The Ariel Helwani Show - Rosie Perez

Episode Date: June 2, 2022

The iconic American actress joins Ariel on the show to discuss a whole host of topics! Such as: Her deep-rooted boxing fandom and thoughts on some big upcoming fights (4:36)  The first time she met M...uhammad Ali (18:58) What it was like working with Larry David on Broadway (28:50) The story behind her casting in "White Men Can't Jump" and how she feels about the remake (31:03) Why she believes so strongly in talking to a therapist (48:30)  If Jake Paul is good or bad for boxing (58:30) And much more.We are presented by NordVPN.  Grab the NordVPN deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/ariel Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!For more from Rosie, you can follow her on Twitter @RosiePerezBKLYN.If you want to support our show, simply give "The Ariel Helwani Show" a 5-star rating on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 Hey everyone, I hope you're doing well. It is Thursday, June 2nd, 2022. Welcome back to another edition of the Ariel Helwani Show. I, of course, am Ariel Helwani. So glad that you're here and so glad that we have the lovely feathers as our theme music, if you will. This song is called Frantic. I love it. I love them, and I can't wait for their reunion. I also can't wait for today's interview. You know, this is another in a long line of interviews and interviewees that I've wanted to speak to for quite some time. I'm just checking them off the list at this point. I have been a fan of Rosie
Starting point is 00:00:59 Perez's for over 30 years, ever since I saw her in Do the Right Thing, ever since I saw her in White Man Can't Jump, which at the time, one of my favorite movies, and still is, honestly, I remember seeing it in the theaters. Loved that movie. Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson, Rosie Perez, iconic stuff. She played the role of Gloria, and I've, I mean, I've recited her line so many times, words that start with the letter Q, and oh, Billy, you're so stupid, and all this stuff. I mean, I've recited her line so many times, words that start with the letter Q and, oh, Billy, you're so stupid and all this stuff. I mean, just tremendous. What an icon, what a trailblazer, what a pioneer, what a legend. And one of the reasons why I wanted to talk to her and she's enjoying a tremendously successful career, even at this point, she's approaching 60, she's 57 and she's on two TV shows, one called Now and Then on Apple TV+, another one called The Flight Attendant on HBO Max. She's a massive fight fan, massive fight fan, especially boxing. Hardcore boxing fan is always tweeting about boxing, talking about boxing at all the big events, especially in the New York City area, MSG, Barclays. And she knows her stuff. She's not one of these like Fugazi fans. She is a legit hardcore boxing fan. And so I wanted to talk to her about boxing, about the fight game,
Starting point is 00:02:10 about her great career, about white man can't jump, all that stuff. It's a great conversation with a one of a kind personality, the great Rosie Perez. Who doesn't love Rosie Perez? So I can't wait for that. It's coming up in a matter of seconds. But first, I do want to tell you about my good friends over at NordVPN once again. Love these guys. I've told you about them in the past, and I legit feel strongly about how great their service is. Remember I told you recently, last summer, I was in Montreal, Canada, quarantining, about to visit my parents. And I was worried that I would miss, you know, my ESPN Plus, my DAZN, my Peacock, my Disney Plus, my HBO Max, all this stuff. And I was wondering how I'm going to watch all these events that are taking place on all these different platforms. And then someone tells me about NordVPN. I'm like, holy smokes, it's just like I'm back home. And I'm able to
Starting point is 00:03:00 watch on these streaming platforms. And it's all legal, that's tremendous. And if you're a sports fan traveling the world and you don't want to miss out on things, especially if you're a fight fan with all the great events coming up and the big fights, you need NordVPN in your life because with a service like NordVPN, it's as easy as the click of a button. Listen to this. With NordVPN, you can one, find a server near you for better speed and you can connect to a faraway location to freely explore the internet. Number two, watch your favorite events without interruption because of NordVPN's fast streaming speeds.
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Starting point is 00:04:02 support us. They're great people. Trust me on this one. I've used it and I love them. All right, without further ado, here is my conversation with the first lady of boxing, the inimitable, the often imitated, never duplicated, Rosie Perez. Enjoy. We do share a love of the sweet science, and that's actually where I want to start, because I know you've been doing a lot of media lately, and a lot of it gets a little deep, a little heavy about your past, about your work, your shows, your career. But I want to talk some boxing with you, because I know several years ago I saw on Twitter, I mean, when there's a fight, even not like a big one, like a medium-sized one, you're there live tweeting the entire thing from the beginning of the broadcast to the end.
Starting point is 00:04:48 And I know you're a proud Brooklynite, and I know this past weekend was a big weekend in Brooklyn at Barclays, the return of boxing to Barclays. But were you there? Were you at the Gervonta Davis fight? Because I saw you tweeting about it, but I don't know if you were actually there. No, I wasn't there. I came back from Los Angeles uh that day and i was so exhausted i was like i can't do the makeup and the hair and but i was i was scheduled to go i had ringside seats i was so excited and um and i just couldn't get it together i was a little bit
Starting point is 00:05:19 bummed but yeah now for the event even though it's boxing, you still have to do the hair, the makeup, all that stuff? Yeah. I mean, I'm Puerto Rican. I like to look cute. You know what I'm saying? Like you can't walk into a boxing, you know, arena looking busted. Come on. I'm old school.
Starting point is 00:05:36 You know, old school people dressed up for boxing matches, whether big or small. You know, it was people like maybe, you know, maybe when I was way, way, way in the nosebleed seats, I wouldn't get all dialed up, but I would still look presentable. And I guess that's still with me to this day. What did you make of Gervonta's performance? I thought it was good. I thought he took a little bit too much time figuring Roley out. Roley was winning a majority of the rounds but you could see in
Starting point is 00:06:07 tank in his eyes that he was he slowly was like okay i got him i i know how i know how this goes and i thought that roly's uh post fight interview was a little ungracious you know because you could say oh he had a lucky punch okay yeah that knocked you out it's you know it's it's um it's the way tank wins he wins with his power but also with his craftiness you know what i'm saying he knew how to sneak in that punch he ran right into it you know it was right there for him it's the same way that he got leo santa cruz who is a much, much better fighter, much more skilled fighter. Yeah, he's a little bit older than Roley, but his skill technique is beyond. And Tank still found a way to win with that massive uppercut.
Starting point is 00:06:54 See, like right off the bat, people can know you're not just a casual fan. You're not just someone who shows up for the two Canelo or three Canelo fights a year. You know your stuff. Do you recall when you first were introduced to boxing? I don't recall. It just was. You know, as being Puerto Rican, it was part of the culture. You know, you watched boxing and baseball.
