This story is inspired by real events.
The people and events shown are made up for artistic purposes.
Any similarity to reality is purely coincidental.
[seagulls calling]
[Harry Markson, in English] Gentlemen,
we are very happy to announce this morning the consummation of negotiations
for this very important fifteen-round heavyweight fight
between Muhammad Ali and Oscar Bonavena,
which we have scheduled for Madison Square Garden
on the night of Monday, December 7th.
I think it'll be much rougher than Jerry Quarry.
Much rougher than George Chuvalo.
Much rougher than Karl Mildenberger and Zora Folley.
Do you think that Clay is going to cut you?
Maybe no.
I is too strong.
- You're too strong? - Yes, I is too strong.
See?
- [reporter chuckles] - It's too much. Argentina!
[both laugh]
How did you get so strong?
With steak, milk.
Have you ever been knocked out?
No, never. Nobody's knocked me out.
You don't think it's gonna happen this time.
No.
- You'll knock out Clay? - Yes. Why not?
Who is he, Superman?
ON DECEMBER 7, 1970,
OSCAR "RINGO" BONAVENA FACED MUHAMMAD ALI,
THE GREATEST BOXER OF ALL TIME.
SIX YEARS LATER, WITH HIS CAREER ON THE DOWNSWING,
RINGO CAME TO THE NEVADA DESERT
LOOKING TO LOCK DOWN THE REMATCH.
HE WOULD SPEND THE LAST THREE MONTHS OF HIS LIFE THERE.
[guard knocks on the window]
No parking here. Move the car. Let's go.
Hey, Ross.
I didn't know it was you.
[plane powering down]
[Ringo, in Spanish] Not one journalist came.
What's going on in this city? Don't they have TVs?
Are we almost there?
Could we stop to eat something?
Ask your driver.
Look how bad off I am that they sent me a one-eyed driver. [laughs]
[Tito] Think it's glass?
- What? - The eye. [laughs]
- Not sure. Seems like it, right? - Shh. Quiet, he might understand.
He doesn't even know English.
I. HE WHO KNOWS NOTHING DOUBTS NOTHING
The blonde's pretty, eh?
[in English] Hi, baby.
I'm Tracy.
Not now, sunshine.
Get walking.
[liquid pouring, glass clinks]
I'm glad you're here.
- [clears throat] - [bottle hits table]
Yeah. Here you go.
Let's get this paperwork out of the way. Huh?
[clears throat]
Oh, uh, this is Sally, my wife.
- It's nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you.
[Ringo sighs]
Well...
I want to say thank you, Mr. Conforte.
- Call me Joe. - Joe. [chuckles]
I'm very happy to be here and to have the chance to fight Ali again.
It will be a very good fight, that's for sure. Huh?
It better be. [laughs]
Do we have a date?
My partners will handle that.
As you can imagine, I can't do everything myself.
But here's what I can tell you.
Together...
we will make Reno the biggest boxing town
in the American west.
Now just sign,
and we'll get something to eat. Hmm?
Sorry.
[chuckles]
- This means that the lady is my manager? - Oh, no, no, no. I'm your manager.
It's just the papers.
Doesn't matter whether she signs or I sign.
Sally and I are the same person.
If you excuse me...
she's more pretty.
[Ringo, Tito laugh]
A true gentleman, huh?
[inhales deeply]
[indistinct voices through wall]
[sexual moaning over speaker]
[moaning stops]
[machine clicks]
PAN AMERICAN GAMES
[people cheering in distance]
[door unlocks, opens]
[whispers, in Spanish] There it is. There it is.
Stand there.
[Ringo] Hurry. Take it.
One more?
That's a good one.
- Let's go. - Take it.
If this fucker won't take my photo, I'll do it myself.
Shh.
- [laughs] Let's go. - [whispers] Come here. Come on.
Hey, where are you going?
- What are you doing, dumbass? [laughs] - Take it.
- No, you're crazy. One more. - [whispers] Go on.
[laughs]
- Shh. - Shh.
PRESS - THE NATIONAL Photographer
[door closes]
[trainer] Remember not to go out crazy from the start.
The first 30 seconds, stand strong and wait to see what the Yankee does.
Vicente, did you see which journalist came from Sports Radio?
