead.
He's dead.

I'm not dead,
I'm not dead.

Help. No, no.

Mr. Ali,
you can come in now.

I hope she's all right.
I haven't slept all night.

If I just knew
I wouldn't have to sit there

and watch you fight again.

Look, baby,
I would really feel better

if you just stayed home

and just didn't
come to the fight.

No, that's not
what I meant.

If you fought and I wasn't
there, it'd be worse.

I wouldn't have to watch you
if you didn't do it anymore.

Well, when you
watch me, I mean,

what goes through your mind?
Why are you so upset?

What do you think about
when I'm fighting?

I feel every blow.

Just like I was
being hit myself.

When you're tired,

I feel tired.

I feel your hands hurt.

Come on.

It ain't that bad.

When he kept
hitting you like that.

When you feel helpless,
I feel helpless.

If anybody ever knocked you out,
I think I'd die.

Come on, baby, now.

You can't help me
like this.

Nobody's never
knocked me out.

And I'm never going
to be knocked out.

Look, I'll make you
one promise.

Listen to me. Cool.

If you're really
that serious,

and seeing what
happened to you now,

I promise you
if I ever fight again,

if I ever fight again,
I'll be in top condition.

I promise.
And then God will be with me.

Five seconds.

Ten seconds to go.

Time.

Ali sticks out a left hand.

It's short of the mark.

Norton coming in on him.

Ali drives both hands
to the head in a vicious flurr.

Norton takes them
without a return.

Ali drives a right,
high on the head.

Takes a left and
a right to the jaw.

Ali's better in
this return bout.

Final round.
Norton covers up.

Ali takes a left and a right
high on the head.

Norton puts a left
to the body,

drives Ali into the ropes.

They're in a clinch,
the bout is over.

It has been a very,
very close fight.

Ken Norton goes
back to his corner.

Muhammad Ali is not sure

whether or not
he won this fight.

He needs it for
a match with George Foreman.

Ken Norton is
awaiting the decision.

Ali is the winner!

See, right there it was
hard to see,

but Foreman just hit him
with a hard punch.

Foreman shook him up.

He's out on his feet.
Norton's in a dream world.

Listen, Champ, uh...

does it bother you to know that
Foreman knocked him out?

No, it don't bother me.

It shows you two main
weaknesses Foreman's got.

And what are they?

He's never been hit hard,
knocked down,

and never went
over five or ten good rounds

to test his endurance.

Yes, sir. This is
where it all starts,

right here in
this very training camp.

What happens here determines
what's gonna happen in Africa.

I'm going to cut out
in a minute or two.

My doctor says it's
okay to exercise,

but when it becomes a strain,
you better quit.

Then your doctor don't know
what he's talkin' about.

That's what you
wanna do, strain.

You want to run
until it pains.

You want to run until your
throat feels like sandpaper.

You want to run until it feels
like you're gonna throw up.

You want to keep running
until your legs ache.

Till you're going
to die, you gonna fall out.

You gotta run until your stomach
feels like it's going to burst.

And your heart starts pounding
and you wanna quit.

Feels like you
can't go another inch,

can't go another step.

But you keep going.

What kind of man
is that?

You keep going until you want
to fall out in your tracks.

And then after that,

you've only gotten
about halfway through...

Oh, man. Look.

Come on, man!

You see,
what's eating George is,

he's a champ,

but only he ain't.

And every time he
hears them

callin' you
the "people's champ," man,

he goes bananas.

Yeah, let me tell you something.

The other day, I saw George
down the street. I said:

"Say, George. Let's walk down
the street

to see who's
the most recognized."

Hey, my man Payton.

Look, you are
just in time.

See that man right there?
That's Bossman Jones.

Do you know
who he is?

That's George Foreman's
former sparring partner.

Why is he former?

Because Foreman wouldn't
pay him right.

Now he's over here
to work for me.

Listen, he knows George,
he works with him

six or seven weeks
before a fight.

He can tell us a lot.
This is a good story

for the new book
you're writing on me.

Let's talk about
how George fights.

How often does he
really get to you?

Are you kidding?
Too often.

Too often?
Look, Bossman, stop and think.

I realize my arms
are longer than yours

and your arms are short.

But you must hit
George sometimes.

That's right.

Nobody hits George.

None of his
sparring partners.

Besides,
he don't pay enough.

And you hit him,
he might tear your head off.

Hey, listen.

I've seen fighters
that can stun you,

who can knock you out.

But George is the first dude
I've been in the ring with

that could kill you.

I mean, he can lift you off
your feet with one punch.

Play on the ropes,
and try and rest.

He'll break your ribs.

By the time
the referee gets to you,

you might be beat to death.

This man's been
brainwashed, Champ.

We don't need
no double agent in our camp.

Man, you're crazy.

Man, I'm telling you straight.
He's a brute.