Starting point is 00:07:14 So it just was. And it wasn't until I saw the Wilfredo Benitez Jr. fight against Sugar Ray Leonard is when I got hooked because it was the first fight that I cried at watching. Because one, it's like, here's this Puerto Rican icon, youngest champion ever, representing Puerto Rico, losing to Sugar Ray Leonard. And in part, I was crying for Willie Benitez Jr., but I was also crying because I felt guilty because as a young girl, I had a crush on Sugar Ray Leonard. You know, so there's a little part of me that went,
Starting point is 00:07:50 yay. And then I went, no, no, no, no, yay, no, yay. And, and that's when I really got hooked. And what people don't understand about boxing is the reason why I do go to those prospect fights, you know, those four, six, eight, ten rounders, is you get attached to the fighters. Well, first of all, the reason why I go to those fights is because back then, those were the only fights that I could afford to go to, just to be honest. You know, and you get attached, and then all of a sudden, you see those fighters that you saw in their first four-rounder in a 12-round championship fight, you get attached. You know what I mean? You get attached because you follow them all the way
Starting point is 00:08:30 through, you know, the amateurs and the Olympics, and then they turn pro and then they become a contender. And then all of a sudden they're in the ring next to the champ and you're like, what? You know, so it's really, it's really, I think that that's what makes you a boxing fan, a true boxing head. It's when you get emotionally attached, not just to the fight, but to the story behind the fight and the fighter behind the fight. So that fight, the Sugar Ray fight, do you remember how old you were? Yes, but I don't want to say because I'm really old. You can look it up in Wikipedia. Okay. I mean, I could do the math myself, but I just wanted to get confirmation.
Starting point is 00:09:05 But that's all good. The reason I ask was as a young child, as a young girl growing up, did you ever box yourself? Did you ever find yourself in a gym and want to actually train in boxing? No. I was taught by one of my half-siblings because I kept getting beat up. And the worst part of it is that I was, I had no quit in me. You know, I had sick confidence that there was no skill or power behind it. And, and so she took me out back one day and said, you know, put on these gloves because we had a relative who was
Starting point is 00:09:40 also a Golden Gloves contender, but never made. And she just kept punching me in my face. And I go, what are you doing? She goes, I'm going to keep punching you until you learn how to move out of the way. And she taught me the fundamentals. And it wasn't my next fight, but it was a couple of fights after that I got the person really, really good and people stopped messing with me. That was the extent of my boxing in my early years. But I did not like to fight. I didn't.
Starting point is 00:10:07 I liked winning, but I didn't like getting punched in the face. And later in years, when I became a young adult, I picked up martial arts. And I studied martial arts for six years on the Sifu Shi Yang Ming of the Shaolin Temple he had defected. And then I injured my hip, and I couldn't train for that any longer. And then recently I met Rob Sally, who trained, you know, Stallone and De Niro and, you know, all these great people. And he took me under his wing, and he introduced me. He started teaching me and training me. And then he introduced me to John Snow, who was formerly of Trinity Boxing down in Tribeca.
Starting point is 00:10:46 He now has his own gym, Victory Boxing, in Midtown. And I've been with Jon ever since. Wow, so you are actively training now, just for fun? Just for fun and just to keep in shape. Because I like to be in shape. I'm not really concerned about being skinny and, you know, like in a way like a lot of the ladies like to be like so skinny and svelte and fashionista. I'm not that. I like to feel strong. I like to feel in shape.
Starting point is 00:11:17 You know, I like that type of feeling from it. And so just going back, when you say you would get beat up, who was beating you up? Bullies? Everybody. Everyone who was beating you up? Bullies? Everybody. Everyone was just beating you up? Yeah, because I was a nice kid. I was corny. You know what I mean?
Starting point is 00:11:32 I was a brainiac with a bad mouth and a bad temper. It just wasn't a good combination. You know, so the bullies would pick on me and I would push back verbally and physically and also mentally. You know, I would just, you know, it's just, it was the beginnings of my assholeness, if you will. So it's interesting because obviously I've known for a very long time that you're a massive boxing fan and I know of your career and I've seen you in a bunch of stuff, but only recently did I start to, you know, learn more about your upbringing. And I don't want to go too deep into it because I know you've done a lot recently on your
Starting point is 00:12:08 upbringing and I don't think it's fair to you to keep, you know, reliving all of that. But, you know, you have been through a lot and you have overcome a lot. Just very briefly for the audience, as you say, you were a product of an affair. You know, you were kind of left for, you know, to live on your own with the nuns, war to the state. I mean, you've overcome so much. It's actually incredible that you are this successful. But after reading so much about your upbringing and how you were kind of left on the side and for a while, you know, no one was truly looking out for you and you didn't have
Starting point is 00:12:36 anyone to love you. Do you think that that fighter mentality is what drew you to boxers? Because you have been fighting since you were essentially out of the womb, right? You've had to overcome and keep fighting and keep punching. Do you think that's why you connect with these boxers? Because you have overcome so much? In part, I think it's also in part that I did have love. I had love of my aunt, my father, my biological father's sister,
Starting point is 00:13:00 and from my biological father. So I knew what love was about. And I also knew what it was about for someone saying, you're special. So that was the fighting spirit in me. It's like, how dare you treat me like this? How dare you put me in a home being run by nuns in a convent to be raised as an unwanted child? You know, how dare you smack me in my face?
Starting point is 00:13:24 How dare you smack me on my bottom for being bad? You know, how dare you smack me in my face? How dare you smack me on my bottom for being bad? You know, I'm loved. I'm special. It was more that was my rebellion. And I don't like to give credence to the abuse. The abuse didn't make me strong. I was strong in spite of the abuse. And I would have probably be even more successful if I didn't have to endure that abuse, you know, because a lot of people that were in my situation didn't make it. And some people did. And you question, you know, why is that? You know, I don't know. But all I can say for myself, it was, I think, honestly and genuinely, is that someone told me I was loved and someone told me I was special. And that's the fighting spirit. And I really do
Starting point is 00:14:10 believe that that's my connection with boxers. Because if you look at the really, really good, successful boxers, even the ones that come from troubled past, there's someone in their corner saying you could do it. There's someone in the corner that says, I love you. I got your back no matter what. You know, and it's like even if you'd look at Tank Davis, right, he was he was down a troubled path. He goes into a gym. Somebody says, wait a minute, kid, you're special. I'm going to look after you. You know what I mean? And and and he responded to that. You know, so it's like, why did Tank respond to that where maybe another fighter probably who was just as equally as good and as skilled and as powerful did it? You know, so it's weird. So I really don't know. But I could just kind of guess that it's because of the Golden Globes. Okay. Golden Globes. Excuse me. Golden Globes. Yeah. Golden Globes. And we were so far high Biden, I couldn't see shit, just to be honest.
