Original subtitles

One. One, two.

One, two.

-One. -♪ Any time at all ♪

-♪ You're near me ♪ -Pow.

♪ 'Cause you're near ♪

♪ You cheer me...

When's your flight?

We leave in three hours.

Just thinking about how to help Cassius take that next step.

If I could just get a little bit more out of him, I think we could win this thing.

You're already winning, Angie.

You're training the future heavyweight champion,

just like you told me you would.

♪ Still each word...

How does it feel?

It's scary as hell.

♪ That's a very special reason...

-What if I screw it up? -Oh.

That's why you can't sleep?

No.

Dance with me.

-I don't want to dance with you. -Come on.

-No, I don't... I don't want to. -Yeah.

Yes, you do.

♪ Lifetime...

♪ as a man-and-wife time ♪

You really think he's The One?

♪ That's a very special reason ♪

I know he is.

The One chose you.

♪ For a very special love ♪

Second time in my life.

Faster.

Come on.

Aah. Aah, aah.

Right up.

Cassius, get that right hand up.

Ooh.

Anticipate his next move.

Cassius.

Now!

Okay.

Okay. Yup, okay, let's take five.

Let's go, champ.

Give it up for my brother,

the second greatest fighter in the world.

Cassius, when's Cooper going to go down

-tomorrow? -Ain't no jive.

Henry Cooper gonna fall in five.

Five rounds.

-Cassius, what the hell was that? -It was a lucky hit,

-is what it was. Ain't that right, champ? -No, no, no, no, no, no.

Luck had nothing to do with it. He's not defending against that left hook.

It was one hit.

Why are you so mad, Angie?

Man, you're starting to sound like Archie Moore over here.

No, no, no, no, no. No, no, I'm not mad.

I'm scared. There's a reason Cooper's left has its own name.

Henry's Hammer's made of paper.

Cassius gonna whup him in five, just like he said.

-Bundini. -Yeah, that's right. Then it's on

-to Sonny Liston. -Mm-hmm.

Forget about Liston.

Forget the cameras, forget about the-the fifth round.

Cooper's a serious contender. You need to focus.

I'm a serious contender.

-I'm focused, man. -Well... Bundini, give me one second.

-Look, my job got a name, too. -I know. I know.

Come on, here.

Come here. Come here.

Cassius!

Attention over there!

-Right here. -Right here.

Can we get a smile? Thank you.

Just look at me.

Why are we here?

To whup Cooper.

Why?

To get to Liston, whup him, too, and be Heavyweight Champion of the World.

Every kid in a gym wants to be Heavyweight Champion of the World.

The fights that you're gonna have from this moment on...

-Listen. -Yeah.

The fights that you're gonna have from this moment forward

are gonna make every fight you had in the past look like nothing.

It's gonna make the Olympics look like nothing.

-Yeah, I know. -Real fights,

the kind that lead to a title, are gonna push your body

to the levels of hell it's never even dreamed of.

I'm ready, Angie. I know I am.

See, your mouth is saying you're ready.

But your right hand is hesitating.

So whatever you got to pull from inside of yourself

to change that, you better do it, and you better do it quick.

You know that.

-Yeah. -Okay.

Cassius? Cassius?

-Yeah. -How are you enjoying London?

Uh...

-Bundini, Bundini. -Uh...

You know, the kid likes having you around.

-Most of the time I do, too. -Mm-hmm.

Well, when you're filling his head with all that fantasy talk

and I'm trying to get him to focus, it doesn't really help.

We're not gonna trick him into winning a title.

Trick? H-Hold on now.

Ain't no tricks going on over here, Angie. No, sir.

I'll admit, I say a lot of things that sound unbelievable.

But I don't ever say anything I don't believe.

-Oh. -Yeah.

-It's God's law. -Yeah.

Okay.

What's up, little man?

Come on. You want to get in the ring?

Watch this, Doc.

Right, right.

Yeah!

