Original subtitles

♪ Who's the most? ♪

♪ Who's the most? ♪

♪ Who's the most popular personality? ♪

♪ I can't help thinking it's no one else but me ♪

♪ Gee, I feel just about ten feet tall ♪

♪ Having a ball ♪

♪ Guess you might call me the top banana ♪

♪ Everybody...

You can put that on Roger Tate's tab.

Yes, ma'am.

Something wrong with my advance?

It's less than half what they promised.

I'll go through the books with Martha, see what I can dig up.

Won't have anybody cheating my man.

We call them?

Heavyweight champ doesn't need to call them.

Come on, Sonny.

Here he comes. Here he comes.

-Mr. Liston. -Sonny! Sonny!

-Sonny! Sonny! -Look this way. Over here.

Hey, Miami, I heard there's a bear on the loose,

and I came to get him!

Where's that big ugly bear?

It's Cassius.

Sonny Liston's so ugly, they won't put him on the news

'cause it'd scare all the children.

He's so ugly, he got to wear a big old white hood over his head

when he walks in the ring.

Is it true you're a Black Muslim?

Well, I'm certainly Black.

And you know what else I am? Beautiful.

The most beautifullest heavyweight champion there ever gonna be!

Is it true you spoke at a Nation of Islam event with Malcolm X just two weeks ago?

I speak at all kind of events. I think Malcolm's a real smart man.

But you know who's not a smart man?

That big old bear Sonny Liston.

I heard he can't even read.

Do you agree with

Mr. X's statement that the assassination of President Kennedy

was "chickens coming home to roost"?

Well, I'm too busy training to get much involved in politics.

Is there anything you'd like to say

to the many title fight fans who are returning their tickets?

-♪ Who's the most ♪ -♪ Popular guy...

Folks are returning their tickets?

I thought y'all put that fire out.

It's hard to put that fire out, Cassius,

when our own damn fighter's throwing gasoline on it!

-Okay. Okay. Okay. -You're making a bonfire, kid!

Okay. Don't bother warming up.

MacDonald's on his way over.

The Black Muslim rumors were already a nightmare!

But an actual picture of Cassius in front of one of their temples?

This could sink the whole fight!

We're aware this isn't an ideal situation.

No, the Cuban Missile Crisis wasn't an ideal situation.

This is a goddamn disaster!

Angelo, as the promoter of this fight, I demand you get your kid

in front of those cameras right now,

and have him publicly swear he's not a Black Muslim.

Nobody gonna tell me what to say or not say.

Sure as hell nobody gonna tell me what religion to be.

You see? He-He's scared is all.

I faced down the best heavyweights there are.

You know I ain't scared of some pasty little...

Okay, okay. All right, all right, all right.

Let's just, let's just, let's try and discuss...

There's nothing to discuss!

Now, look, Chris.

Either you get your boy

to publicly denounce those Black Muslims by 10:00 tomorrow morning...

Or the fight is off.

♪ 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 ♪

That old MacDonald can't cancel the title fight.

Tell him he can't bully us into doing what he wants.

I think we should do what he wants.

What?

You've spent half your life

preparing for this fight, training for this fight.

You've sweated, you bled.

I thought I lost you in the Cooper fight.

I won the Cooper fight. Won every bout you put me in.

Cassius, you have a gift.

Like no other fighter I've ever seen.

Yeah, well, you know who gives out gifts?

Huh? 'Cause it sure ain't Bill MacDonald.

You can't just throw it all away over something so trivial.

So now you got a problem with my religion?

I don't care if you're Muslim or if you're Baptist

or if you worship a space alien named Susan!

Mind your own business!

You don't have to mean it.

You can take it all back after the fight.

Cassius, the heavyweight title...

is your destiny.

If you think my faith is trivial,

then you don't know squat about my destiny.

I'm telling you, everything in that article is slander.

So the kid went to a Black Muslim temple one time.

