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Remembering Muhammad Ali; Clinton Attacks Trump; Obama Weighs In; Near Historic Flooding in Paris; Recession and Zika Mar Brazilian Olympics Fervor. Aired 4-5a ET
Aired June 05, 2016 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:00]
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone, and welcome to our viewers here in the U.S. and all around the world. I'm Michael Holmes.
ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Zain Asher. Welcome to a special edition of CNN NEWSROOM as we continue to cover the life and the legacy of boxing giant Muhammad Ali.
HOLMES: And the U.S. city of Louisville, Kentucky celebrating the life of its hometown hero, Muhammad Ali. He died, of course, at the age of 74 on Friday, surrounded by his family. His body will be taken home in the coming days ahead of his funeral.
ASHER: And the city will be holding ceremonies on both Thursday and Friday. Friday will be the more public ceremony.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER (voice-over): But locals took it upon themselves, you see them there, paying their own respects, their own tribute on their own, laying flowers and well wishes outside Ali's childhood home there in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville's mayor actually explained what exactly Ali meant to his fans back home. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GREG FISCHER, LOUISVILLE MAYOR: The greatest brings everybody together and brings out the best in them. The big question I think is what is the call to action that comes from this. That's what Muhammad would want.
Sure, celebrate me. He always wanted to be the prettiest. He knew he was the prettiest. But his challenge was, what are you going to do? What are you going to do to make the world a better place?
So my hope is throughout this week people are asking themselves that question and really respecting those values that he stood for of compassion and kindness and spirituality and urging us to do more for each other.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES: And joining us now is CNN "WORLD SPORT's" Don Riddell with more on the plan to celebrate Ali's life.
And, Don, it will be a major event and an encouragement of people to come and celebrate his life, too.
DON RIDDELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the family have made that very clear, they want this to be a public ceremony. It will be held on Friday in that basketball arena, which seats 22,000 people. We wonder if --
(CROSSTALK)
ASHER: Not enough for his fans, exactly.
RIDDELL: -- it's not just his fans, it's just the people he inspired.
He meant so much to so many different people from so many different walks of life.
But that's where it will culminate, in this basketball arena. There is going to be a procession of the hearse through Louisville, through sites that are historically important to Muhammad Ali's life.
He planned all of this while he was still alive. He's instructed that the procession move slowly so that the fans really do get a chance to pay their respects.
And at the final ceremony, it will be an interfaith ceremony, it will follow a Muslim tradition and there will be eulogies from former president Bill Clinton and also the actor and comedian Billy Crystal.
ASHER: And the fact that it's interfaith really shows that he embodies so much to so many different people of all walks of life.
Explain to us why exactly Billy Crystal was chosen to deliver the eulogy.
RIDDELL: Well, they're good mates. They go back a long time. Ali used to refer to Billy Crystal as the little brother. They had a lot of exchanges over the years. And there have been a couple moments during their friendship where Billy Crystal has spoken in recent years about just how important Muhammad Ali was.
For example, there was a day where Ali was going for a run on a golf course. He used to like running there because it was private and he said, he, why don't you come for a run with me?
And he said, well, I'd love to but I'm Jewish and they won't let me run there. And Ali was absolutely livid and he said, well, I will never run there ever again -- and he didn't.
And when it comes to the Vietnam War, of course, we all know about Ali's stance, where he chose not to be a part of the draft. He really stood up for what he believed in. He was prepared to go to jail on that. And this was at a time where America was really divided over the war. And Crystal's family was also dealing with this; they had just lost their father, their eldest brother was about to be drafted.
And Ali's stance really gave families like Crystal's the strength and the backbone and the inspiration to stand up for themselves and say, no, we're not going either.
And so Ms. Crystal made this speech to the draft board; she said, you're not having our son.
And as Billy Crystal put it, Ali's stance and his words were the words that they needed to hear. And so such a strong bond between these two. But those examples really illustrate what Ali meant to so many people --
(CROSSTALK)
RIDDELL: -- not just his friends.
HOLMES: -- he was so eloquent how he put that, too, his objections to the Vietnam War and who he saw as the enemy, which was more a domestic enemy --
RIDDELL: Absolutely.
HOLMES: -- African Americans at the time.
I'm curious, though; one of the things that is the dichotomy of -- it's a violent sport. He's a violent man in the ring but a gentle man outside and remembered with such warmth.
How do you read that?
It's not uncommon, I suppose, with boxers. But it's such a violent sport.
RIDDELL: It is. And some of his fights were absolutely brutal.