Starting point is 00:15:12 You know what I mean? But I was still like cheering and, you know, trying to see and who's winning? Who's winning? You know, and then go to school and talk shit like, yeah, I was sitting up close. I saw the whole thing. It was bullshit. I didn't really see it a lot. When you started to, you know, gain notoriety, I know you say that you don't like to travel, which is interesting that you work on a show called The Flight Attendant.
Starting point is 00:15:38 But when you started to gain notoriety and income and whatnot, did you use that to go? You know, I know you've been to events in Vegas and whatnot, but like, was boxing sort of the thing that you spent money on, among other things, to be able to travel to events and not just go to the local ones? Boxing is the only thing I spend my personal money on for entertainment. Really? That's it? That's it. Isn't that pathetic? Like maybe going out for dinner, you know, or having a dinner at my house, you know, but it's like pulling teeth to get me on vacation.
Starting point is 00:16:11 It's pulling teeth for me to go on a car, you know, a long car ride. But if we're going to go to Mohegan Sun, I'll get in the car and I'll take that drive, you know, that long-ass drive, you know. Or if there's a fight in Vegas or Los Angeles, I'm going. I will book the hotel. I will book the flights and come on, everybody, let's go. Even on my personal time is why you see me at fights. You know, if you see me on the red carpet, it's because I have to go. I know that's horrible.
Starting point is 00:16:39 My publicist is probably gagging right now, you know. But other than that, where I want to go have fun is boxing matches, you know. That is amazing. Furthest place you've ever traveled to go see a fight? Furthest? England, in the UK. It was the Anthony Joshua fight at the Wembley Stadium. It was one of the most exciting boxing matches I have ever been to in my life.
Starting point is 00:17:12 And that's seeing a lot. And it pains me to say as an American, as a Puerto Rican American, that the UK fans just crap all over us. I mean, it was such an amazing experience. And the comedian, Jack Whitehall is the one that invited me and my husband. And he goes, you're not going to want to go. I go, are you crazy? So that was the farthest. As far as all time favorite, who's number one on your list? Of all time favorite. Who's your guy or girl of all time favorite you have this all time i would say it's marvin haggler i love the way he would come forward how much power he had he had no quit in him um second to that is ali i know people are like oh come on but. But it's true. And then Tyson. And then I know this is a weird choice, but Diego Corrales.
Starting point is 00:18:11 I mean, he was such a passionate fighter, you know, where you were screaming, you know, from your couch, stop, stop, stop. And I just resonated with him in a way. You know, he just was amazing, you know, and when, you know, his last loss, you were just going, oh, and you still were cheering for him. You still stood up on, you know, off your couch and just applaud. Yes, I do that. I know I'm really corny, but, you know, somebody wins big, we all stand up and applaud. Yeah. Yeah, I see the Tyson book behind you, the Ali book behind you. So just more proof that you're legit. Unlike my books, which are as real as a movie. So you're actually smart. I'm not. I'm a
Starting point is 00:18:56 fake smart. Is it true that the first time you ever met Ali was at a fight and you were kind of getting into it with someone and he taps you on the shoulder and that like it was in that circumstance that you met the legend Muhammad Ali for the first time? Yes and no. It wasn't a fight. It was an opening of a restaurant. Okay, sorry. Of Michael Jordan's restaurant and a certain person approached me and asked me to leave because they thought I was having an affair with their husband, which was ludicrous. I am not that person. You know what I mean? And I'm a woman's woman. You know what I mean? I stick up for women like crazy. And I was just flabbergasted and I was about to leave and then her girlfriend got in my face. And that was it. She disrespected me to a point where I kept telling her, back off. Leave me alone. Leave me alone. And she wouldn't. And yeah, it was ugly. It was very embarrassing on my part. My girlfriend, Rhonda Cowan, was with me. She was like, I got
Starting point is 00:19:59 your back, girl. I was like, oh my God, this is so embarrassing. And I really lost my mind. I lost my shit. And a big hand comes over me, and I thought it was security. And I was like, get your fuck. Oh, my God, it's the champ. And I just cried like a little girl, just saying over and over, it wasn't supposed to happen this way. No, no, no, no. And he went, shh. And I immediately calmed down.
Starting point is 00:20:28 Wow. And he grabbed me and he hugged me. And all the chaos stopped. Everybody who was like trying to get me out of there, just quiet, got quiet. And his wife went, it's okay, baby, you come with us. And I said, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. And Ali whispered something in my ear that I promised I would never repeat. And I kind of laughed, but I was still crying. And he kept hugging me. And he told his people to tell everybody else who was in my face to leave. Wow.
Starting point is 00:21:03 Yeah. And he went over. He asked me to sit with him. And I, I think I sat with them for like five minutes and I couldn't take it because I was just too humiliated. You know, it reminded me of my past. And I thought like I had all the tools to be able to control myself. And, and it was just too embarrassing. It was too humiliating. So I went home. Wow. From a low moment, you get to hang out with Muhammad Ali.
Starting point is 00:21:27 Do you regret leaving early? Yes. Was that the only time you had an opportunity to spend with him? Yes. Never saw him again? Never saw him again. Wow. That is incredible.
Starting point is 00:21:40 Well, I mean, you've been to so many fights. You've met so many people, and I believe you were at a fight that I was just at as well, Madison Square Garden, Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano. I know you were upset with the result. You still believe, you know, a month or so later that Amanda, you know, that she ultimately should have won that fight? I thought that it should have been a draw. I didn't think that it should have been a split decision and given to Katie Taylor. I thought it should have been a draw. Because if you think about it, Amanda Serrano went up two weight classes that's a lot right
Starting point is 00:22:09 and she still was the more aggressive fighter she was hitting more with powerful punches she almost dropped her twice right she dropped she almost dropped in the early rounds that was amanda's mistake she should have finished her there she didn't. And then in the last final round, Katie Taylor was holding on for dear life. You know what I mean? And so kudos to Katie Taylor because Katie Taylor, she had the smarter. I don't want to say this because I love Amanda and I love Jordan. I love them all. But I think that Katie Taylor's corner was a little bit more focused than Amanda's corner in regards to telling her what to do.
Starting point is 00:22:48 I think that Amanda's corner should have been much more aggressive and say, you have to finish her now. Not you're winning, you're winning, you're winning. You know, and with Katie Taylor's corner, there was no sympathy for Katie. You know, her trainer was like, listen, this is what you need to do. And Katie is such a smart fighter. She buckled down and she did it, what she had to do. In saying that, it's hard for me because I say that it was a draw. That's my personal opinion.