I went to mass with my mother every Christmas.

I'm now a Jew!

I know, I know, I said no distractions.

Believe me, if I had any other choice, I wouldn't be calling.

Okay. Okay, thank you.

They're coming.

Marty, it's Chris Dundee.

Listen, everything you've heard is bullshit.

Whoa, whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

You think you can decide for everybody, huh?!

-You ain't the champ! -Man, get out of here.

You gonna shut down an entire title fight

because your principles won't let you tell folks that you're not a Black Muslim!

You don't know shit about principles!

Just do whatever your mobbed-up white trainers tell you to do. Huh?

Just like a big, ugly bear.

That's why you go in the ring all covered with towels.

You got all those muscles but no backbone.

Hold up! Hold up!

Gentlemen, let's save it for the fight!

Let's save it for the fight. Please.

You make sure that there is a fight.

-Okay. Okay. -Yeah, you better get up out of his face.

It's okay. It's okay.

Everyone out. Everyone out.

Yeah, get out of here, you bum!

You scared! That's why you brought all these hooligans in here with you!

Get out.

I'll take every last one of you.

-You okay? -Yeah, I'm good.

Okay.

Whew.

Title fight's really not gonna get canceled, is it?

No way, no how.

Look, that old MacDonald's just bluffing his ears off, okay?

Guys like that talk all kind of nonsense, all day long.

Well, you sure it's nonsense?

Because if you don't fight, nobody fights.

No under card, no paychecks for the rest of us.

Can't you just say what they want you to say?

That's what you would do? Huh?

I mean, some promoter tell you to stand up in front of the whole world

and tell 'em you hated Jesus?

Hated Jesus?! That's what you would do, Kenny?!

Get out of my way, man.

Gee, what you want for lunch?

Still got some of that lamb that Malcolm and Mrs. Shabazz brought over.

Was he right?

Sonny Liston?

Not once in his whole life.

Not just Sonny Liston though, is it?

Damn near everybody telling me to fold.

What do you think I should do?

Whatever you think is right.

You're set to come with me on the under card.

Came with you to the temple, too.

Whatever you want to do here, Gee...

that's what'll happen.

But you better decide quick.

Oh.

-Good to see you guys. -Yeah.

Sorry about the mess.

We, uh, didn't think you were coming today.

We weren't, till Angelo called in a tizzy,

trying to get us to talk some sense into you.

Angelo called you?

Yeah, but he ain't have to.

Look, boys, we thought y'all would get over this

"Nation of Islam" phase on your own, but damn it, enough is enough.

Our faith in Allah isn't a phase.

Baby, would you mind getting me some juice?

-Sure, Mama. -Mm.

Son, just call the Geller guy and tell him you ain't a Black Muslim.

You feeling okay?

Just a little woozy from the blood tests is all.

-What blood tests? -It's nothing to worry about.

I'm just having a little stomach trouble.

Your mama got an ulcer.

Said it's stress related.

-Clay residence. -Yeah, it's Geller.

-Let me get you some of that juice. -Look, I need a statement from Cassius.

No, my brother would not like to give a statement.

Rudy, I really think he'd...

I promise, there's nothing to worry about.

Look, that old promoter's just blowing smoke.

No way anybody'd actually cancel the title fight.

Baby...

that fight getting canceled is the last thing I'm worried about.

What you mean?

I read that article your friend wrote.

Look, whoa, whoa, whoa.

How about you just relax and enjoy your vacation?

I'll take care of that.

Here, drink this.

Marvin Geller isn't my friend.

And you can't believe everything you read in the paper.

What about what I see?

You saying that wasn't a picture of you outside a temple

with Black Muslim soldiers?

It wasn't you in a diner having lunch with Malcolm X?

I'm not sure I know who you are anymore.

-Clay resi... -I got a document

-he needs to see. -I don't care what you got!

He doesn't want to talk to you!

Rudy, please, just tell Cassius...