ASHER: The "Thrilla in Manila," of course.
RIDDELL: "Thrilla in Manila," it's actually quite hard to watch that. These guys just pummeled each other for 14 rounds.
It's not uncommon for boxers to actually be a bit more gentle --
[04:05:00]
RIDDELL: -- outside of the ring.
But yes, I guess it is a bit of a weird one. But he's been described as the fighter who wouldn't fight. And he was so passionate about not going to Vietnam, as I said, prepared to go to jail for it. It cost him the best four years of his career.
(CROSSTALK) RIDDELL: -- stripped of his world title. He lost his boxing license.
But all credit to him, having gone through that, having made to sit on the sidelines for four years, to then come back, get his license, train again, win the world title again.
And then again he's the only guy to hold the world heavyweight championship three different time, three different occasions. Just a remarkable athlete and human being, too.
HOLMES: Absolutely.
Don Riddell, thanks so much. We'll check in with you later.
RIDDELL: Sure, yes.
ASHER: From fellow boxers to world leaders, tributes have been pouring in, of course, for Muhammad Ali all in the past 24 hours.
U.S. President Barack Obama said that, "He was the greatest, period."
I'm sure a lot of people will agree with that.
He goes on to say that, "Muhammad Ali shook up the world and the world is better for it. We are all better for it. Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to his family and we pray that the greatest fighter of them all finally rests in peace."
HOLMES: And the British prime minister David Cameron said this, quote, "Muhammad Ali was not just a champion in the ring, he was a champion of civil rights and a role model for so many people," unquote.
And fellow boxer, Manny Pacquiao, familiar to boxing fans, he tweeted his sympathies, saying, quote, "We lost a giant today. You will always be the greatest of all time. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Ali family. May God bless them."
Along with Mr. Obama, both a former U.S. president and a presidential candidate took time on Saturday to remember Muhammad Ali.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I), VT., PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am a bit of a boxing fan and clearly Ali was one of the great heavyweight champs of all time, a beautiful boxer and a great athlete.
But the reason that Ali struck a chord in the hearts of so many Americans was not just his great boxing skill, it was his incredible courage at a time when it was not popular to do so.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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ASHER (voice-over): So many people feeling those words. That was, of course, Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders at a campaign event in California.
Also in California, the man you're looking at right now, Bill Clinton who will eulogize Ali at his funeral Friday. He touched on the boxing great's talent in the ring. Take a listen.
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: When I was a boy and I saw him box the first time, I thought, you know, we're looking at something we may never see again. I mean, he was like Golden State on the basketball court now. Right?
It was like watching somebody -- you couldn't decide, is this guy a boxer or a ballerina?
The way he moved, the speed, the grace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: And Donald Trump joined in remembering Ali, who, just months ago, tore into the U.S. presumptive Republican presidential candidate for his proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States. After Ali's death, though, Trump tweeted, "Muhammad Ali is dead at 74, a truly great champion and a wonderful guy."
And here's the thing: in December, Trump responded to a speech by President Barack Obama, where he mentioned Muslims and back then Trump tweeted this, quote, "Obama said in his speech that Muslims are our sports heroes.
"What sport is he talking about and who?
"Is Obama profiling?" unquote.
Well, days later Ali told NBC News, quote, "We, as Muslims, have to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their open personal agenda. True Muslims know or should know that it goes against our religion to try and force Islam on anybody."
Well, Muhammad Ali, of course, remained a champion of human rights even as he was nearing the end of his life.
ASHER: Our Jim Sciutto spoke to one man whose life was touched by Ali in few ways others could even imagine.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF U.S. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: We know Ali's passion for humanitarian issues spanned decades and crossed international borders. But here is something you might not know.
In the final months of his life, Ali tried to help free an American journalist in prison in Iran. I'm talking about this man, Jason Rezaian, "The Washington Post" Tehran bureau chief, who was convicted of espionage in an Iranian court last year in a closed door trial.
Just after his conviction while Jason was holed up in an Iranian prison cell, Muhammad Ali issued a statement directly to Iran, the bottom line message, "Release him."
In it, Ali wrote, quote, "To my knowledge, Jason is a man of peace and great faith, a man whose --
[04:10:00]
SCIUTTO: -- "dedication and respect for the Iranian people is evident in his work.
"I support his family, friends and colleagues in their efforts to obtain his release."
Jason Rezaian joins me now for his very first interview since his release.
Jason, thank you for taking the time today.
JASON REZAIAN, JOURNALIST: Thanks for having me on, Jim. I really appreciate it.