Starting point is 00:23:12 You know, a lot of people disagree with me and everything, but most people are not disrespectful about it, which I appreciate. Yes. And I think that the rematch is going to be amazing. I think that if Amanda Serrano doesn't change up her game plan i think the results will be the same um and i think that katie will have the edge because katie is that smarter fighter you know what i mean and she's bigger she's bigger and that i mean we saw that play out right with canelo versus bevel, you know, you know, weight classes matter and stuff.
Starting point is 00:23:46 So it, it, it paid me, it paid me. And I know some people were making fun of me because I, I was literally in tears that night. I had to leave. I had to leave early and seeing Amanda's mother there and she was crying, you know, saying, why did they do that to my daughter? She won, you know, me hugging her. I said like, oh, I told my husband, we got to, and my cousin's six, but we got to get out of here. I'm embarrassing myself here. People are like, I think it's so rude. People are like trying to take photos of me crying. It's like, where's your humanity at?
Starting point is 00:24:18 My gosh. You know what I mean? It's just really crazy. Well, I feel personally, even though I thought Katie won and I thought it was 6-4, I feel like there were no losers that night. It was an incredible night for boxing and especially at MSG for two women to headline. If they do the rematch, and it sounds like they're having some trouble making the rematch, which would be a travesty, if they do it in Ireland, are you traveling to Ireland to watch that? If I'm not working, yes, I am.
Starting point is 00:24:41 Wow. Why do you think it was 6-4? See, you're thinking about the points. What happened to aggression? What happened to power? What happened to all of those things that should factor into the scoring of a fight? Judging fights are so subjective. It drives me insane. You know what I mean? It just drives me insane.
Starting point is 00:24:59 It's like tennis. You know, if it's on the line, it's in. If it's not, it's out. You know, there's not any of that in boxing. And how do you fix it? Who knows? You know, but it just drives me insane. And I think, not pertaining to that fight, but there's been a lot of fights in boxing, and it's nothing new. People go, oh, boxing's messed up now. No, I love the sport, but I also hate the sport in that regard because it's been like that for a long, long time. The judging just sucks. Well, one thing I would like to see change for the second fight, I'd love to get your thoughts on this, three-minute rounds. Enough with this two-minute round nonsense. Now, I think if there were three-minute rounds, I think Amanda might even stop her in the fifth.
Starting point is 00:25:39 Would you like to see women's boxing finally go to three-minute rounds? I would love to see that. I mean, because in the gym, they train for three minutes. Right. You know, there's no two-minute rounds in the gym. It's three minutes, and it's a bit sexist, you know? I mean, if you look at MMA and you look at those fighters, female fighters, it's like, come on, guys, like, get with it.
Starting point is 00:26:01 They're going five minutes. Yeah. You know? I mean, equal rights, man, equal pay and equal They're going five minutes. Yeah. You know, I mean, equal rights, man. Equal pay and equal rights in and out of the ring. Let's do it. Let's do it. Speaking of MMA, so obviously I know for years, long-time boxing fan YouTube,
Starting point is 00:26:15 but lately I've noticed a few more UFC slash MMA tweets from you. Have you just become a newer fan over the last couple of years? Because it used to be all boxing, and now I'm starting to see more and more about UFC. I would tweet here and there about UFC fights earlier on, but
Starting point is 00:26:34 it just seems like the fans there were just, they're on attack mode. I remember the Diaz brothers. I made the mistake of calling one for the other, right, on my timeline. It's like my feelings don't get hurt. It's just like I don't have time for that bullshit. You know, it's kind of like that.
Starting point is 00:26:54 You know what I mean? And I'm not going to waste my time clapping back either. It's just not important to me in that regard. You know, but sometimes you just can't help but like a tweet or comment on a win. It's just sometimes those fights are outstanding. And I don't understand that fight game as well as I understand boxing. And so that's why I don't tweet as much as well because I'm just watching and I'm learning, to be quite honest. And I don't know how to comment if I don't really know the fighter.
Starting point is 00:27:25 And if you know, you're a fight fan, you understand that better because you can get into the mindset of a fighter, you know, and say, oh, they're doing this because of that. Oh, my God. Oh, they lost their confidence or, oh, they're going in now. You can see it. And I'm not familiar with them as well. But I do like it. And I love the women's MMA fighters. Sick, just sick.
Starting point is 00:27:51 And the last fight I watched was this guy. I always watch his fights with the Brazilian guy with the blonde hair. He's very wiry. Yeah, Charles Oliveira. Oh, my God. Yeah, he's wild. That kind of skill set is what I like in MMA. But if there's a big boxing event going up against a big UFC,
Starting point is 00:28:09 you're always watching the boxing, right? Yes. Oh, it sounds like you're hesitant there. I have – it's embarrassing. I'm a little pathetic, but I have like three screens going on. Oh, wow. Okay, so it's the same time. All right, fair enough.
Starting point is 00:28:29 I mean – Yeah. It's either that or it's the remote control game that i have down packed down like flipping from one you know thing um to the other and and everything because it's all about math right there's you know three minutes bytes and then there's i mean three minute rounds and then there's a you knowbetween rounds, and you flip back, you're like, okay, okay, and then you go back. So it's sick. Will you arrange your shooting schedules around boxing events so that you don't miss them? Have you gone to that extent? No, but we mention it.
Starting point is 00:29:02 Okay. I feel like you have that kind of clout, right? I mean, you've earned that. Yeah, we mention it. Okay. I feel like you have that kind of clout, right? I mean, you've earned that. Yeah, we mention it. Like, by the way, there's a fight that I may want to go to. If it could fit in the schedule, that would be really nice. The funniest one was I was on Broadway doing a Larry David play. And where the stage manager desk is, I had my iPad set up on a stand. And we're watching.
Starting point is 00:29:32 I forgot what boxing match we were watching. And I would go out on stage, do my lines, and then run off when it was somebody else's turn in between my scenes and watch and tweet. And I had people going, what the fuck are you doing? Aren't you on stage? And I go, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's not my time on the stage yet. And Larry David comes off one day and he goes, what's wrong with you? And I said, what, what?
Starting point is 00:29:59 He goes, you're watching boxing. We're doing a play. I go, shh, the audience can hear you. That is amazing. By the way, what was it like working with larry oh i loved it he's such a weird man and i and yeah but i loved it i loved it i think we're both the same awkward person socially i'm actually very socially awkward i am and the only time i feel myself is at a boxing match, like when I go out in public. And with Larry, the first time we saw each other, he went, I went, that was it. We knew we were good.
Starting point is 00:30:38 You know, we didn't have to go through all of that stuff. And, you know, but yeah, we're both kind of awkward. So we kind of fit. So he's like the guy that you see on TV. A little bit. He's, he's much more when he lets you in, he's so super sensitive and he's so kind and so,
Starting point is 00:30:58 so funny, you know? And, um, but he, yeah, he has a bit of that. Uh, I have to ask you about White Man Can't Jump.
