I second the absolutely brilliant comment earlier. I met Bundini at the "Fabulous Forum" in LA in the early 80's. He was standing in a big wide aisle on the floor about 50' from the ring. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him standing there alone. I went up and shook his hand and told him how much I loved the Champ, Angelo, Freddie and of course him. He was very gracious and said "you will never see that kind of show again." I asked him how the Champ was doing? He pointed to his pants and said "you see these paints? $300. You see these shoes? $400. You see these shirt and jacket? $500 Then he said you see this gold around my neck and finger? $15,000! The champ was in the hospital last week and that's why I'm in LA. As soon as he got out of the hospital he took me for a ride and bought me all this shit because he said he did not like to see me not looking sharp. So yes, the Champ is doing great, how's that for answer?" I thought to myself, "damn, he and the champ are still the greatest show on earth." He was right never again will we that special magic that made all of us glow every time they were around. God bless their souls.
wow thank you for sharing this story and thank god ali did treat him right after the show was over. but sounds like he died so badly man, i feel bad for him
In early March of 1973, I had breakfast with Bundini Brown. After ten minutes of conversation it struck me that here was a man who could offer you and education in life. There are no more Muhammad Alis and we shall never see another Drew Brown.
When I boxed amateur, my chief second would shout out Bundini quotes during my fights: "ALL NIGHT LONG!" ,"BEHIND THE ELBOWS", "GHOST IN THE HOUSE" , "THERE IT IS!"...
I always admired Mr. Brown and his unique incredible presence during the career of Muhammad Ali. I used to get motivated just watching 'him' motivate. I still remember the first moment I saw him appear in 'Shaft' too,...I was like "Wait,...isn't that the GREAT Drew 'Bundini' Brown? Dang, the brother can act too?" I remember thinking "He's a baaaaad man!" LOL! Not knowing all of the things that he went on in his personal life back then; it just always felt good to see and hear him 'anywhere'. This was a cool documentary. Mr. Brown's backstory is an interesting one that is VERY worthy of being told. I think if 'Spike Lee' did a film about him; it would be a success. Rest easy Mr. Brown. I know you're still giving Heavenly motivations to The Champ. #Peace
I watched this probably 3 years ago, when it first came out. I love it. It was well made I thought. I hope you keep doing this kind of short documentaries and have the successes that it deserves!!
His speech in when we were kings is legendary. This is a man who I never met but I can feel his soul, even today. He is immortalised in documentaries, he feels like a living presence. Personal favourites are the William Klein documentary ‚the greatest’, and Gary Smith’s article in sports illustrated ‚Ali’s entourage’, which has a very good interview and portrait of Bundini. A fascinating man.
Love the video, you can't imagine Ali without Drew & Angie & Doc and Bundini seemed to be everywhere. I messaged his son years back on Facebook, he was very gracious and kind, a testament to the legacy of a Wonderful father and a caring soul. RIP Bundini
This is a wonderful video. Bundini deserved a documentary. He lived an amazing life. He was Ali's muse. They fed off of each other's energy. Think about it- he was associated with the two greatest boxers in history; Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali. Ray Robinson was Ali's idol. Enjoyed this film very much. Great and rare footage of the young Bundini. Well done!
Great piece on Bundini. Great athletes need discipline and focus. There were constant distractions for Ali to deal with and Bundini kept Ali trained and engaged when he had to be. I remember reading about Bundini's death at the time and knowing the show was officially over. He lived a great life.
I gave SugarRay Robinson my "Power" for 7 years. You boxers do not know how special and important it is to be a corner/hype man. You know how victorious ali was in some of those fights because of Bundini. That were absolutely brutal. Ali was a gold glove champion in the 1960 Olympics. What!!! And getting in the ring with monsters in the late 70s and 80s. Ernie shavers, Larry Holmes.
Man where the hell did you get all those interviews and clips from jesus christ you are a legend! I am glad to have people like you on youtube to share these kinds of things!
@@justme8605 considering how Big Ali was. The minor dis the Bundini did a few times was small. He could have easily set the Champ up. That's my point ,drugs are a mother .
Very interesting look at guy who was by Ali's side for entire ride. If Bundini had lived in the internet age, he'd go viral. What a fascinating character! And it looks like Ali old training camp in Deer Lake is still there? It would be a great piece of history to visit.
Yes, Fighter's Heaven is very much still there and they love having visitors - fightersheaven.com. If you go, say "hit" to photographer Jeff Julian from the Hamilcar Publications guys.
“Hit him under!” “All night Sugar Ray!” Bundini’s shouting during the Ali-Bonavena fight in 1970 is something else 😊 He shadow-boxed, screamed and cried in the corner while Ali was fighting, rubbing his neck and shoulders when the fight was over, he was also a consoler.
When I was a young boxing fan, two characters used to mesmerize me: Don King, and Bundidi Brown. You have to understand in these days you would just always see them in the background. No context as to who they were or anything. Just interesting people you would always see next to Ali. I love the Internet.