SCIUTTO: I want ask you first just how much this statement meant to you, this statement of support, this call for your release, from Muhammad Ali.
REZAIAN: I'm just getting chills as I read that again. It meant so much to me at the time. My wife came to visit me, which she was allowed to do fairly rarely and she told me this, that Muhammad Ali had made this statement.
And I can't tell you, I can't express in words how much it meant to me, it continues to mean to me. There were so many calls for my release, so much support.
But getting the support of the champ touched me in ways that just still ripple through my life.
SCIUTTO: So, Jason, you say that the prison guards actually found out about Ali's statement of support and they started treating you differently?
REZAIAN: Yes. The statement was covered in the Iranian press and as so many things about my imprisonment were. And they started treating me in a better way. And I think it brought some doubt to them about the charges against me.
And along with that, my spirits were really lifted and I felt empowered in a way that nothing else -- nothing else lifted me throughout that time.
SCIUTTO: It's incredible that that statement from so far away could reach you inside that prison cell so many thousands of miles away.
I wonder if you could describe. You spent a lot of years living in Iran, just how important Muhammad Ali was as an American Muslim leader, how important that was in bridging our world with those of a Muslim country like Iran. REZAIAN: I think, as he was in so many different countries, Muhammad Ali was somebody that the Iranian people were really drawn to, had been for many years as a sports man but also as a Muslim and somebody who was doing great charitable work throughout his life.
And he was everybody's champion, just like he was here in America and around the world.
SCIUTTO: So, Jason, you were in that Iranian prison cell until you were released for some 545 days. This is the first chance we get to talk to you. I know a lot of folks back home just would like to know simply how are you doing?
REZAIAN: Better and better every day. I appreciate the support of everybody throughout the world and back here in the United States. It's just great to be home and I'm in the process of readjustment. It will still take some time.
But, by and large, I'm feeling really good.
SCIUTTO: Well, we know you're a Warriors fan, so we'll root for them as well to help you along the way.
Most importantly, thanks for taking the time and we're glad to have you home.
REZAIAN: Thanks so much for having me on, Jim.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: Jason Rezaian there, basically saying that he was getting chills just thinking about Muhammad Ali.
I'm curious to know if Muhammad Ali ever really understood the extent of his influence, of his ability to unite people from all around the world.
HOLMES: I think he probably did. I think he probably did. He certainly had a lot of people telling him how influential he was and it was amazing how he was so influential in the ring but so influential outside the ring, as well.
ASHER: Yes, just calling him a boxer doesn't really do him justice.
HOLMES: Exactly.
ASHER: All right, we're going to continue this after the break. But coming up, Democrats are battling out for the state of California.
HOLMES: And while Clinton inches closer to clinching the nomination, Bernie Sanders predicts a contested convention.
ASHER: Plus we'll hear from one of the few men to ever beat Ali in the ring about what he meant to the sport of boxing. That's coming up.
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[04:15:00]
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ASHER: And we are just two days away from the last Super Tuesday of the U.S. presidential election season and Hillary Clinton could clinch her party's nomination in the next few days. The Democratic front- runner won the Virgin Island caucuses Saturday and if she takes Sunday's primary in Puerto Rico, she could receive enough delegates to put her over the edge.
HOLMES: Now her opponent, Bernie Sanders, trailing far behind Clinton in the number of delegates but the Vermont senator says he can still win the all-important California primary and the nomination, he says. The Golden State contest is a dead heat among eligible voters as you can see there. That's according to a USC/ "Los Angeles Times" poll.
But Clinton does hold a 10-point lead over Sanders among likely voters, 49-39.
Meanwhile the Clinton campaign all but ignoring Sanders as she continues to criss-cross the Golden State.
ASHER: Right, her focus is now on Donald Trump, calling the presumptive Republican nominee "dangerous." Senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SR. WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Hillary Clinton campaigning across the state of California with one rival in mind and that is Donald Trump.
Yes, Bernie Sanders is vowing to fight to the convention and, yes, there is this Democratic primary here in California and five other states on Tuesday. But Hillary Clinton is focusing front and center on Donald Trump.
She's trying to repeat some of the claims she's made earlier about that Donald Trump simply does not have the temperament to be president. He's not qualified to be president.
And she's taking aim at some of those comments he's made about the judge who's from here in California, who's hearing the fraud case of Trump University. She even mentioned that Donald Trump's divisiveness is dangerous and she brought up Muhammad Ali to make her point clear.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE:
Well, Donald Trump's not just wrong about Judge Curiel; he's wrong about America. He's wrong about what makes this country great.