- I have no idea, Titi. - [sighs]
Stay calm, study him, and when you can, take him down.
Go look. And while you're at it, see if The National photographer is here.
Ask him if he developed the film.
[laughs]
Can we concentrate on the fight?
Hey, hold on. This is important, boss.
- More important than the fight? - [softly] No.
You talked to the Boxing Night guy about writing about me, right?
I did, Oscar. I did.
He said he'll only write about you if you're the Pan American champ. Got it?
Go tell him that I will be the Pan American champ,
and I want my photo on the magazine cover.
- Go. That's why you're my big bro, right? - Can you concentrate?
- Can you stay still? - Okay, Bauti, stop whining.
Okay, keep talking about the fight.
- [mumbles] - [elastic snaps]
Can you tell your brother and your dumbass friend not to smoke in here?
Guys, don't smoke in here. Mmm?
[trainer 2] They knocked. Time to go to the ring.
- It's yours. Give it your all. - Let's go.
Oscar, come on, come on. Move.
Just this fight and then the finals, got it?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. - [panting]
Oscar, watch out.
[trainer 2] Waist, waist. Get out of there, Oscar.
[Tito] Let's go, Oscar. Come on!
It's over, motherfucker! Let's go!
[audience shouting]
[audience cheers]
[referee] One, two, three, four...
Come on, Oscar. Get up!
- ...five, six, seven, eight. - Get up and get out of there.
[bell dings]
Come on, Oscar. Come on. You're doing great.
If I'm doing so well, tell me why this guy is kicking my ass. [clears throat]
Concentrate, please. Don't come out like a crazy man.
- Let's go. Come on. - [bell dings]
Block him, Oscar! Block him!
[Ringo pants]
Get up! Up, Oscar, up, up!
Come on, come on, come on. Come on, Oscar.
- How much time? - Ninety seconds.
- How long? - Ninety seconds.
[spectator] Harder!
[Carr screams]
[ears ringing]
- [announcer] What a match we're seeing... - What did you do?
...in this fight, after the heavyweight representative
- from Argentina... - [clamoring]
...was just disqualified for biting his opponent.
This has turned into a real pandemonium.
What an embarrassment to Argentina, gentlemen. What a shame.
They stole the fight. Write that down, journalists. They stole they fight.
From the Republic of Argentina, Oscar Natalio Bonavena.
First with a "b" and then with a "v."
[Tracy, in English] What the fuck? I'm a fucking prostitute!
- I can do whatever I want. - [Ross] What did you just say?
- Say it! - You fucking prick!
- What are you doing? - [Tracy screams]
You fucking bitch!
[Tracy] What the fuck?
[Ross] You made me do this!
- You made-- - [punch lands]
[Ross grunts]
Come back here. Come back here!
Fuck!
[pants]
[Ross] Motherfucker!
You fucking bastard, I told you a thousand times that it's over!
Leave me the fuck alone!
- Bitch! You're mine! - [spits]
You're mine!
You're mine, you hear me?
- [engine starts] - [gate opens]
[gate closes]
[car accelerates]
[car departs]
The Mustang's a strange place, isn't it?
You'll get used to it, honey. You'll see.
Don't pay too much attention to what goes on here.
[in Italian] Cui niente sa, di niente dubita.
[in English] He who knows nothing...
doubts nothing.
[sighs] My leg's killing me.
This weather...
it's hard to walk.
Do you need help?
No, it's okay.
Get in the car.
I wanna show you something.
Come on.
Joe and I set this up for you.
You'll have everything you need here.
If there's anything else I can do for you, just let me know.
[announcer, indistinct]
- [crowd jeering] - [announcer continues]
[in Spanish] Good afternoon.
- [clears throat] - [mike squeals]
We will now read the decision from the ABA Disciplinary Committee
regarding the incident involving the boxer Oscar Natalio Bonavena.
[reporters chatter]
"Due to Bonavena's unacceptable and unsportsmanlike conduct
last April 30th, in San Pablo...
[on radio] ...this Committee has decided unanimously
to suspend this boxer from all boxing activities
and to revoke his license for a minimum of two years,
after which time this committee will review the case.
Such dishonorable and unsportsmanlike conduct
cannot be accepted by this honorable tribunal.