Starting point is 00:31:07 I mean, to say that I saw that movie 100 times growing up would be a lie. It's probably like 250. I adored that movie, was a massive fan of it. I was a white man who couldn't jump myself. So it really spoke to me. And you guys just, you just celebrated your 30th anniversary. Great reunion special. I know you weren't there in person,
Starting point is 00:31:26 but you know, you, you zoomed in. It was on ESPN and Hulu. It was tremendous. And, and I heard a story and I'm wondering if you can confirm it. So the original plan for your role,
Starting point is 00:31:36 Gloria was supposed to be a white woman, but then someone, you know, suggested you and the day that you showed up, you saw Ron Shelton and you actually told him that you were having a bad you showed up, you saw Ron Shelton, and you actually told him that you were having a bad hair day, the director, Ron Shelton, and that you wanted to come back in a few days to try out. Is that true? Yeah. That's crazy. I know.
Starting point is 00:31:57 People would die for opportunities like that. There you are face to face with the director, and you say, hold up, I need a few days to come back when my hair gets better? Well, what happened was is that I was so nervous and all the girls in the waiting room, they were all white girls and I know that they didn't want me. And I went to the bathroom and I just had a panic attack and I just went to put water, just a little bit of water on my face and the water splashed all over my hair and I had just a brand new blowout. My hair is naturally curly, slightly frizzy, and it went like a chia pet. It went poof. And I went, oh no. And, and I, and I just, I said that, but the reason why I said that was I didn't know he was the director. I didn't know what Ron Shelton looked like.
Starting point is 00:32:52 You know, you walk in a room, sometimes it's only the casting director, you know, and then producers or, you know, whatever. And he was so casual. I didn't realize he was a director. So that's why. So, and he said no problem and was cool with you coming back in three days. You didn't have any issues with that? No, I stayed. Oh, you did stay?
Starting point is 00:33:12 I stayed. Okay. And you tried out and could you get the sense that you, because again, the role was written for someone who does not look like you and sound like you. Right. Did you get the sense that you won them over on the first day? I got the sense that I won them over when they brought Woody in the room. Because if they're not feeling you, you know, they speak to you,
Starting point is 00:33:34 they ask you how your day is, what you think about the script, or let's read a few lines and da-da-da, that's it. If they like you, you're there for a little bit longer period of time. If they really like you, they bring your for a little bit longer period of time. If they really like you, they bring your potential co-star in. And he said, I'm going to bring Woody in. And I went, oh. And I was just like, okay, calm down, champ.
Starting point is 00:33:58 You know, and I just took a deep breath. And when Woody walked in the room and I looked at him and he looked at me, I knew it. I knew it. The chemistry was, like, electric and very palpable in that room and I looked at him and he looked at me. I knew it. I knew it. The chemistry was like electric and very palpable in that room. And we just clicked and we had fun. And to the point where Ron Shumlin was like, okay, you two stop, stop, stop. Okay. The audition's over. Okay. Get out of here. And I was like, okay. And I went in the car and I sat in the car and I went, it's mine. I got it. Like, I just knew it. I just just knew it at what point in that process could you tell that
Starting point is 00:34:29 this would be an iconic film um like sometimes i've heard actors say it's only after the fact sometimes it's at the very beginning like could you tell in the midst of it or was it only once it came out did you realize that this was something special um initially i didn't think it was going to be a big hit i thought it was going to be big but not a big mega hit it was wesley who was 100 sure he kept telling me and woody this is gonna be big mega big and we're like yeah you think so and he's like yeah this is gonna be mega mega mega big and um and it wasn't until i did the jeopardy scene that i realized oh this is gonna be iconic that's when it hit me why that scene because it was alex trebek came walking out they didn't tell me because they knew I was a Jeopardy freak, right? Because
Starting point is 00:35:26 I stated that in my audition. And I remember Ron goes, no, you're not. I went, dun, dun, dun, dun. And he went, okay, that's enough. You are. And so they did that as a surprise because he wanted to see my real reaction on camera, which made me even more nervous than I was. And that's why I kept messing up the words. My speech impediment that I painstakingly got rid of, you know, in elementary school with two years of speech therapy came right back. And I was just like, oh, my God, it's electric. Oh, my God, this is epic. And that's when I was like, I went to Wesley.
Starting point is 00:36:06 I was like, I think it's going to be big. Wow. So, forgive my ignorance, the Jeopardy part of the story, was that written because you are a Jeopardy fan? Or did you tell them because you knew that it was a part of the character's, you know, persona? Yes, it was part of the character's persona. Okay, here I am exposing my lack of Hollywood knowledge. Is it amazing to you, like my wife and I, I met her when I was 12. We quote, you know, words that start with the letter Q, and oh, Billy, you're so stupid. And you know, infinity plus infinity, like your lines are as iconic as any in the movie. In fact, I could probably quote more of your lines than any of the lines that Woody or Wesley said. Does that blow your mind a little bit? I mean, you're not one of the two guys, but to me you're as important to that movie as either of them. Yeah, it blows my mind a bit because, you know, they're the two stars. So that's pretty awesome.
Starting point is 00:36:56 Thank you. Do a lot of people still come up to you and recite those lines? Words that start with the letter Q is, to me, like the ultimate. Do you get that a lot? Yes. I get all of them. I get that and do the letter Q is, to me, like the ultimate. Do you get that a lot? Yes. I get all of them. I get that and do the right thing lines. And also, this movie I did, It Could Happen to You with Nicolas Cage.
Starting point is 00:37:18 There's a line in there where I say, did you have to give her all the money? And there's another line where I go, I have wings and I need to fly. And so, but it's mainly do the right thing and white men can jump. I hear it all the time. Which movie do you hold in higher regard? Because it seems to me like there were some issues that you had to get over as far as do the right thing is concerned. But as far as white men can jump is concerned, like to me, that feels all very positive to
Starting point is 00:37:46 you. And there was nothing that you really had to overcome. So I'm wondering if in like that special place in your heart, in terms of the pound for pound rankings, is white men can't jump above do the right thing for you? No, it's not. It's not a matter of ranking for me. Because do the right thing changed my life and I'm forever grateful
Starting point is 00:38:09 for it every time I I swear to goodness I've never said this before when Fight the Power comes on I still get a tingle in me I still get a little bit of excitement
Starting point is 00:38:24 and a a good feeling of nostalgia, you know, that comes in in me and I get my heart just swells, you know. But, you know, I don't watch my movies. I can't because I'm too critical. But, you know, when I think of White Man Can't Jump, I would say this is the most fun I've ever had on set to date. Really? Yeah. Why is that? The chemistry, the camaraderie, the way that Ron Shelton directed the set, not just the actors, but the set, that he honestly made it feel like summer
Starting point is 00:39:06 camp in Southern California. And it was so much fun to go to work every single day, every single day. And even one day, Woody thought he was angry at me, and I wasn't. And I was like, what's wrong with you? You have a problem? And he says, oh, you know, you make me mad. I go, why do I make me mad? He goes, because you're mad at me. I go, I'm not mad at you. What are you talking about? And he goes, oh, you're not?