♪ Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, yeah ♪

♪ I can't lose, I can't die ♪

♪ When I win, then I fly ♪

♪ For how long, I don't know ♪

♪ But I strive for that glow ♪

♪ That fleeting flash in time ♪

♪ when the whole world will know ♪

♪ My name is ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ My name is ♪

♪ Oh, my name is ♪

♪ My name is, my name is ♪

Here's to the world heavyweight champ.

Congratulations, brother.

So, how does it feel to finally hold the title?

Feel like I've been waiting my whole life.

Well, get comfortable,

'cause ain't nobody coming close to you anytime soon.

They want to try, you better come to me for the contract.

-Hmm. -Some folks

call her the knockout artist of L.A.

I'm the first Black woman to practice law in California, and they give me a boxing

-nickname. -Mm.

Excuse me, Mr. Louis?

You think I could have your autograph?

Oh, sure thing, son.

What's your name?

Emilio, sir.

You know, Emilio...

this here is the current

heavyweight champion of the world.

Mr. Sonny Liston. You want his autograph?

No, that's okay.

-Thanks, Mr. Louis. -Mm-hmm.

Hmm. Still hate me.

They don't hate you. They're scared of you.

All they've seen is you decapitating people.

Like you ain't knocked people out.

Look, I've-I've had my fair share.

But folks got to know me along the way.

They got to see that I was more than what I did in that ring.

I keep telling him this talk show

appearance is a golden opportunity.

She's right.

Go on Katz's show tomorrow night,

put on a big smile.

Pretend like you're his best friend.

And start with a joke.

They love when we crack jokes.

Once I whup Cooper, we'll go see everything.

Westminster Abbey,

Tower of London, Buckingham Palace.

You think those cats at the palace really don't smile no matter what you do?

That's what they say, but I bet you I can make 'em laugh.

-Yeah. You probably could. -Mm.

Man, I told you, the women here move different.

Ooh!

What?

Nothing.

-I just heard you and Angie talking. -Oh.

Cooper's left is-is serious.

What, you worried now 'cause I let you get a shot in?

Did you?

Nah, you got me fair and square.

Okay. I mean, Cooper's probably not...

Man, Cooper's the best they got in stuffy old England.

But you and me are gonna be bigger than that.

You and me are gonna go to Paris,

Milan, the pyramids in Egypt.

Gonna see the whole world, and make sure they see us right back.

I beat Floyd Patterson

so bad,

at the end of the night,

his shadow was ducking.

Perfect.

Don't forget to smile.

Excuse me. Um, we're ready for you, Mr. Liston.

You got this, babe.

Ladies and gentlemen,

today we have the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Sonny Liston,

the Heavyweight Champion of the World.

Thanks for having me, Arthur.

Well, thanks for stopping by, Sonny.

How are you feeling?

Well, feeling better than Floyd Patterson.

Beat Floyd so bad

that by the end of the fight,

he didn't know whether he was, uh...

Sonny, it says here that

technique is important in your line of work,

and my question for you is, do you really need technique

when you have those bricks for hands?

Uh, well...

I train every day.

Folks, look at this.

Sonny, hold up your hand for us.

My goodness.

Wow.

Would you hold your hand

next to mine, just like this?

My hand

looks like a doll's hand next to yours.

I guess so,

but, uh, Floyd,

if he ever had a fight,

-he wouldn't... -Would you mind standing up for us?

What?

I beat, uh, Floyd Patterson so bad...

-Wow. -that when he woke up...

People just must find you terrifying when they first meet you.

Well, I s...

surely hope not.

Sonny, let's measure your chest.

Is that okay, if we measure your chest?

Lift up your arms for me.

Let's see here.

My God, this is the first time

I've ever had to measure someone in sections.

All right...

It's the fight of the year.

London is brimming with excitement

as the outspoken and charming American contender,

Cassius Clay, will take on London's

very own Henry "The Hammer" Cooper,

the man who's put British boxing on the map

and is celebrated by his many fans

for the indomitable power of his left hook.

I hope you brought a book.

Why is that?

To read during the fight, 'cause Cooper ain't gonna touch me.

He better not.

Clay is a media sensation,

known for his unpredictable antics.

Many feel he's never been truly tested in the ring,

but that all changes tonight,

and possibly the future of British boxing along with it.

