They own you.
-Nobody owns Buddy Briggs! Nobody!
-Don't lie to me!
Every big fight
you've ever been in, you've taken a dive.
And you know what?
You could've been somebody.
You could've been a contender
instead of a bum,
which is what you are.
Muffin.
Buddy, I'm here to help you.
Now, do you think
you can beat the Champ?
-I can take him blindfolded.
-What if he's not blindfolded?
I can still beat him.
I believe you.
That's why I won you in the poker game.
You fight on the up-and-up,
you'll be able to
look in the mirror and see a winner.
You've been living
in the dumps too long, pal.
I'm gonna help you and Mary
get out of this sewer. Come on.
All right, Buddy,
now, you meet me tomorrow
at Maury's Bar on Prospect.
I'm gonna get you a fight
with the Champ.
-How are you gonna do that?
-You leave that to me.
Buddy.
-What'll it be?
-Screwdriver.
-Anything to drink?
-No, thank you.
Hey, Kelly.
Sure are a lot
of photographers here tonight.
Yeah, I know.
Is Cooper and Martin here?
Yeah. They're sitting at the table
with a couple of tramps.
I think it's time to go and meet Mr Big.
His name's Mr Martin.
Well...
Hey, Cooper,
you calling any bluffs lately?
If it isn't Mr Kelly.
It's the guy I was telling you about,
the guy who manages
Lorne Greene and Johnny Cash.
Go powder your noses.
Listen, smart boy, I own this town.
You may have a fighter,
but you're never gonna get a fight.
We'll see about that.
Roses are red, violets are blue,
sugar is sweet,
I'm gonna break your face.
Buddy Briggs could break
every bone in your body.
Yeah, well, he must be
a pretty good boxer.
How would you know?
You never won an honest fight
in your life.
Take it easy. Nobody wants to get hurt.
Just cool off.
Why should I?
The only reason you're champ
is 'cause of guys lying down or dying.
Let me buy you a drink. We'll talk.
I wouldn't drink with you, you two-bit,
phoney excuse for a fighter.
You're just tired,
-you didn't mean it.
-Forget it.
''Forget it''?
Nobody says ''forget it'' to me!
Sorry, buddy, no sax before a fight.
-Are you nervous?
-Yeah, a bit.
But I know I can take this guy.
Nothing can stop me tonight.
-What are you doing here, Martin?
-Get out of here. I've gone straight.
If you're smart, you'll go straight
to the canvas in the 12th.
Forget it.
-We've got Mary.
-What?
-You're bluffing.
-Oh, yeah?
-Mary's scarf!
-You could have gotten that anywhere.
-How about this?
-Mary's purse!
-There are millions of purses like that.
-How about this?
Mary's toaster!
Oh, my God.
In the 12th, Buddy.
I can't believe it.
I trained to win this fight.
I can win this fight. Now I gotta lose.
Buddy, I'll make a deal with you.
I'll bring back Mary,
you beat the Champ.
I radioed Hocken to get some men
and meet me at the Arena.
If I wanted to put Martin
and his monkeys behind bars,
I had to find Mary, and fast.
Johnny, I need
some information and fast.
There's a woman in trouble.
You mean Mary, the boxer's wife
who was just kidnapped?
-Right. You know anything about it?
-Maybe I do, maybe I don't.
She's in big trouble.
She's being held
by Martin's goon, Luca.
-What's a ''goonluca''?
-No, Luca Burnett. Martin's henchman.
Right. Where are they?
It's a big city. Could be most anyplace.
You might wanna try Jim's Gym.
Thanks, Johnny. I'll be in touch.
-It's a bypass operation, Johnny.
-So?
The guy has a history
of sinus bradycardia.
I wouldn't know anything about it.
-You got him on atropine?
-Of course.
Do a midline thoracotomy,
strip the saphenous vein,
be careful not to puncture
the myocardium.
Tonight's main event, 1 5 rounds
for the Championship of the World.
In this corner, weighing 210 pounds
in the dark trunks
is the current champion,
the Champ.
Jack and Jill went up the hill,
I'm gonna break your face!
I'm gonna break your face!
-No! No! No! Help!
-Police squad!
-You're under arrest!
-No way, Ray!
All right, Luca,