Starting point is 00:39:33 I go, no. And he goes, oh. And we just burst out laughing. You know, it was like that. It was just amazing. It was an amazing time. That opening scene in Do the Right Thing with the boxing gloves, was that your idea because of your love of boxing? No, it was Spike Lee's idea because he
Starting point is 00:39:51 was enamored with Mike Tyson. Wow. And so that was the reason. He had no idea. And he was like, oh, we're going to bring in someone to show you how to throw a punch. And I said, oh, I know how to throw a punch. And he just started cracking up, of course you do. And I was like, okay. But that said, the punches are so embarrassingly sloppy because it's like after he used the last take, so it's like eight hours of throwing punches.
Starting point is 00:40:24 I was just like you know the chicken wings out everything was just embarrassing so you don't watch any of your movies like at least once you probably see it at the premiere or something like that yeah okay and that's it that's it like the last time you saw white man can't jump was 30 years ago wow there's never a part of you like even with all this time past like let me you know nostalgia it's it's universally praised there's no part of you that wants to relive it nope because like i said i just pained you if you see something you could have done better you know i'm sure it's just like a fighter.
Starting point is 00:41:08 They see a fight and they go, even if they won or lost, they go, I should have came in here or I should have fainted over here. You just think of those things. I've read that you are in support of the remake and you wish them well. Have you been asked to be a part of it in any way, shape, or form? No. If they did come up to you and say like you can play like a little role here you show up as a cameo Gloria returns would you want that or would that be weird if it's good okay so you'd be open to it I'd be open
Starting point is 00:41:37 to it yeah if the casting is right and the and the script is right and the director's right. There's a lot of factors that go into making a good film. So if all those factors are there, yeah. And if the other guys could come too, it wouldn't be the same without Woody and Wesley. Right. And you guys had that great moment at the Oscars. You were up on the stage. At least I think it was a great moment.
Starting point is 00:42:01 It was. It was not a great moment. Well, they seemed intoxicated and you weren't. Is that fair? That's very fair okay uh but did you enjoy I wouldn't say intoxicated I would say under the influence under the okay fair enough yes uh the other stuff though the wacky tobacco as they say which is fine you know it's now a lot more uh accepted but um was that the first time that you guys were together since you know 30 years ago or oh no no no no we've hung out many a times
Starting point is 00:42:28 before that but it was the first time we'd seen each other maybe in seven years wow so you've remained friends did you know each other before the movie no wow okay that's amazing no no no I take that back I knew Wesley from the neighborhood
Starting point is 00:42:44 because he had moved to Brooklyn, and he used to give the most amazing parties at his Brownstone. Wow. Amazing. And they were, oh, my God. They were legendary. You couldn't even see your hand in front of your face. All the lights would be off.
Starting point is 00:43:01 There would be either a red light or a blue light on one floor. That was it. You know, the sickest DJ packed, just sweat. Your hair would be just sopping wet from the sweat. And oh my gosh, it was just amazing. And you're like, whose hand is that? Don't be touching my ass. It was like, kind of like that, you know?
Starting point is 00:43:19 Oh, my bad. Sorry. I didn't know it was you. It was crazy. It was lots of fun, you know, like to like 4, 5, 6 in the morning type of party you would throw. So you were obviously in attendance, the now infamous slap. You were there. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:43:35 How do you feel about that in retrospect? It's hard for me to comment on it because I haven't commented on it. I will just say that it was disappointing. Okay. And in full disclosure, you know, I know that those gentlemen, I know both of them and everything. Kreese I've known longer, you know, and it was unfortunate and it was painful. I also have to ask you about Soul Train just because,
Starting point is 00:44:08 correct me if I'm wrong again, I just want to get confirmation, not a huge fan of Don Cornelius? Who, me? Yeah. Oh, well, I mean, that's a complicated question. No one's ever asked me like that. I mean, we've had our little skirmish, but the man apologized to me. He did? Yeah, and we became friends afterwards, years afterwards. And we remained friends until he passed.
Starting point is 00:44:33 What did he have to apologize for? He tried to throw me off the set of the soul train. Why? And I threw a cantikified chicken wing at his train. Why? And I threw a unquantified chicken wing out his head. Really? He put his hands on me to carry me out and
Starting point is 00:44:53 this is prior therapy and like I said, you know, I had a really bad temper from my childhood and, you know, that no quick girl came right back, you know, even though he's like, what, 6'3", 6'4", and I'm 5'2", you know, and I still was like game. And then he, it was because he didn't, he wanted me to sign with this girls group. And I kept telling him, I can't sing like a recording artist.
Starting point is 00:45:24 And he goes, half of the women who are recording artists can't sing. That has nothing to do with it. They're not going to be listening to your voice. And I was like, no, thank you. You know, I was a college student. I was, I was studying biochemistry. Like what the heck did I want to do? You know, become a recording artist for, you know what I mean it wasn't I wasn't blinded by that you know like oh I'm gonna be famous no this wasn't me and um and he he didn't like it he didn't like it you know so and we he came and he apologized to was wrong and that I was right and and um and he hopes that one day I could forgive him I go okay he goes no I mean I said no I'm forgiving you now and he went
Starting point is 00:46:14 it's okay I said I've done a lot of bad shit in my life too you know I wish people would give me a second chance so yeah and and i held out my answer said let's hug that's amazing out and i will see so early in your life you wanted to be a marine biologist do you ever stop and think about what life would be like like if you don't get noticed to get on soul train and if you don't see spike at that club to get on do the right thing and then everything happens afterwards if you just go down the path of marine biology do you uh do you think you'd be happy with your life? Do you think that you would feel like you were content and made the most of your life?
Starting point is 00:46:51 Or do you think you were always destined for this path? Who's to know? I don't know. I would say this is that I think I would have been successful. I did have that belief in myself. That's one thing that I can relate and empathize with fighters. You have to believe that you can win in order to step in the ring. If not, you're a fool.