Para soportar lo imposible,

tienes que jalar del pozo del espíritu.

De lo pro fun do del Alma.

Alma. That's the soul, right?

Sí, sí, sí.

Yeah, they say I got soul in my fist.

The winner will take on Sonny Liston for the title

of Heavyweight Champion of the World.

Cleared to fight.

Good luck, gentlemen.

Thank you very much.

Does Clay have what it takes

to stand up to Henry's Hammer?

We will soon

-find out. -And don't worry one bit.

I'm gonna whup him.

All the papers say so.

Cooper's read those same papers.

Guarantee you it's put a fire under him.

He's gonna be a mad dog.

You don't turn your back on a mad dog.

That mad dog should know I put mad dogs down.

About to show this pasty bum what real royalty looks like.

England got a queen.

I'm about to give 'em a king.

Rumble, young man, rumble.

-Ah! -Ah!

-We came a long way. -Long way.

Busses and trains to fast cars...

-Mm-hmm. -and trains and planes.

Crossed that Atlantic Ocean.

-Too big. -Never been anything like me.

-Too fast. -Too fast.

Float like a butterfly,

-sting like a bee. -And sting like a bee.

-Ah! Rumble, young man, rumble. -Ah! Rumble, young man, rumble.

-Ah! -Ah!

And now, entering Wembley Stadium

is the undefeated American Cassius Clay.

Float like a butterfly.

Sting like a bee! That skinny old Cooper ain't got nothing on me.

Ready to rumble, champ?

I'm ready to rumble.

The king of the rumble is here.

And Clay's already started with his infamous antics.

They put a crown on him.

Like he the king of England.

Y'all better get them plates filled, get them cups filled,

'cause ain't nobody moving till my boy kick this skinny white boy ass.

Cash...

Till my boy kicks this skinny white boy behind for us, huh?

Say what you will about Cassius Clay's antics

outside the ring, the young American really is

in fantastic shape.

A fine physical specimen.

You really think he does all that clean living stuff

they talk about in the magazines?

Oh, Sonny doesn't have time

to read all that nonsense.

-Mm-mm. -You say "Sonny"?

-Huh? -You said "Sonny," right?

Sonny right here, right?

Sonny can't talk for himself?

She right.

Can't bother with them magazines.

If you ask me,

any man say he ain't got no vices,

either a priest or a liar.

Or both.

I think everybody has vices,

-even priests. -Mm.

-Uh, cheers to that. -Cheers to that.

You didn't have to get all fancy just for us.

Oh, don't be silly. With all

the traveling here, there and everywhere,

it's a real treat to see someone from back home.

Storm clouds hovering over Wembley Stadium,

but the chance of rain hasn't deterred

a boisterous crowd of some 50,000.

And it's clear

they've all assembled here tonight

in hopes of witnessing Cassius Clay

take on the awesome power of Henry's Hammer.

Henry's Hammer! Henry's Hammer!

Henry's Hammer! Henry's Hammer!

Henry's Hammer! Henry's Hammer!

Henry Cooper,

a slight 13 stone at six-one.

Cooper, the reigning British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion

- will certainly be a formidable opponent - Henry's Hammer!

And likely the biggest challenge of Clay's career so far.

Henry's Hammer! Henry's Hammer!

Will Henry Cooper's legendary left hook be enough

to fell the American phenom?

Only time will tell.

Show that old Cooper how America does.

Forget America. Show him how Negroes do.

Yeah, yeah.

Now, gentlemen, you've heard my instructions.

No rabbit punches, no kidney punches.

Any low blows, and you lose the round.

A fair fight, a clean fight.

Bump gloves. When you hear the bell,

-come out boxing. -Cassius.

This fight will decide the contender for the world

heavyweight title, and Clay has said,

"I'll beat him in five."

Well, we'll see.

A lot of people think

that Cooper's big chances are

to go early with his big hook

and try to nail Clay.

Can he beat Clay

and put British professional boxing right on top

of the heavyweight world?

Lift your right hand, please.

Cooper's weathering the storm early,

even getting in some licks of his own here.