[04:20:00]
CLINTON: And on a day that we are mourning Muhammad Ali, it's worth remembering that we live in a country where people can break down barriers, where they can worship their own God, where they can choose their own name and where they can lead and follow their dreams as far as their hard work and talent will take them.
ZELENY (voice-over): Now even though Hillary Clinton is focusing on Donald Trump as she campaigns in California, which she'll do so again today throughout the day and as well as Monday, she'll be heading to New York on Tuesday.
That is where she plans to deliver a speech on Tuesday night in Brooklyn, the home of her campaign headquarters, where she believes that she will hit the number of 2,383, that's the number of pledged and super delegates needed to unofficially clinch the nomination.
Now Bernie Sanders vowing to take this all the way to the convention. But he would need to switch super delegates, some 300 super delegates, those party officials who say they're with her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENY: It's an uphill climb, to say the least, the Clinton campaign all but ignoring Bernie Sanders here in the final days. They still want to try and bridge that gap with him, extend an olive branch after this is all over before she turns her attention squarely, fully to Donald Trump.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: In the meantime, Sanders and his supporters are still holding out hope for a victory in California and, overall, in the Democratic race as well. But despite his recent momentum, it is technically mathematically impossible, impossible for Bernie Sanders to catch up to Clinton unless he can convince a number of super delegates to switch sides.
And even then, the math is still problematic for him.
HOLMES: Yes, he'd have to win over quite a few. But no fan of super delegates, of course, Bernie Sanders, while campaigning in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sanders vowing the Democratic National Convention would be a contested one.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDERS: At the end of the nominating process, no candidate will have enough pledged delegates to call the campaign a victory. They will be dependent upon super delegates.
In other words, the Democratic National Convention will be a contested convention.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: The White House keeping a neutral tone for now in the U.S. Democratic race, as you might expect. And while President Obama not calling any names per se, he is obviously speaking his mind in some very public ways.
ASHER: And it's not just President Obama. Even Ms. Obama is taking a few subtle jabs at some of the campaign rhetoric. Here is our Michelle Kosinski with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This campaign trail or obstacle course may be rockier and more twisting than we've seen.
But the White House likes to claim that it is staying out of it. President Obama never even brings up Donald Trump by name, though it is lost on no one to whom he's referring virtually every time he speaks now, just this week...
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If we fall for a bunch of okey-doke just because, you know, it sounds funny or the tweets are provocative, then we're not going to build on the progress that we started.
KOSINSKI (voice-over): -- one day later, making a lengthy case for why America is already great.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: We lead not by dictating to others but by working with them as partners, by treating other countries and their peoples with respect, not by lecturing them. We need smart, steady, principled American leadership.
KOSINSKI (voice-over): In this sense, he's on the campaign trail in spirit and all this a preview of what we can expect when he's really on it: two prongs, listing his accomplishments and blasting Republicans.
Even the first lady got on board this week...
MICHELLE OBAMA, U.S. FIRST LADY: We don't give into our fears, we don't build up walls to keep people out.
KOSINSKI (voice-over): -- taking some pages from her husband's playbook, once again without a single utterance of the words "Donald" or "Trump".
MICHELLE OBAMA: Some folks out there today tell us to be afraid of those who are different, to be suspicious of those with whom we disagree. They act as if name-calling is an acceptable substitute for thoughtful debate.
KOSINSKI (voice-over): Behind the scenes, a White House source tells us President Obama is chomping at the bit in this political climate to get out there and rev up the Democratic base, that he knows his power, his huge approval rating among Dems. He even dropped some foreshadowing this week.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: It's almost over. We got -- on Tuesday you'll have some big states, California and New Jersey. I think we'll probably have a pretty good sense next week of who the nominee will end up being.
[04:25:00]
KOSINSKI (voice-over): Sources say as soon as there is a Democratic nominee, that's when you'll see the president unleashed and in their corner...
PRESIDENT OBAMA: The pundits, they say one of the reasons the Republican Party has picked the candidate that it has -- no, no booing. You know, we're voting, not booing.
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KOSINSKI (voice-over): -- maybe even mentioning names.
KOSINSKI: The White House now gets asked about this all the time. They tend to have the same answer, that the Democratic debate has been healthy, that there is plenty of time for the president to jump in.
But you look at those polls, you talk to insiders and you know President Obama is ready for that signal, whatever it may turn out to be, maybe even this coming week, for this now to be down to one Republican and one Democrat and for him to play a very big role in it -- Michelle Kosinski, CNN, the White House.