Starting point is 00:47:20 You know, you have to. And I believed that I was going to be a successful scientist, a successful marine biologist who didn't get in the water because she didn't want her hair to get wet. That's great. You'd be in the lab, right? I would be definitely in the lab. I loved being in the lab.
Starting point is 00:47:37 I loved looking down a telescope and microscope. I mean, up in a telescope, down in a microscope. I loved all of that stuff. And organic biology was really resonating with me very strongly too. So who knows? I do know that I would be successful. Who knows whether I would have been as happy, I think, I would like to think I would be. You know, but once I saw Do the Right Thing in the theaters on the premiere night, I went, I know what I want to do.
Starting point is 00:48:12 And that was it. You know, because even when we wrapped on the set of Do the Right Thing, I went right back to school. I went, okay, that was cute. You know, go back to my plan A. And so who knows? Good question. Just a couple more and then I'll let you go. And again, thank you so much for the time. So I know you've talked about anxiety and therapy and whatnot. These are things that are very important for me. I've talked very openly about that as well. Do you feel at this point, and I don't even know if it's possible,
Starting point is 00:48:45 do you think you have conquered your anxiety and the feelings that you may have had early in your career? Now you're so accomplished and everything, or do you feel like this is going to be, for lack of a better term, like a continuous battle for the rest of your days? Do you always have to keep working on this? It will be a continuous effort. It's no longer a battle, but it is an effort and it will be a never ending effort. Because of the trauma that I endured, you know, the chemical makeup within my brain and my nervous system has been rewired. And so it's, it's a matter of moderating my behavior, maintaining certain cognitive behavior, and staying in touch with my psychiatrist.
Starting point is 00:49:33 I don't have to go every single day anymore or once a week or even once a month. I check in with her maybe once every two months now, but I have to keep doing that because it's still there. And she offered me the greatest, greatest, greatest analogy. She said, when I first met you, you were treading water in the Atlantic Ocean, and then you transferred into a river, but the river was still going downstream. And then I saw you dip your toe into a pond and now it's just a puddle and you've built a bridge over that puddle, but the puddle's still there and it's never going to evaporate. It's going to be there, but we now know how to manage it. And, you know, some days it
Starting point is 00:50:20 rains and that puddle starts to get a little bit bigger you know some days the sun comes out and then it evaporates some of the water again you know so you have to maintain your it's maintenance it's like going to the gym every day you have to maintain or else your muscles are going to get soft you know and so that's my maintenance I have to keep this and this finely tuned otherwise I I will go back to a place where I wasn't very happy with myself and I wasn't very happy with my relationship with the world. And once I started to get therapy and understand why I was so angry and understand why I had horrible responses, emotional responses, I started becoming the person that I knew I was, you know,
Starting point is 00:51:11 when nobody else was looking. You know, so it's a great thing. It's a wonderful thing. I encourage everybody to do it. You know, you got a headache, you take Tylenol. You know, so it's that. how long have you been doing that for therapy 17 years like a breaking point that made you say enough is enough i have to seek help yeah yeah yeah it was a breaking point it's it's a lot to go into you probably don't have the time
Starting point is 00:51:43 maybe next time come on your show. Fair enough, fair enough. But there was a breaking point, you know, where you say you hit a wall. And, you know, I knew that despite the success that I was having at that time, I knew that it was in jeopardy of all going away if I didn't take care of myself. You know, I see that with fighters too. They reach what they consider the pinnacle of success and they think that erases everything away. And then you start seeing the self-destruction creep back in and you go, no, no, no, no, no, no. And I've talked to fighters, well, I don't want to get therapy because I think that's going to take my edge away. I said, no, no, no, honey,
Starting point is 00:52:30 it sharpens it because all the bad stuff gets out of your way. And you see so much more clearly your target. Because I'm telling you guys you've got to go and test it out. I said, the greatest athletes in the world do it. When they go to a sports therapist, it's still a therapist. Right, right. They're still talking and working stuff out. And there was a period you were going every day? Yes.
Starting point is 00:52:57 Wow. Except Saturdays and Sundays, but I had her on speed dial. Wow. Yeah. And then you eventually went to like once a week and then every couple weeks, month, et cetera, once you started to feel better. Yes. Impressive.
Starting point is 00:53:12 And I give you a lot of credit for being able to speak about that. First Lady of Boxing, that title, you comfortable with it? It's embarrassing. And at the same time, I have to be honest, I love it. Yeah. You know? So, yeah, that came out of my cousin. Sixto always used to say that to me.
Starting point is 00:53:34 You're the first lady of boxing. You're the first lady of boxing. And I got invited to the International Boxing Hall of Fame up in Canastona, New York, and I was so excited to be there and everything. And then Joe, I can never say his name right, Kalzowski. Kalzowski. Yeah. He was there, and I was like, oh, my gosh, can you sign my glove? I love you.
Starting point is 00:53:59 And he was, like, really dismissive, like, you don't know who I am. And I, you know, yes, I do. And I started naming all the fights and everything. And he was like, wow. And my cousin was with me and Sixto, who always first called me First Lady Boxing. But that was just inside the house. And Al Bernstein, we were sitting at the table and he had saw the interaction with me and Joe. And he goes, he doesn't know that you're the first lady of boxing and i went and i looked at my cousin's six though and he goes i called her that
Starting point is 00:54:30 not you i'm the first one and i just started laughing and then on that one of the showtime telecasts alburn stein stein says and we have the first lady of boxing who's tweeting and then it bang it stuck i. I love it. And it's appropriate. And you've earned a Cambosis Haney this weekend, massive fight again at 35. Who do you like in that? Both.
Starting point is 00:54:53 You like both. I like both. Yeah. No, no, no, there's going to be a definitive winner in that one. Definitive winner. And it's the person who shows up who really,
Starting point is 00:55:01 really wants it because Devin Haney's skill set gets sick he's such a smart fighter he's quick with it and everything but does he have the grit and dirtiness in that in that never say die thing that Gambosis has and Gambosis has power as well and I think that Teofimo should have beaten Gambosis but he overlooked him you know and that's a thing it's like it's like being on stage right you can't think you're you're better than the cast you can't you can't because someone's gonna upstage you that's where it comes from they're gonna upstage it and take it from you you know what I'm saying and you always have to be ready and Gambosis is so ready he was ready to take it and he's ready to keep it. So that's why
Starting point is 00:55:48 I think it's going to be an incredible fight. It's one not to be missed. So I really can't call it. I love the passion. And I'll hit you with a couple of rapid fire ones before we go. Will Tyson Fury fight again, in your opinion? Real boxing, not like some exhibition or something like that i think he might i think this there's so many uh boxers who say i'm done and they and they come back you know what i mean they miss the applause they miss the the whole spectacle of it all he might come back crawford spence oh my god are we gonna finally see it? We are going to finally see it. That's what I'm hearing. That's what I'm hearing.