The act committed by Bonavena should be considered
a violation of the values of the sport and of our institution."
[train honks]
Miss, what's wrong?
[screams]
[actress] We must remember that the conscience is the mental activity...
You brought me to an empty theater? I couldn't have brought a girl?
[actress] Let's now remember how the conscience...
Come here. Come here.
...lets us distinguish different classes of emotions in ourselves and in others,
psychic phenomena and the objects you are aware of.
How are you, Mr. Araujo?
We said three on the dot, kid. The movie's started now.
Yeah, sorry, eh?
And who's this guy? Don't tell me this theater is for queers?
[actor] I filed the lawsuit...
This is my brother Oscar.
I know Oscar, though not personally.
Nice to meet you.
How do you know me?
I've seen you fight many times.
You don't see heavyweights like you everyday.
Mr. Araujo is a big shot boxing manager.
He gets a lot of the fights in the US.
Your situation with the Association here, Oscar, is not going away soon.
If you want, I can recommend you to a manager in New York.
You would do well in the US.
They're always looking for The Great White Hope.
Your category is dominated by Blacks.
- Eh, but I don't speak English. - [scoffs]
And you think I do?
The only language you have to know is the language of the fists.
[Ringo sighs]
[Araujo] What do you say, Oscar?
Relax. You don't have to answer now.
If you decide, you can just let me know.
[actor] More or less.
[actor 2] Let's look at another aspect. We know that rights...
Thank you, Mr. Araujo. We'll be in touch, eh?
[Ringo] He eats all the breaded cutlets.
They consider me one of the few.
- Honey, your favorites. - [Dora] Mmm? Oh, no.
More are cooking, eh?
- Mmm. - [Vicente Sr.] I think it's crazy.
Titi's never even left the neighborhood. [scoffs] What'll he do so far away?
Well, Dad, you have to remember that over there they pay in dollars.
If you do well, you'll have enough for the whole crop.
And if you don't? [scoffs] They'll leave you in a heap on the street.
There are amazing girls in New York.
Shut up.
Oscar is a married man, he's expecting a baby.
- He belongs with his wife. - Mom is right.
Why are you arguing? I already said I'm not going.
- [Vicente] No, Titi. - I don't think you should go.
I think he should go.
What, honey?
Oscar is a boxer. He has to box, right? Here or in China.
[sighs]
[exhales]
- Where are you going? - I'm going to take a nap.
[footsteps departing]
[whispers] Dora, you're pregnant. What about you and the baby?
Two fights. Win two fights and then send me a ticket.
Huh? What do you say?
[bell dings]
[footsteps approaching]
[knock on window]
[exhales]
What are you doing?
I didn't know you spoke Spanish.
[inhales] I was born in San Diego. My dad is Mexican and my mom is Spanish.
And this car?
I come here when I don't want to be found.
But it doesn't always work.
Who are you hiding from?
Ross?
[laughs] Lately, from everyone.
They say you're famous over there.
Here and there.
[laughs] Not here.
So, then, why did they buy my contract?
I don't know. It's like that here.
Today it's you, tomorrow horses.
They go from whim to whim.
Who?
Who else? Joe.
[sighs]
And Sally?
No. Sally is in charge of the Mustang business, of us.
Joe is in charge of stupidities.
- [in English] Good morning, Sister. - Jessie.
[Joe] Today is, uh...
Let me guess.
St. Julian's Day?
As Christian as always, Mr. Conforte.
[Joe] Mmm.
As sober as always, Sister Gretzky.
I hear you got a fighter staying at the Mustang.
Business must be booming for you to venture into new areas.
Sister,
I am looking for an investment that isn't a headache.
One that doesn't make my life difficult.
That's exactly what I was hoping--
You must understand why our community takes issue with exploitation of women.
Especially when most of them are illegal immigrants.
- We are all immigrants. - Legal ones.
Makes no difference.
Listen.
As a major donor to your church,
I urge you to talk to your congregation of Christian women.
I need this business to remain legal.
And above all,
I need peace.
I will do my best, Mr. Conforte.
Thank you for the donation.
My pleasure.
Guys!
That's the third time today someone's sent back a cold dish!
Is it that fucking hard to make a goddamn steak around here?
Come on!
And you hurry up with the glasses, will you? For the love of Christ!