-Ref! -Hey, hey!

Clay already putting on a show, giving fans

a taste of what all the fuss is about.

There it is!

Ah, but there's the lightning quick jab from Clay.

He's starting to assert himself.

-Come on! -Wait. Wait.

You heard my instructions. Keep it clean.

And now Clay is fighting with the referee,

but Cooper's trying to hold him.

-No more. All right? -Cheatin'.

-Come on, now. -Box.

Get back... That's it.

A hard one-two staggers Cooper.

Cooper resorts to grabbing.

-No! -Oh! Oh!

Round one comes to a close.

You need to watch that, ref.

Get him some water.

All that dirty fight.

He's trying to tie you up. Don't let him do that.

He grabs you with the right, and he hits you with the left.

Your-your head's out there. You need to be

right here with me, all right?

I want you to embarrass this guy in front of his own country.

Well, I'm just getting started. Come on.

-Here's some water. -Henry in five.

Go get that off, Henry!

Can't hit what he can't see.

Round two underway.

Clay picking up where he left off.

Come on. There it is.

Landing hard punches and doing a good job

of avoiding Cooper's left hook.

Clay catches Henry

with a clean uppercut.

-Don't let him tie you up! -Here you go.

Cooper is acting like a bit

of a blighter, getting in some cheap shots.

Hold that dance in.

Clay lands

-a big right, and now he's opened a cut... -Jesus.

Under Henry's left eye.

This is exactly what Cooper's team

was dreading. These 50,000 people

are all in on Henry Cooper's side.

Cooper swings wildly...

But he's unable to get Clay

with his hammer.

Cooper's known to serious fans...

as a bleeder, so this cut

could be a problem for England's champion.

-You won that round. You won that round. -I did.

But he's gonna come back at you hard.

You got to stop reading the funny papers...

-Uh-huh. -and get in there and get to work.

-You understand? -Yeah.

Don't mind all that dancing.

I want you to tie him up.

Yeah, look for the left. One shot, and you got it.

-And get out there and let's do this. -I got you, Angie.

-I got you. -You got this. That's right. Go get him.

Go put him down in the next round!

The excitement has really started among

the crowd here, and these 40,000 to 50,000 people at Wembley

are all on Henry Cooper's side.

Come on. Yup.

Keep on the pressure!

Cassius Clay bobs within reach and out again.

-Quit fooling around! -He appears to be playing cat and mouse

with the reigning British champion.

Watch it! Watch it! Push him away!

Oh, with a straight right, Cassius

has opened up another cut.

Now Cooper's got blood

-flowing below and above... -Come on!

The left eye.

This is tragedy for Cooper

-in the third round. -Push off with a jab!

He ties up Clay again.

Move in on him!

Cooper's trying to nail a play if he can.

There's no telling how long he's got to go with that eye.

Quit clowning around and get to work!

Clay fully in control now.

Finish him!

Ah! Ah!

He's toying with Cooper.

Mocking the British champion.

Clay thinks he's got him in the bag now.

I know I said Henry in five, but it might be Henry in four.

Cassius, why'd you let up?

You could've finished him.

There is no time.

-Drop it now, sonny. -Okay.

He's gonna come at you with everything he's got.

You got to stop with the comedy routine.

If you don't end it now, the ref will. You hear me?

You got him right where you want him.

He's gonna try to tie you up.

You push him away with a jab, and then you get in there. You understand me?

-I got this. -Yeah, you got this.

-Yeah. -Cassius. Cassius,

this is your moment. This is your moment. Finish him.

-Yeah? Yeah? -Yeah.

-Put him in the ground. -After a punishing

third round, Cooper's left eye is nearly closed.

He'll need to do something drastic to turn the tide.

Take him down, Coop!

Show him what greatness is,

-champ. -Here you go, Cassius.

-Keep that right up! -Let's go, kid.

-Watch the hook. -Finish this!

Cooper now fighting desperately

because he knows that his time may be short.

Tie him up!

Tie him up, Cassius!

Ref!

Watch that eye, Ref.

Another hard right from Clay.