Drew Bundini Brown was a love hate relationship between him and Ali he loved Ali yet he was struggling with own addiciton and he even stole from the champ several times .
So glad you enjoyed the book! Todd put his heart and soul into writing about one of boxing's most misunderstood / unrecognized figures. Flaws and all - Bundini was a major contributor to the legacy of Ali; and so much more.
Who gives a fuck if you guys think he's a leech? he was good for Muhammad and if he DID not fucking have him in his corner he would not have beaten Joe Frazier in the Philippines and damn sure not George Foreman in Zaire so he was worth every fucking penny he got and some he was priceless history is priceless
Very well put together documentary Bundini brown was very charismatic and colorful personality no wonder why Ali loved him Rare footage and great stuff Anyone know the music name at 21:06
Wait, Wait, Wait at 16:57 said Ali fought because he needed money, that is the first time i ever heard that. yet he was worth 80 million when he died and also at the time in the guinness book of world records was the athlete that made the most money ever. So I'm confused when it said he needed money for the Berbick fight.
That's probably true. Ali lost alot of money with divorces and bad business deals early on. The 80 million was made after his boxing career due to business deals involving the Ali name and brand.
The book about it called The drama in the Bahamas alleges that the champ was cajoled into fighting by the religious group around him. They wanted the money.
I always wondered about he heroin story. I never saw Brown as that kind of person. I did see his son speak once (but it was before the movie so he never addressed it). Still, Ali was involved with the movie and can’t see him throwing Brown under the bus like that….UNLESS they talked Ali in to it (“it’s Hollywood and will make the movie more dramatic”). Who knows.
The bloke sold Ali's Championship Belt when the greatest was in forced exile (source: THE GREATEST my own story by Richard Durham). The reason he gave Ali for selling the belt was that he was months behind on house rent and that his woman had left him. He pawned Ali's iconic Belt for coins! He would also undercut Ali's bona fide marketing team by developing and selling his own Ali branded merchandise for his personal gain. Ali's marketers also wanted to use Ali's hype mantra,"Float like a butterfly sting like a Bee" on marketing merchandise but Bundini stopped them in their tracks that he had personally coined the slogan and had trade marked it! (source: ALI by Thomas Hauser)The man was a leech, a louse, a blood sucking Tick on Ali's back masquerading as a Court Jester to give Ali the mojo, period!
Ali asked budini brown to live with him on his farm masion in michigan springs but bundini said no. Ali had parkinsons then bundini never gave up on ali. There is no ali without bundi brown
Yup seen Cus! Cus made Budini look like he was talking out his ass. Cus's style had Tyson come out with all his brains. So much so Tyson is gonna step back in the ring at age 54 for a 8 round exhibition.
Cus was great! He built Tyson from the ground up and made him a monster. Comparing Bundini to Cus is apples to oranges. Tyson was a lot of work to get him where Cus wanted him, unfortunately, after Cus died Tyson was never the same and fell apart from Buster Douglas on. Tyson never had the longevity of Ali. Bundini was the best motivator for Sugar Ray Robinson and Ali who both had unbelievable longevity. Bundini and Ali were magic in person and in front of the camera. That magic sold tickets in addition to being the greatest fight motivator of all time. The great Angelo Dundee who was a helluva motivator himself, recognized that no one could motivate Ali and Ray Robinson like Bundini. They were the greatest show on earth for many years, and Bundini was right, we will never see a show like that again. For those who witnessed it all those years know what I'm talking about. I once heard a reporter ask Tyson how a fight would of gone between Ali and Tyson, Tyson said, "Ali would of taken me in to deep waters and drown my ass!" Well said Mike. Long live the Greatest!
@@mickeymantle7256 👍 Agreed with everything you said. I also heard very recently Mike Tyson say, one thing you're had to know when you got in the ring with Ali that it was gonna go all the way because there was no way anybody was knocking Ali out.
What’s with all the negative comments. Nobody comparing Bundini to Cus. Cus and Ali were great friends, born on the same date. First Ali Video I ever saw was the one where Cus interviews Ali. *Cus was 100% right, the 1970’s Ali was shipping too much punishment ……………*
Bundini had a white bitch way back then! You go Bundini, i never knew that! Bundini is my favorite corner man of all times, I love his constant protestations for Ali to "Stick em" or "All night long" "Birthday sugar Ray" "you the boss" hit him like the heavybag" and all the rest! He was there for every fight, he cried when Ali won, and was there to console and encourage after the few Ali didn't. He got Ali psyched up, and was the only voice who could keep up with the Greatest! And I really believe what his son said "he didn't do it for the money".
Drew Brown before he got with Ali called him a fake and a phony lol. He died from complications after a car accident and a fall aged only 57. What a waste.
Bundini was just a hanger on. If he really cared about ali than he would have made him stop after the thriller in manilla with Joe frazier. All these hangers-ons use fighters for their own promotion in life.
@Redjam Redjam facts. Why do you all put these little bullshit names on here? This is my real name. Why are you so offended by facts? Are you family? Red jam?