[snaps fingers]
[in Spanish] What a nice idea it was to accompany my friend to New York.
And the girls? The boxing? Madison Square Garden?
We're washing dishes, Oscar.
Shut up, dumbass.
If that fucker Singer yells at me again,
I'm going to fuck him up, and you too. You hear me?
- [glass breaks] - God fucking damn it!
- What happened, man? - [inhales] Ah.
- Here, wrap it with this. - Ah. [exhales]
[in English] What the fuck?
Be careful with those hands, Oscar.
I paid a lot of money for your contract.
[sniffs]
I'm here to box,
not to wash.
Mmm?
[footsteps departing]
You tell Joe Louis and Sonny Liston that I'm here with Sugar Ray!
Joe Louis is flat-footed, and Sonny Liston is flat-footed.
Sugar Ray and I are two pretty dancers! We can't be beat!
[Lungo, in Spanish] Boys.
What's up, Lungo?
The steak is raw, brother. In Argentina, you'd go to jail for this.
- [in English] How about now? - [laughing]
I'll whoop you now.
- [in Spanish] Is that your idol? - Yeah.
- The one you always talk about? - He's a genius.
[server] Genius? He's a fucking clown.
He can put on that show all he wants. It won't work.
Liston is an animal. He's going to break his head open.
Not so fast, Cuba. He's young, but he's got experience.
My friend, experience is a comb they give you once you're bald.
Good one, eh?
That guy is not a boxer. He's a showman.
[in English] If he beats me, you tell that to your camera,
your TV man, your radio man,
and you right there in the whole world.
[grunting]
I will kill you, Liston.
I'm bad, I'm fast, I'm handsome.
[grunting]
Fly like a butterfly.
[grunting]
- I'm bad, I'm fast, I'm handsome! - You're bad, you're bad.
You're fast.
[imitates cheering crowd]
- Bonavena, Bonavena! - [grunting]
[both grunting]
[Ringo groans, laughs]
[in Spanish] Dumbass.
- [laughs, sighs] - [laughs]
When I get to Cassius Clay, I'll kill him.
You have to catch him first, fatso.
Ah.
[knock on door]
[landlord, in English] Bonavena, you got a call!
Make it quick. I'm not your secretary.
Hello?
[in Spanish] Lungo, what's up? What's going on?
He's there?
Okay, okay. Let me change, and I'm on my way.
[sighs]
He just got here.
No one here knows you, so take advantage of this. Come on.
Let's see.
No, Lungo, no bow tie. I'm not going to ask him to marry me.
Look, I don't know the room number, but it's on the third floor.
Eh? Here.
The important thing is don't fuck it up. Go.
Psst. Hey. Excuse me, are you in Benetti's room?
Who are you?
Oscar Bonavena, I'm a heavyweight from Argentina. I'd like to talk to him.
What for?
I know him from Buenos Aires, from the gym,
and I wanted to offer to spar with him while he's here fighting in New York.
Kiddo, Luis is the Argentine champ. Are you sure about that?
Yes, of course. I would be honored.
Okay, wait here.
[knocks on door]
Luis?
There's a kid from Argentina in the hall who wants to be your sparring partner.
- What's his name? - Oscar Bonavena or something like that.
Bonavena? [laughs]
What, he wants to get famous off me?
Watch me hurt him and then I'm in a mess.
- All right. So what should I tell him? - Thank him.
- Tell him whatever to make him go away. - Okay.
[in English] How'd it go with Sister Gretzky?
Same as always.
Either she gets them to stop, or I shoot them all.
Simple as that.
Shoot 'em?
You wanna shoot nuns?
We don't do that kinda stuff, remember?
You taught me that.
And you gave me a 9-millimeter for my birthday, remember?
That was for your safety, Sally.
Not for you to turn into Al Capone.
Don't play the funny guy with me, Joe. I'm being serious.
If they outlaw us, are you gonna go back to driving a cab?
You really think Sister Gretzky's circus will convince two more senators?
I don't know.
Oh, thank you, Amy.
Ringo, come over here. We've got some good news.
Excuse me.
Thank you, Lucy.
Next.
That's it, honey.
Listen, the promoter is coming tomorrow from New York.
Some big shot.