Hey! There you go, champ.

He's proving to be too fast and too strong.

-Cassius. -There you go.

Keep him paced, Cassius. Keep him paced.

Get that right up!

Oh, my Lord!

-What just happened? -Oh...

Oh.

Something extraordinary

has just happened. Two seconds...

Before the end of the fourth round,

Cassius Clay has been

hit by Henry's Hammer.

America's Olympic

gold medalist thought this fight would be

a formality, but it appears

his dream of fighting for the heavyweight title is

turning into a nightmare.

Like London Bridge,

Cassius Clay is falling down.

♪ I'll be so glad when ♪

-♪ Oh, when ♪ -♪ The sun goes down ♪

♪ When the sun goes down...

Cooper hit him about two seconds

before the end of the round with a left hook.

You done it!

They've rung the bell,

but if Clay doesn't make it to his feet,

this will be a knockout.

One.

-Cassius, get up! -Get up, Cassius!

The referee has started his count.

Get up! Get up!

Two!

Three!

Hold on now.

It appears that Clay is moving.

He made it to his feet,

but he appears to be

-a dead man walking. -Get up. Get up.

You're all right, champ.

We got you.

If Clay is unable to rouse himself in the next 60 seconds,

he will lose the battle by knockout.

Give him salt.

Okay. He's gonna be all right.

Hey, champ, champ.

♪ I'll be so glad ♪

♪ When the sun goes down ♪

♪ I'll be so glad...

-Water. Come on, it's right there. -The water. Give him a drink.

♪ When the sun goes down...

Breathe.-♪♪

-♪ I want to lie down ♪ -♪ I want to lie down ♪

♪ I want to lie down...

-Have more salts. Have more salts. -Breathe.

-Salts aren't working. -Here.

-Breathe. -Breathe.

-Breathe, champ. Breathe. -Yeah.

Clay might be renowned for his outspoken nature beyond the ring,

but Cooper's left hook did the talking tonight.

Clay took one chance too many,

and he still doesn't know what he is.

You think he's coming back?

Nah, I doubt it.

A shame.

He's been trash-talking you for months.

Calling you every name in the book.

Nah, I was dreaming that I could crack his jaw in front of the entire world.

Slick,

mouth-talking punk.

Well, Cooper it is.

Cooper it is.

Baby, I think you should slow down.

Baby, I think you should mind your business.

-Oh! -Oh!

Oh, I'm so sorry.

Pearl, I didn't mean...

-Sonny. -I was just...

Sonny!

Stop it.

-Pearl, I am so sorry. -Yeah.

Let's find something you can borrow.

Then we can try to get this stain out before it sets.

Hey, whiskey don't stain.

The defensive whiz kid got flushed...

and has no idea

-where he is. -Come on. Hey, look at me.

-Okay. -Wake up. Wake up.

It's okay. Come back to me. Come back to me now.

Forty seconds.

-The kid's out. -He's out when

he says he's out. Until then, open more salts.

Open more salts. That's enough.

Brass bands aren't going to bring him back right now.

-Calm down, calm down, calm down. -It's over.

Clay's team is fighting against the clock now.

And the crowd is growing restless by the minute.

Send him back to America... in a box!

First he said he'd be the youngest heavyweight champion ever.

That didn't happen.

Then he said he'd be the greatest heavyweight champion ever,

but from the looks of things...

he'll probably never touch the belt.

His unorthodox flair and signature style,

while captivating, was nothing more than a masquerade.

Clay is just a boy pretending to be a man.

-Come on. -We've done all we can.

He's not coming back.

Come on, champ. Come on, champ.

We can't stop now. We got places to go.

They're working furiously on him in the corner.

He's still half out.

Twenty-two seconds.

We know what goddamn time it is!

The referee may have to call the fight.

You call it, or I will.

Ferdie, don't you dare.

Don't you dare.

Come on. Wake up.

Hey. Hey, wake up.

-Come on, champ. -Come on.

♪ I want to lie down, baby ♪

♪ I want to lie down ♪

♪ I ain't all that sleepy, but I ♪

♪ Want to lie down...