Bus is running good.

Not much point now, is there?

I mean, if your brother's name ain't even gonna be Cassius Clay anymore.

Is he lost?

You can let him through.

Mr. Dundee.

Why are you here?

Is that any of your business?

I know Cassius snuck away from training to be with you.

Was he under curfew?

On punishment?

No, no. He should've been concentrating on the fight.

But instead, he was getting his picture taken with the man

America sees as public enemy number one.

I guess that depends on your definition of "America."

I don't think you're wrong.

I think this country has a long way to go in terms of civil rights.

My primary concern is the career, is the life, of my fighter.

Your presence here is a distraction at best.

At worst, it's a death knell for his career.

I came to Miami because your fighter asked me to.

Listen, Cassius is a once-in-a-lifetime prodigy.

What do you think it is about Cassius

that makes him able to do things that other men find impossible?

What spark inside him makes him so different from other people?

If you or I convince him to hide that spark,

or worse yet, extinguish it...

who's gonna climb into that ring against Sonny Liston?

A once-in-a-lifetime prodigy?

Or someone else?

Someone less?

All he is to them is a pair of fists.

They send him where they want to send him, pay what they feel like paying him.

I only got this because one of the secretaries owed me a favor.

Should be everything they've taken out of Sonny's paycheck in the past month.

Ever see somebody skim 12 grand off of a fighter's advance?

These crooks count on athletes being young, uneducated,

getting stars in their eyes 'cause even half what they're owed

is more money than they've seen in their lives.

Mm.

That what happened to Joe?

Uh, wouldn't have if we'd met when he was still fighting.

Mm.

Sonny's lucky to have a strong, competent woman

looking out for his interests.

Just wish I understood what I was looking at.

Well...

The numbers on this side are accounting codes.

Mm-hmm.

Training expenses.

And the 12,000?

Payroll.

If I remember correctly, this one is the manager.

Roger Tate.

Allah is the greatest.

Allah is the greatest.

Allah is the greatest.

In the name of Allah,

the beneficent and most merciful.

You alone we ask for help.

We appreciate you coming all this way, Mr. Faversham,

but my brother isn't gonna fold.

Do you know why we chose you among all the athletes out there?

I'm the best.

We believed you had the moral fortitude

to sustain a career outside the mafia's hold on the sport.

We thought we'd finally found a boxer who could fight clean.

And instead you got a Black Muslim.

We got exactly what we'd hoped for.

A fighter with a conscience.

You don't want me to back down?

Of course I want you to back down. I got money riding on this.

But I'm not the one risking my life in that ring.

And I am not your conscience.

So, if you are sure this is what you want...

the Louisville Sponsoring Group will back your decision.

I'm sure.

Well, all right.

And in the meantime, do us a favor.

Stay home, stay quiet, and please, Cassius,

stay away from the press.

Yeah, I'll try.

Uh, I got it.

-Oh, thank you. -I'll get it.

Hello?

Assalamu alaikum.

Wa alaikum assalam.

I hear young Cassius invited you down to Florida.

Oh, that's right.

I, uh, contacted Brother Kareem for permission. He said that...

He gave the answer I told him to.

I think it's good for Betty, and especially the girls,

to have some sun.

Some distraction.

Well, they are, um...

certainly enjoying the change of scenery.

I hope you are, too, Brother Malcolm.

And I know these past days...

have been difficult.

I need to know you learned your lesson.

-I think so. -Good.

Now I need you to do something for me.

Mr. Tate.

Oh, Geraldine, what a nice surprise.

Did we have an appointment?

I'd like to know what you did for my husband

that was worth $12,000.

Honestly, these financial statements, they all read like hieroglyphics to me.

There's training camp and gym fees...

I know about training camps and gym fees.

I know about travel and equipment rentals.

But $12,000 to a manager we see, what, six times a year?

That begs a conversation.

Does Sonny know you're asking about this?