A guy with connections in the World Boxing Council.
He's in Nevada to scope out possible arenas for you
and Ken Norton.
[Ringo] Norton?
So we are thinking big.
- [Sally] Good. - Course we are.
If things go well with Norton here in Reno, then Ali could be next.
So, don't let up on the training, okay?
Can you do a little twirl, please?
[Bautista, in Spanish] Come on. There you go.
Yes, hard, hard. Come on. One more.
That's it. There you go. Time, time, time.
Come on, champ, you're gonna tear a hole in it.
- I'm gonna tear a hole in the fridge. - [laughs] Me too, I'm hungry.
[footsteps approaching]
[Joe, in English] Ringo!
I got what ya asked for.
A sparring partner.
Tomorrow. We're finished today.
[Joe] Come on.
You won't say no to old Joe.
Ross's younger brother.
- [in Spanish] Put my gloves on. Yeah. - Yeah?
[Ross murmurs]
[whispers] You ready?
[whispers in English]
[Joe] Come on. Show me what you got.
[Ross's brother grunting]
[in Spanish] Something had to happen.
[in English] Get out of there, boy!
Hands up!
Get up, boy! Get up!
[exclaims]
That's it, champ!
[cheers]
- That's what I wanna see. - [Ross] Look at me, look at me.
Proud of you.
[sighs]
[chattering, laughter]
[Ringo, in Spanish] No, I have to train tomorrow.
[chattering continues]
Thank you.
[in English] How's your brother?
Mmm?
My brother...
You're finished.
When a real boxer gets a hold of you...
he'll rip you apart.
[laughs]
When they bring me Ali,
I'm sure he will last a little longer.
Take a look around, sunshine.
You see Ali anywhere?
Cause I don't.
[in Lingala] Ali, bomaye!
Ali, bomaye!
[sighs] Fucking son of a bitch seven.
[sighs]
[pounding]
[pounding continues]
[pounding intensifies]
[Ali] But when he meets me, he'll fall 20 pounds lighter.
He thinks he's the real heavyweight champ, after I'm finished he'll just be a tramp.
I'm not saying this to be funny, but I'm fighting Ernie because he needs money.
We've decreased the prospects of war.
The greatest demonstrations for freedom and human dignity.
Choose its own future,
-so long as that choice doesn't interfere... - [gunshots]
...with the choices of others.
-Gracias? - [in English] "Thank you."
-Por favor? - [in English] "Please."
-Buen día? - Suck my dick.
[bell dings]
Singer.
[in English] For a dishwasher, you're a great boxer.
- How's your hand? - Okay, okay.
Singer.
I need plane ticket for my wife, please.
Listen to me, kid.
There's a big chance you can debut at the Madison.
The Madison Square Garden.
In a undercard fight.
- [in Spanish] Fight at Madison? - [in English] Yeah.
Think you'll be ready to fight in three weeks?
[in Spanish] I can fight now.
- [in English] Today. I can fight today. - [laughs]
Let me see what I can do about the plane tickets, okay?
[announcer on radio, indistinct]
The heavyweight champion of the world is Cassius Clay!
[baby cries]
[Dora, in Spanish] While the baby's sleeping, let's leave her with Pedro.
Will you take me on a date?
No, it's not possible here.
What do you mean? It's New York, babe. Not Parque Patricios.
It's fun here if you have money. If not, you don't exist.
When we arrived, you were ecstatic. Tell me what's up.
Tell you what's up?
I went to the Pan American Games,
I've had four fights in the US.
And?
Who knows about it? No one.
At Madison, when you break open that Yankee's face,
all the journalists will come looking for you on their own.
You'll have to line them up, you'll see.
No, Dora, things don't work like that.
Do you know how many good boxers there have been that no one's heard of?
It's all about publicity.
I already told Singer, but he doesn't listen to me.
[Dora] Wow, what a hunk.
I think he should get a good hair cut.
Shave it off, like the Blacks.
He looks like a hippie.
[clicks tongue] Oh, come on.
[camera shutter clicks]
[in English] You're the spitting image!
What?
The English drummer?
Ringo.
Ringo Starr!
You look just like him.
[announcer] Bonavena is fearless. Makes a lot of noise.
They call him Ringo
because he fashions his hair in the manner of Ringo Starr.