Bird.

I, uh...

Uh...

I can't do it.

You can't, or you won't?

This ain't just about you.

You don't make it to the ring without the ancestors who bled in the fields.

You don't make it to the ring without me and your daddy

giving you all we got.

You don't make it to the ring

without your brother standing by your side every step of the way.

Every time you step into the ring,

the whole community

is standing beside you.

Baby...

Look at me.

You're fighting for the people.

That's what it means to be great.

Gee.

Come on, Champ.

He's saying something.

-What? What? -Yeah.

What is it, champ? What is it?

-Uh, I gotta do it. -What'd he say?

-I gotta do it... -He's tired, Ang. He needs more time.

There isn't any.

♪ A very special love...

Tear! He's got a tear. We got a tear!

-He's got a hole. -That's absolute rubbish!

-Time's up, and you know it. -Look at it.

Right there.

One moment.

Do your job or get out of the way, Ferdie.

My job's to keep this kid from suffering permanent damage.

It's supposed to be your job, too. Look at him, Angie.

The kid's not there.

Sending him out to the ring like this is a dereliction of duty, or worse.

-Look at me. Hey. -Why are you doing this?

Because, Ferdie,

he's The One.

Come on, champ!

Come on! Wake up!

He's got a slight tear in his glove. He needs a replacement.

They're stalling!

There are no extra gloves.

If he can't continue, he has to forfeit.

There seems to be a problem

in Clay's corner, an issue...

with his glove.

We got extra gloves in-in the locker room.

I can go get one.

No time for that now.

-He fights with what he has on. -Okay.

-Get him up. -Okay. Come on, come on. Yeah.

Come on. Wake up. Wake up.

Wake up.

There it is. There it is.

Come on. Come on. Come on. Here.

No, we're good. We're good. We're okay.

-Get up, get up, get up. -Let's go, champ.

Get up.

♪ I'll be so glad...

It's time.

-♪ When the sun goes down ♪ -♪ When the sun goes down ♪

♪ I'll be so glad ♪

♪ When the sun goes ♪

♪ When the sun goes...

Show time.

Go be the greatest, son.

I'm the greatest.

I...

am the greatest.

Cooper moving in for the kill.

♪ Your face is threatening, I hear the crowd...

Clay has come to his senses.

He's looking revived.

Come on, champ.

How in the world has Cassius not only survived that knockdown

but has managed to come back with this type of performance?

Clay lands a barrage of punches

from all angles.

All night long!

Cooper unable to answer.

Oh, my Lord. Not only is Clay fighting back,

he's taking control.

The referee has stepped in.

They're examining Cooper's eye, which is a bloody mess.

He's stopping the fight!

He's stopping

-the fight! -Yeah!

Yeah!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!

Bloody hell.

Bloodthirsty spectators cheer for more, but it's over.

I am king! Ah!

Cassius Clay is exiting Wembley as he predicted.

Snatching victory from the jaws of what appeared to be

a colossal knockout.

Don't know about you, but I feel like

I have just witnessed a miracle.

Cassius Clay has earned his shot

at the heavyweight title.

The Louisville Lip against America's knockout king, Sonny Liston.

Clay.

You talk too much, but you're a bloody good fighter.

You, too.

Best I ever had.

We should do it again.

Oh, we did it, Angie.

There you go. There you go. There you go.

Unbelievable.

I come to bury Liston, not to praise him.

I'm going to fight Sonny Liston...

that is, if he doesn't chicken out.

I will win that fight, because I'm president of the boxing world!

And this fist is my veto.

I am the greatest!

-Mr. Liston is an old man. -Amen.

He's 30 years old.

He has no business being in the same ring with me.

I'd like to help that poor man.

I want to give him lessons:

boxing lessons, talking lessons.

I'll teach him anything!

But since he's gonna fight me, what he needs most is falling lessons.

He can't fight.

I watched him shadowboxing.

And his shadow won in the first round.

I can picture my fight with old man Liston.

After I finish with old Mr. Liston,

the president is gonna send out a proclamation,

and Liston's jaw will be declared a disaster area.