Nobody knows I'm asking about this, Roger.

I assume you'd like to keep it that way.

It was reimbursements

for expenses I paid out of pocket ahead of his trip.

Airfares, meals for the training team, upgrades to the gym.

I'll have my office send over the receipts.

Uh, Margaret, I lost the coast.

And would you please get me the latest vendor reports, please?

So, Bill, what are we doing here? Huh?

You really not gonna let the kid fight because of his religion?

Believe me, this is the last thing I wanted.

Then why the game of chicken?

The broadcasters are refusing to air the fight.

-Which broadcasters? -All of 'em!

Look, this isn't me standing in your way.

America has ideas about what their champion should look like,

and it's not a Black Muslim.

Now, unless your guy gives in here...

He won't.

Which means it's on you to figure this whole thing out.

You know what? I've already been threatened by the mob,

the Baptists, the Klan and the governing board of the Miami Beach Convention Hall.

No offense, but you and your whiskey baron buddies

are the least of my worries.

You'd think so, wouldn't you?

But here's the thing.

While your mobbed-up colleagues may break knees,

we can break your bank account, your credit rating, your career.

When we're done with you,

you'll be lucky if anyone lets you sponsor a Little League team.

So, why don't you go visit your broadcasters,

tell them not to get their panties in a twist

over a young man exercising his constitutionally

guaranteed right to freedom of religion.

Good day.

Margaret!

Get off my property.

All right. Whoa. I figured you wanted me here.

That's why you weren't taking my calls.

Why'd you write it, huh?

I'm a reporter. You're news.

Look, if you want to refute anything that I wrote,

I'm more than happy to take a statement.

That article's messing up my whole life.

It's not my last article you should be worried about, it's my next.

Got ahold of a letter.

It's from you to the Prophet Elijah Muhammad.

It's got your new name on it and everything.

What are you talking about, man?

Incontrovertible proof that Cassius Clay is a Black Muslim.

I thought it was only fair to let you make a statement.

You'd be nothing without me.

I could say the same thing about you.

Look...

when you're ready to talk, just give me a call.

Mr. X.

Mr. X, uh, sir, how would you like to make a statement

regarding Cassius's involvement with the Nation of Islam?

-Uh, off the record? -Oh, absolutely.

Go to hell.

Coach telling me to fold.

Cash and Bird telling me to fold.

Even guys who were cheering me on this morning.

Sounds like a lot of pressure.

So how do you do it?

How do you stick to what's right

when it feels like the whole world wants you to give in?

I got a call.

-From the Messenger. -Oh, yeah?

The Prophet's gonna step in?

I mean, between him and the suits at LSG,

MacDonald's gonna give...

The Prophet wants you to distance yourself from the Nation.

If they don't let you fight,

you can't win the title.

Without the title, you can't be

the spokesman that the Nation needs.

Now, once you have it...

things will be different.

What do I say to the brothers and sisters in the temple

when they ask why I denied my faith?

That the rules were different for me than everybody else?

The rules are different for you, Cassius.

-But why? -Because you're unique

and so is your place within the Nation.

You are on the verge of being able to deliver

the Prophet's message to the entire world.

But only if you become the heavyweight champion.

I've got a newspaper editor who owes me a favor.

He's agreed to walk back the anti-Nation of Islam rhetoric.

Throw in a think piece or two about religious freedom.

It-it won't be enough.

It has to be.

Look, I got Clay's people threatening my financial security,

Liston's people threatening my life.

Everyone from the venue organizers

to the popcorn vendor threatening to sue me

into bankruptcy if this doesn't go through.

Howard...

I need you to air this fight.

On every station you've got.

Look, if it was up to me, I'd cut you a break.

But it's not.

I've got bosses, shareholders, advertisers,

church congregations from all over the country

calling in to say they won't watch a Black Muslim

in a title fight.

Now, unless you get that Clay kid

to swear he ain't one,

my hands are tied.

What'd you tell him?