Tell the truth.
If we should run it tomorrow,

who would you bet on?

Who do you think
would win?

I have to say George.

I have to say George.

I have to say George.

I have to say George.

Why are you all
looking so damned scared?

Act like you're
going to a funeral.

I'm the one fighting.

George Foreman, George Foreman!

You didn't believe all that
stuff you've been readin'

about how hard he hits?

George Foreman
knocking out Joe Frazier.

He'll destroy me here.

You're my friends
and the public's expecting you.

To hell with George Foreman.

When you get out here,
don't be afraid to smile.

Just act like
you're happy.

I'm not gonna win the fight
if I went out thinkin' like you.

Damn George Foreman.

The king's going
home to get his crown.

It's the closing of the books.

The king's going to work.
He's gonna die at working.

The king's gonna win.
Three and a half years in exile.

A beautiful evening
in Kinshasa, Zaire,

for the Heavyweight Championshp
of the World.

Muhammad Ali is the challenger.
He wants to get the crown back.

The champion, George Foreman,
he is awesome.

Ali is dancing in his corner,
meditating for a moment.

We're ready for
the start of what may be

an epic battle for
the heavyweight title.

The champion, George Foreman,
in the red trunks.

Muhammad Ali in white.

Ali is dancing around,
as is his custom.

Backs towards the ropes.
Foreman coming in on him.

Blocks a right
thrown at his head.

Ali is against the ropes now.
Foreman is holding him there.

And this is not
the Ali we expect.

He is not
"Floating like a butterfly,

and stinging like a bee."

Ali just stays there.
Foreman coming in on Ali again.

Foreman drives both
hands to the body.

A vicious left hook
to the midsection.

Ali opens up with both hands.
A right to the jaw.

Gets away from
a left hand by Foreman.

Foreman's up and holding Ali
against the ropes.

He hooks
a wild swing at the head

and Ali shakes his head.

The referee gets them apart.

Foreman has Ali
against the ropes again.

Drives both hands
to the body.

A left and a right
to the midsection.

Two more in there.
Ali just stands there.

Foreman has Ali
against the ropes again.

Foreman has him
against the ropes.

Throws out a left jab.

Foreman could very
well punch himself out

the way he's been fighting

on this hot night in Zaire.

What are you
doing on the ropes?

That's how you
blew it with Frazier.

Champ, what's wrong with you?

He keeps
stacking up points on you.

I can't dazzle 15 rounds.
I got to take my time.

I know what I'm doing.
Let him punch himself out.

He's just punchin',
he's punchin'!

He lifted you
right up off the floor.

Let him keep on lifting!

A couple more lifts like that
and he's gonna tire himself out.

He'll be all gone,
he'll be all mine.

Let me plan
my own strategy!

Ali on the ropes
again, round after round.

Foreman has held him there,

pounding the body,
pounding the head.

Blows to the body!

Foreman may punch himself out
as we said earlier.

A wild left hand
by Foreman.

And Ali's strategy may be

to let Foreman
tire himself out.

And George does look
a little bit tired

as Ali opens up with
both hands to the head.

A jab on the chin.

A right to the jaw
by Muhammad Ali,

as he suddenly
turns tiger and again

Foreman pushes him
against the ropes.

A wild left hand to the jaw
by George Foreman.

Ali comes back with
a right on the chin.

Another jab on the mouth.

They go to close quarters.

Foreman misses a left hand
and Ali gets a headlock on him.

Again Ali is
against the ropes.

Foreman visibly tired now.

His punches don't
have the strength

that they had
earlier in the fight.

Ali is tired, too, but maybe nt
as tired as Foreman.

Foreman holds him there.

Rips that right, a left,
another right to the body.

Ali was just about to push
him away at the bell.

Champ! I think you can take him
this next round.

I've got to get him
in the next round.

As tired as I am, I don't
have much more left in me.

It's the eighth round

of the Heavyweight
Championship of the World.

Ali sticks out a left hand.

Ali who wasn't given
much chance, is still in there,

battling with Foreman.
Ali opens up.

A left and a right to the jaw.
Foreman is staggering.

Foreman is twisting around.

Takes a left
and a right to the jaw.

Muhammad Ali has
done the impossible.

He has regained the Heavyweight
Championship of the World.

The impossible!

♪ I always knew
I had it in me ♪

♪ My spirit cried

♪ Once locked in chains

♪ And I forgive you now

♪ For all my pains

♪ What would you have done
If you had been me? ♪

♪ I lived and breathed

♪ What I believe

♪ Now I found my place

♪ In history

♪ How can I

♪ Explain to you

♪ The life and times

♪ That I've lived through

♪ The friends I loved

♪ Along the way

♪ Are still within

♪ My heart today

♪ I always knew
I had it in me ♪

♪ I lived and breathed

♪ What I believed

♪ Now I've found my place

♪ In history