notes from the documentary:
"don't humiliate yourself. our country depends on it's youth. really, i don't see how you can stand yourself" - Sonny Liston told a young Ali
"more people in the world understand Einstein's theory than those who think Cassius will beat me" - Sonny Liston
he's not doing as he should
he lives in a white neighborhood
because he don't like black
i'm gonna put him on his back
"where do you think i would be if i didn't shout and holler and let people take notice of me? i would be poor, washing windows or running an elevator saying "yes suh" and "no suh" and knowing my place" - Ali
Boxer Cassius Clay
Hit the ring yesterday
Posing, shouting, full of action
promoting Clay, the big attraction
Clay attacks and Liston starts to retreat
if he goes back any further he'll end up on a ringside seat
Clay swings with his left, swings with his right
young Cassius is putting up a fight
Liston keeps backing down, but there's not enough room
It's a matter of time till Clay lowers the boom
Clay lands with a right, what a beautiful swing
the punch throws Liston the Bear straight out of the ring
Liston is still rising and the ref wears a frown
he can't start counting till Liston comes down
Liston is disappearing from view as the crowd goes frantic
radar stations have picked him up somewhere over the atlantic
who would have thought when they came to the fight
that they'd witness the launching of a human satellite?
the crowd did not dream when they put up the money
that they'd see a total eclipse of Sonny
Clay said he was so pretty that his face should be considered a national resource and preserved by the secretary of the interior, as opposed to Liston, whose face should be appropriated by the Bureau of Wildlife
"listen you n*** ******, if you don't get out here in 10 seconds, i'm gonna pull out your tongue from your mouth and stick it up your ass" - Liston bellowed when Cassius was tailing him
when Clay was asked to show his support by purchasing a lifetime membership in the NAACP, he said the only way he would join is if they paid him 250 thousand dollars
when Ali declares "I am the greatest", he is not just talking about boxing. lingering behind those words is the bitter sarcasm of Dick Gregory, the shrill defiance of Miles Davis, and the utter contempt of Malcolm X
wealth helped Ali escape discrimination, a luxury most blacks can't afford. he had more money than most youths ever dreamed of
"he can't punch. I'll get locked up for murder if i box him. He don't know how to duck, how to run, how to do anything" - Liston on Clay
asked if he resented Clay's constant verbal attacks, Liston said: "Let that Cassius keep talking. the more he talks, the more money i'll make"
the word's being passed around
that i'm a charming guy
the greatest fighter who ever lived
i'll gladly tell you why
my secret is self-confidence
a champion at birth
i'm lyrical, i'm fresh, i'm smart
my fists prove my worth
Ed Sullivan asked Clay how long would he last if they boxed each other
"One"
"One round?"
"No, one punch"