Everything you asked, Herbert.

Then when's the announcement?

Do you know that Cassius is only 22 years old?

But the sanctity of his faith is pure.

Hmm.

It's unique.

Makes me wonder if it might not be our place to try and shake it.

You've got, what,

three more weeks on suspension?

That's assuming everything here works out as it should.

The thing is, I've been thinking about

-my suspension a lot lately. -Mm-hmm.

Questioning my own motives.

I came here to support Cassius.

And when I said the things that your father wanted me to say,

was I acting in service to the Nation

or merely a selfish desire

to earn my way back into the Prophet's good graces?

Does it matter?

Does it?

It does to me.

Why are you getting dressed up?

Got a lot of folks counting on me.

Decided I'm gonna tell MacDonald what he wants to hear.

Oh.

I see.

This is a surrender suit.

It's a reality suit.

If I don't say what everybody wants me to say,

I'm costing Angelo the title.

You said it yourself, MacDonald is bluffing.

Bird's so worried, she got an ulcer.

I mean, even the Prophet Elijah Muhammad said to fold.

And he's right.

I mean, how can I deliver the message if I don't even have a shot

at getting on the mountain?

You'll figure it out.

-No. -What do you mean, "no"?

I'm backing your play like I said I would.

I'm not letting you deny your faith.

What's your problem, huh?

Just let me do what I got to do.

You really want to fight me?

-Huh? You want to fight me? -Don't you get it?!

If you walk out that door...

I lose the only hero I ever had.

♪ When the night ♪

♪ has come ♪

♪ and the land is dark ♪

♪ the moon ♪

♪ is the only ♪

♪ light we'll see ♪

♪ No, I won't ♪

♪ be afraid ♪

♪ Oh, I won't ♪

♪ be afraid ♪

♪ just as long ♪

♪ as you stand ♪

♪ stand by me ♪

♪ So darlin', darlin' ♪

♪ stand by me ♪

♪ Oh, stand by me ♪

♪ Oh, stand ♪

Looking good. Listen, I got to go.

♪ Stand by me...

Gentlemen, welcome! Welcome!

Y'all had me sweating there for a minute, but I'm real glad

the kid came to his senses.

Ooh, uh, coffee? Doughnuts?

-No. -No. Bill, Thank you. We're good.

Okay. I took the liberty of having my secretary draft a statement, but,

uh, feel free to fancy it up with your own words.

Maybe throw in one of those rhymes, huh?

The reporters are gonna be here in, uh, ooh, three minutes.

I'm not making the statement.

Son, I will ruin you.

You can't ruin me 'cause I don't answer to you.

Don't answer to the broadcasters

or the public or even the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

Only answer to nobody but Allah and my own conscience.

Now, I'm not making the statement.

Well, shit.

That's about the bravest thing I ever heard.

Well, if you're sure that's what you want.

The fight's off.

Get the convention center on the phone.

Right away, sir.

We've got a fight to cancel.

Now, uh, if you folks will excuse me...

I've got some calls to make.

♪ Stand by me...

Come on, Rudy.

We're due for a vacation anyway.

♪ Stand by me ♪

♪ Stand by me ♪

You don't have to do that.

Of course I do.

I'm your mother.

I'm sorry things didn't turn out the way you wanted.

God still knows you, Gee.

Even if you don't know him anymore.

I still know God.

Just...

talk to him a different way now.

You know what "Allah Akbar" means?

It means "God is good."

Just like you always say.

People hate the Black Muslims.

I know because they send us letters about it.

They paint filthy things on our door.

I know you have to be getting hate mail here,

threats all the way down in Miami, where we can't protect you.

You don't have to worry.

They're shooting people, Gee.

Burning churches.

But we keep showing up, don't we?

Come here.

Hey.

I'll be fine.

I promise.

God is good.

All the time.

I appreciate you

coming over.

Oh, of course.

Us girls deserve some social time, don't we?

