Skip to content
quotesby

He will be mine, in round nine, and I ain't lyin'. He must fall in eight, to prove that I am great. He wanted to go to heaven, so I took him in seven. If he'd be in a word of fix, I cut it to six. If he keeps talkin' jive, he will fall in five. If he makes me sore, I'll get him in round four, like before, with Archie moore, on the floor. If that don't do, we'll get him in two. If he runs, we can get him in one. If he don't wanna fight, he should keep his ugly self at home that night.

Muhammad Ali#48

ConfidenceCompetitionSportsRivalryPerformance

About this quote

What does it mean?
Ali predicts his victory over an opponent with specific round-by-round rhymes.
In plain terms
I will knock him out quickly and easily.
What can you take from it?
Bold predictions can motivate performance.

Where it applies

  • sports
  • rivalries
  • public speaking

Putting it to work

  • set clear goals
  • announce intentions

Questions to consider

  • How does prediction affect outcome?

Another view

Promises can backfire if not fulfilled.

More from Muhammad Ali

  1. He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.

    Permalink to quote #47
  2. Hell no, I aint gonna go. On the war in vietnam I sing this song, I aint got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. Clean out my cell, and take my tail to jail withou…

    Permalink to quote #49
  3. Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong.

    Permalink to quote #46

Related quotes

  1. People have been playing against me below their strength for fifteen years.

    Bobby FischerBobby Fischer quote #62
  2. If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize.

    Muhammad AliMuhammad Ali quote #73
  3. Joe comes out smokin', and I gonna be jokin'. I be packin' and pokin', pouring water on his smokin'. This might shock and amaze ya, but I will destroy Joe Fraz…

    Muhammad AliMuhammad Ali quote #78