BONAVENA vs MILLS (120 USD PURSE)
[presenter] New kid from Argentina
clocks him in right from the first bell.
- [in Spanish] Come on! - [in English] Not too refined,
but he puts some pressure on him.
From here, it looks like he packs a mean punch.
[Pedro, in Spanish] Get it, get it!
He's yours!
[presenter, in English] Unbelievable, folks!
We're not even two minutes into the fight,
and the Argentinean upstart has knocked Mills off his feet.
The referee is counting!
And this is a knockout!
- [cheers] - Knockout!
A smashing victory
for Oscar "Ringo" Bonavena!
Remember this name, gentlemen.
"Ringo" Bonavena!
A bull from the Pampas who's slowly becoming
The White Hope in America!
RINGO WINS FIRST ROUND
[phone rings]
[continues ringing]
[in Spanish] Hi.
- [Ringo] Hi, dad. It's me. - Son.
How did it go? Did you fight?
Yeah, Dad, I won in the first round with a knockout.
You won in the first round, my boy.
[laughs] The other guy didn't even last a minute.
Wonderful. I'm so happy to hear that, Titi.
No, Dad, I'm not "Titi" anymore.
[laughs] No? Who are you now?
Ringo.
Ringo Bonavena.
That's what they call me now. It'll be in all the papers tomorrow.
Ah, congratulations, my boy.
You have no idea how much I wish I could be there.
- Eh, you are, dad. Always. - [coughs]
- [dial tone] - Huh... Dad? Hello?
So? Are we going to party?
I told you you'd fuck him up, eh? [laughs]
[Dominga] Vicente, what's wrong? Mmm?
- Dad, what's wrong? What's wrong? - Nothing, nothing.
- I got worked up. It's nothing. - Sit down.
What hurts? Do you have pain here? Does your chest hurt?
- A little bit. - What do you feel?
No, no, nothing. I'm fine now. I'm fine.
What do you mean fine? What happened?
It was Titi. He won with a knockout. In the first round.
- We're calling an ambulance. - Yes, yes.
No, don't call anyone, I'm fine. I got worked up, that's all.
- Vicente, I'm fine. - Come sit for a minute.
We have to call the doctor.
- No, no, no. - No, no.
- I'll lay down. I'll lay down, it's fine. - [Dominga] No, no, no.
[Joe, in English] Nowadays, your average Las Vegas tourist
spends $113 a day.
Tourists down here don't spend half that.
But that's about to change.
Las Vegas is going down.
With the new tax laws,
they're going to double the tourist taxes.
And what with the construction workers' strike,
they're practically driving the tourists out.
Five years from now,
people will be spending twice as much down here.
You see where I'm going?
Reno is gonna be the next Vegas.
Only we're gonna do it better.
Reno has a heart.
And legal prostitution.
This city can host the biggest fights on the planet.
And this Bonavena, is he ready to fight?
Tomorrow, if you like.
And does he have his papers in order? A visa and whatnot?
The only thing he doesn't have
is Ali in the ring with him.
All right then. We can try him out.
And if things go well, we can start thinking about Ali.
I guess we'll talk later.
Enjoy Reno.
Stuck up piece of shit.
- Who does this fucking Hymie think he is? - Easy, Sally.
You'll see how this fucking Hymie and his bosses end up eating out of our hands.
I'm a renaissance man.
But I couldn't do it without a great woman by my side.
Ringo!
It's me, Joe!
[laughs]
I got some good news.
I just spoke with the promoter.
And we're almost there.
[laughs]
[cackling, grunts]
[Tito, in Spanish] What the fuck are we doing here, Oscar? Look at this.
It's all gonna be okay.
If you say so.
I think we're closer to being pimps than boxers, though.
It wouldn't be so bad to end up as a pimp, eh?
- You don't get hit, nice girls. - [laughs] Yeah.
[crunching]
I didn't know your mom was buried here.
Oh, you're funny now?
- And you're fat, eh? - [laughs]
Run. Run.
- Fucking hell, fatso. - [laughs]
[radio commentator, in English] The South American heavyweight champion
Oscar "Ringo" Bonavena in the corner!
And from Louisville, Kentucky,
god of the champions,
Muhammad Ali!