Make up for men always being on the road?

Mm-hmm.

I'm not an idiot, Pearl.

I know Sonny has affairs.

I'm just wondering what was different about his affair with you

that made it worth $12,000.

Did you get knocked up?

Have an abortion?

You ever read about the lady out in Cleveland?

Debbie Nagle.

A girl reporter wrote a story about her last year.

Did you see it?

Mm, no.

Debbie was smart, pretty.

She worked as a private secretary for a rich, powerful man.

One night...

he caught her working late.

Overpowered her right there in the conference room.

She said she screamed, but nobody heard anything. It was late.

You know the part that got me?

The part that let me know that it was absolutely true...

was that he asked her to make fresh coffee after.

What happened?

Debbie did everything right.

She called the police, filed a report.

But the authorities said she couldn't prove that anything criminal happened.

Said that hundreds of people rely on the man for their livelihoods.

That it wouldn't be fair to punish all of them

for something she claimed happened.

She was shunned from her community.

Had to move out of state with her parents.

Weeks later, she borrowed

her father's car, drove all night

back to her old office,

let herself in with the key that nobody bothered to take away.

And shot her old boss in the head.

When the cops showed up,

they found her lipstick on his coffee cup.

Couldn't prove whether she drank it before or after she killed him,

but you have to admire the moxie.

What happened to her?

Life in prison.

You think that maybe she feels

like it was all worth the sacrifice?

The loss of her freedom?

The blood on her hands?

Because I'm thinking she just might.

The Prophet's gonna eat this up.

Good thing you're not doing it for the Prophet.

We'll be at the north exit in ten minutes.

Try and get a decent shot.

Came to get a baking dish before we head out.

Head out where?

Hospital called with your mama's results.

She might need surgery.

So we got to catch a flight in about two hours

so she can see her doctor.

I mean, we got doctors here in Miami. Good ones, probably...

She want to see her own doctor, son. Okay?

She want to stay in her own house.

Maybe I should stop by Sherwin-Williams before I head out,

pick up some paint,

white out that name.

Now that you're gonna get a new name from your prophet.

Right?

Why you even like it so much?

Just the name of some dead slave master.

Son, Cassius Marcellus Clay was an abolitionist.

That's why your ancestors took on the name. They took it on.

They carried it generation after generation.

You hate me so much, you don't want to be my son anymore?

I got to be named Cassius Clay to be your son?

Got to be just like you, huh?

-I got a flight to catch. -Wait.

Pop.

Get your hands off me, son.

Get off me!

That bus was my favorite thing I ever painted.

I didn't paint it 'cause I wanted you to be like me.

I painted it...

'cause I was proud you grew up stronger than me.

That you have become a man that won't lift your head

when somebody call you "boy."

Coming from where you're from...

that's something.

♪ If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue ♪

♪ or walk with kings nor lose the common touch ♪

♪ If you can stand when the room starts to circle ♪

♪ and keep your soul steady, never move in a circle ♪

♪ If all the noise in the room try to drown you ♪

♪ still hear God in the silence all around you ♪

♪ Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it ♪

♪ And more than that, you'll be a man ♪

♪ my son ♪

♪ You'll be a man, my son ♪

♪ You'll be a man, my son ♪

How do I look?

Like a champ.

Yeah.

-♪ You'll be a man, my son ♪ -Yeah.

Yeah.

Had a long talk with Pearl today.

-Oh, yeah? -Mm-hmm.

What about?

You know damn well what about.

I stuck by you.

Through the training,

the drinking, the bitching about everything you think the world owes you.

And like a fool...

I believed...

that underneath the monster that everybody else saw,

there was a good man.

There is.

You know that there is.

A good man wouldn't do what you did to Pearl.

Oh, Pearl.

Pearl want money.

Pearl ain't nothing but a flirt.

Practically all over me.

You think... mm-mm...

you think I've been in the fight business,

your business, this long

and don't know a lie when I hear it?

