INTRODUCTION FOR ON CAMERA PRESENTER


1.
CU Cassius Clay-Muhammed Ali speaking and demonstrating punches.
1.36


TRANSCRIPT: MUHAMMED ALI: (SEQ. 2): "I think if anybody had any sense and they look at the results of my fight with Quarry, my results with Bonavena, and Frazier's with the same two opponents that should be a hint to you. While Quarry hit me in the face about, no times--Quarry hit not one time in three long rounds. (INDISTINCT) fast counter-punches, he didn't land one punch in three rounds. I think he hit Frazier over forty-something times--I looked at the film--in three rounds. Bonavena beat Frazier's face to a pulp, both eyes closed, he was all messed up after Bonavena, and plus he fainted from exhaustion he was so tired. I'm twenty-nine now, I'm right at the peak. Why when I was 22 with Liston, and 23 with Paterson, and 24 whipping fellows like Miltenberger who were older than I was--I could feel their strength but I was just a fighter, and my speed got me in and out. But not I can afford to wait a while and pick my shots too and land with full maturity. If I hit now, somebody's going to fall. I'm 215 pounds, see, I'm a good fighter too now, I'm steady hit myself, I'm hitting too, and then when he gets too close--so he get a body punch or two in, I'll take a body punch for twenty head shots. Who's going to give up first--me or him? He's taken twenty head shots and I'm taking every once in a...." "...while a good body shot--who who's going to win? Its impossible to whip me on points--and the only way Frazier can whip me is to knock me out cold. And as long as I can stay right here, as long as I can do that, I ain't worried about nothing. You gotta feint--to be a body puncher you gotta feint, you've got to come in. First you gotta get past my reach, then you gotta duck my punch, so far that's impossible, then you've gotta come here, taking body punches all the time--I'll stand up, I'll take them, I'll live long (INDISTINCT). Chavalo, Ike and Jim, I let them beat me till they get tired--body punches don't hurt me. As long as a man can't get to here on me he's in trouble. And as long as I can get
to him, he's in trouble."




Initials BB/0058 LD/PN/BB/0115


SPORT: BOXING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Muhammed Ali, the former Cassius Clay, will be attempting to regain the Heavyweight crown from reigning Champion Joe Frazier on March 8th in New York's Madison Square Garden. Ali was stripped of the title in 1967 when he refused to be drafted into the Army, spending three and a half years out of the ring before being allowed back last year. The Ali-Frazier bout is being billed as "Fight of a Lifetime", "Fight of the Century" or "The Biggest Event in Sports History". Whatever it is--both Champion and challenger are said to be assured of 2,500,000 dollars (1,400,00 pounds sterling) each--win or lose. In this interview, given to an NBC reporter, Muhammed Ali shows that he has not lost any of his confidence.

A brief introduction is given for on-camera presentation to the item, as the film starts with Ali speaking directly to camera.