Starting point is 00:56:27 I pray to the boxing gods that it does come true. And that's going to be a hard one to call, too, because I've been a Terrence Crawford fan for so long, but I've also been a Spence fan. And, yes, I've been a Crawford fan longer. It's just that I've watched his fights. He was on the scene more than Spence was, and then he got put on the shelf for a while. I don't know why. I do know why, but I don't want to get into that.
Starting point is 00:56:52 But Ugas' fight with Spence, his last fight, everyone was saying Crawford has it in the back. After that fight with Ugas, now people are going, I don't know. I think Spence is going to take it, Ugas, now people going, I don't know, I think Spencer's going to take it, man. I don't know. I don't know. So it's tough, you know,
Starting point is 00:57:10 but the thing is, is that they both have this street fighter in them mixed with power, mixed with skill, and they both can adjust very, very, very quickly. I think that Crawford is meaner, overtly meaner than Spence. But Spence definitely has that mean streak as well. So who is going to be a good one? I want to be at that one. I want to be front and center. I swear to God I do. I can't wait for that fight.
Starting point is 00:57:42 I love it. And it sounds like you have the inside scoop that this is actually happening. Wow. Say no more. Say no more. To all those people who say, you know, I primarily cover MMA, but I adore boxing. It was my first love before I even knew what MMA was. I'm from Montreal, so Arturo Gatti was my favorite.
Starting point is 00:58:03 People get, you know, to me, it's so annoying when people say boxing is dead or boxing is struggling. It's literally every weekend, a big boxing event. Every single weekend. Last weekend was Tank. This weekend, it's Haney Kambosis. You got Usyk and Joshua coming up. I mean, it goes on and on. And so I just love what you do for the sport, for the fighters, to shine a light, to let people know that there are big events. I'll leave you with one last one one because I think you may have changed your stance, pardon the pun, on this one. Jake Paul fan, good for boxing.
Starting point is 00:58:31 Jake Paul, bad for boxing. Where do you stand now? Both. Both? Interesting. Yes. Before I comment on that, people have been saying boxing is dead since boxing started. Yes. So, you know, and then every few years somebody comes along,
Starting point is 00:58:48 like a Sugar Ray Robinson comes along, you know, or, you know, Ali comes along, and then a Tyson comes along, and then a De La Hoya comes along, and a Mayweather comes along, a Lomachenko comes along, a Triple G comes along, a Canelo comes along, and Al Spence comes along, and a Crawford. It just goes on and on. That said, Jake Paul, I thought that what he did in making the deal for Taylor Serrano was
Starting point is 00:59:12 outstanding. It's embarrassing to the other promoters and network people that weren't able to make it happen sooner, right? And the amount of money that he got for those women, specifically for Amanda Serrano, you have to give him his credit. You have to give him his props in regards to him saying that he could get in the ring with someone like Canelo. Please stop it, please. With all due respect to Jake Paul. And I met the man. I shook his hand and everything like that. So I have nothing personal against him. And I really thought what he did for that fight was amazing. But you know what? Boxing is the hurt business. It's a dangerous sport. That's part of my love-hate relationship with it.
Starting point is 00:59:53 People have died in the ring. We don't want to see that. Yes, you have fought with professional fighters, but they weren't at the top of their game. The way people that you are calling out now, it's very, very, very dangerous. And I wish he would just kind of fall back a little. And if you want to have your exhibition fights, do it in a realistic manner. Don't put yourself in danger. Don't put another fighter in danger, you know? And, and, you know, so that part of it, it just, it worries me some. And I know from other fighters, they have a problem with him because he gets an exhibition fight and he gets all this money. And there's other fighters out here who have been just putting in the work and the years and they could barely make over $100,000, you know.
Starting point is 01:00:41 And, you know, you could say you can hate him for that but you know what um it's it's unfortunate but you can't hate his hustle you know i mean he made it happen you know i just think it's just you know and i think he's grown up a bit too because he used to do stupid things and say stupid things i think he's grown up a bit too but i just wish he would just stop you you know, poking the bear. Cause the bear is going to come back and just might hurt him. Spoken like a true fight fan.
Starting point is 01:01:12 What a delight. This has been Rosie. Thank you so much. Really a true pleasure for me. I was very, very excited when you said yes. Still can't believe I'm talking to the great Rosie Perez. Thanks for your tremendous career,
Starting point is 01:01:24 all the great movies and shows. Good luck on the current shows that you're working on, The Flight Attendant, now and then as well. And thanks for all that you do for the fight game as well, shining a positive light on it. I love the tweets. I love anytime there's a big fight, I just see the passion come through. So really, thank you for the time. And I wish you and your family nothing but the best in the future. Thank you. Same to you as well. Also, Tyson, he said that he'll take me, Mike Tyson, to my first UFC fight soon. When's that? When's that happening?
Starting point is 01:01:55 I don't know. He said he'll pick the fight. Damn. I just saw him in Los Angeles, so he couldn't believe I've never been to a UFC fight before. You're going to love it. The atmosphere is, they know how to put on a live event. That's what he said. Yeah. So I think you will love it. A little different than boxing, a little more fast pace,
Starting point is 01:02:18 not a lot of downtime. The fights are shorter. So I can't wait to see you there. And when you do go, then we can come back on and get your full review of it all. You got it. All right. How great was that? What a legend. And what a true fight fan, right? I wasn't lying. She knows her stuff.
Starting point is 01:02:31 And you can see the passion comes out. She gets more passionate talking about boxing than she does her own career about the movies and whatnot. If you haven't seen White Man Can't Jump, you're doing yourself a disservice. It's really one of my favorite movies ever. I love that movie. And that movie isn't what it became, what it is today, what it was without her. Absolutely. I believe that strongly.
Starting point is 01:02:51 She is a massive part of it and was great and it was great and do the right thing. Has been great for the last 30 plus years. Much respect to Rosie Perez and I can't thank her enough for her time. Also, thank you very much to NordVPN for their support as well. Thanks to all of you who continue to rate, download, subscribe, and review to this feed, wherever you listen to this, and also to the YouTube channel, youtube.com slash Ariel Hawanis, where you can watch this interview and our previous interviews. Please support that as well. Just give us a little subscribe, hit of the button, and a little star, thumbs up, blah,
Starting point is 01:03:23 blah, blah, all the stuff that you do. Enjoying this very much. Enjoy it every week. Look forward to it every week. I hope you are as well. Thank you to the production team. Thanks to Rosie Perez. Thanks to NordVPN. And thanks to all of you. Much love. Much nachas. Have a great weekend. I'll talk to you next week.

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