When it looks me in my damn face?

You know me, don't you?

Hmm?

You know what I'm up against.

The way people see me.

The way I look to people.

Ugly... black bear.

My own daddy treat me like an animal.

Yeah.

My mama up and left me.

Ain't even say goodbye.

-Don't you dare. -I tell ya...

Don't you dare look me in the eye

and tell me you were never loved right.

We both know different.

I want to be good, I try to be good.

Just slip sometimes.

How many times?

Hmm.

-Aw, come on. -Mm-mm.

♪ I'm gonna wait till the midnight hour ♪

♪ That's when my love comes tumbling down ♪

♪ I'm gonna wait till the midnight hour ♪

♪ when there's no one else around...

♪ And do all the things...

Got some crazies following us.

♪ In the midnight hour ♪

♪ Yes, I am, oh, yes, I am ♪

♪ I'm gonna wait...

Pull over!

Hey, those aren't crazies. It's Angelo.

Pull over!

-Pull over. -What?

Pull over.

♪ Begins to shine ♪

♪ You're the only girl I know ♪

♪ that really love me so ♪

♪ in the midnight hour...

Fight's back on.

Fight's back on.

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ All right ♪

♪ Play it for me one time...

It's my pleasure to inform you that heavyweight contender Cassius Clay

has sent Malcolm X and the Black Muslims packing.

We got ourselves

a Christian-on-Christian fight.

I didn't ask for this.

Malcolm just did it.

So you wouldn't have to choose.

♪ That's when my love comes tumbling down...

So I wouldn't have to choose.

♪ Way in the midnight hour ♪

♪ That's when my love...

Now that the fight's back on, we need to ask the question:

does upstart Cassius Clay

have any chance at all against knockout king Sonny Liston?

Not much of one, if you ask the Vegas bookmakers.

At the moment, they've got the odds at seven to one

in favor of the current reigning champ.

That pegs Clay as just about the biggest underdog of the modern era.

Joe, you defended your title

-25 times... -Yeah.

More than any other heavyweight champion.

-How do you see this one playing out? -Well, uh, Steve...

I guess you know, like everybody,

I-I do like to see a good competitive fight.

But the truth is, I don't think the challenger's

anywhere near Sonny's level.

♪ Ready or not, here I come ♪

♪ You can't hide ♪

♪ Gonna find you ♪

-♪ and make you want me ♪ -♪ Yo ♪

-♪ Now that I escape, sleepwalk awake ♪ -♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Those who could relate know the world ain't cake ♪

♪ Jail bars ain't golden gates ♪

♪ Those who fake, they break when they meet their 400-pound mate ♪

-♪ If I could rule the world ♪ -♪ If I ruled the world ♪

♪ everyone would have a gun in the ghetto, of course ♪

♪ when giddyapping on their horse ♪

♪ I kick a rhyme, drinking moonshine ♪

♪ I pour a sip on the concrete for the deceased ♪

♪ But, no, don't weep, Wyclef's in a state of sleep ♪

♪ thinking 'bout the robbery that I did last week ♪

♪ Money in the bag, banker looked like a drag ♪

♪ I want to play with pelicans from here to Baghdad ♪

♪ You can't run away ♪

♪ from these styles I got, oh, baby ♪

♪ hey, baby, 'cause I got a lot, oh, yeah ♪

♪ Superfly, true lies, do or die ♪

♪ Toss me high, only puff lye with my crew from lakay ♪

♪ I refugee from Guantanamo Bay ♪

♪ Dance around the border like I'm Cassius Clay ♪

♪ Ready or not, here I come ♪

-♪ You can't hide ♪ -♪ Hey, yo, nobody move ♪

♪ Gonna find you ♪

♪ and take it slowly ♪

-♪ Ready or not, here I come ♪ -♪ Yo ♪

-♪ You can't hide ♪ -♪ Hey, yo, nobody ♪