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HOLMES: Well, the all-important California primary just two days away. We will, of course, have all-day coverage right here on CNN. Tune in June 7th for the final Super Tuesday of the election season.
Well, there are very few men who can say they ever beat Muhammad Ali in the ring.
ASHER: We'll hear from one man who did and we'll talk to him about what Ali meant to him.
HOLMES: Plus this weekend there is hopeful relief after rounds of deadly flooding in Europe. Ahead, where the waters are receding and what lay ahead.
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HOLMES: Welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. You're watching CNN. I'm Michael Holmes.
[04:30:00] ASHER: And I'm Zain Asher. Let's get you caught up on your headlines at this hour.
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HOLMES: The world remembering legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, who died Friday at the age of 74. His hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, will host ceremonies in his honor Thursday and Friday. Fans have been lining up outside Ali's childhood home, which is now a museum celebrating his life.
ASHER: And star athletes from around the world are paying tribute to Ali. CNN's Don Riddell is here to talk about what they've been saying.
I cannot imagine any athlete not being influenced but in some degree by Muhammad Ali.
DON RIDDELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I think you're absolutely right. He was a hero to so many athletes for so many different reasons.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors right now of course are in the midst of the NBA finals but their top stars paused to take a moment to reflect on what Ali meant to them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEBRON JAMES, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS FORWARD: For an athlete like myself today, without Muhammad Ali, I wouldn't be sitting up here talking in front of you guys. I wouldn't be able to walk in restaurants. I wouldn't be able to go anywhere where blacks weren't allowed back in those days because of guys like Muhammad Ali.
STEPHEN CURRY, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS GUARD: Ali was the example of how you use your platform and speak what you believe, no matter what people say. And he gives -- look at him as a sense of confidence in that regard for sure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIDDELL: LeBron James incidentally said that he watched one of Ali's most iconic fights, the "Thrilla in Manila," in his hotel room last night once he'd heard the sad news.
Probably the only athlete that comes close to Ali's global fame is Michael Jordan. He's released a statement saying, "This is a sad day for me and for the world. Muhammad Ali was bigger than sports and larger than life. He said he was the greatest and he was right."
The tennis star, Serena Williams, one of the all-time greats in her sport, posted this to Instagram, "The true greatest of all time, what a sad day for everyone to lose someone so great and kind and someone who really stood up for what they believed in. He was my hero. He always will be."
Former heavyweight boxing champion, Mike Tyson, posted this message on his Twitter account, "God came for his champion. So long, great one."
The golfer, Tiger Woods, who broke down barriers on his way to 14 major titles, tweeted this, "You'll always be the greatest for more than just what you did in the ring, a champion to so many people in so many ways."
And Formula 1's three-time world champion, Louis Hamilton, wrote this, "I'm gutted. Rest in peace, champ. God bless and help his family get through this incredibly hard time."
Ali inspired countless boxers, even those who he would eventually face himself in the ring. Amanda Van Allen (ph) of CNN affiliate, WFMZ, spoke to former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes about what Ali meant to him.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MUHAMMAD ALI, BOXING CHAMP: When I told the world cool it, the world listen.
AMANDA VAN ALLEN (PH), WFMZ (voice-over): Remembering a legend.
LARRY HOLMES, BOXING CHAMP: I moved around the ring, I used the jab, used jab combination and move out, holding if he gets too close. I learned all that from Ali.
VAN ALLEN (PH) (voice-over): Larry Holmes, a former heavyweight champ, says he met Ali when he was just a young fighter and quickly became his sparring partner.
LARRY HOLMES: We went to Reading, Pennsylvania and we box. He gave me he a black eye. And then they wanted to put some ice on it.
I said no, I'm keeping it.
VAN ALLEN (PH) (voice-over): From that day on, he said Ali took him under his wing. Holmes has all of the legend's biggest moments displayed around his house, including one of the most memorable, the day he beat him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They stopped the fight at TKO.
VAN ALLEN (PH) (voice-over): Ali only lost five times in his entire career, so that night, Holmes says he went to check on his dear friend.
LARRY HOLMES: I said, man, you know I love you. I would never do anything to hurt you.
He said, "You love me?"
Yes. I said, you know, I love you, man.
He said, "Well, why you beat me up like that?"
(LAUGHTER) VAN ALLEN (PH) (voice-over): Holmes says he will always remember his kind heart, willingness to help all people but, most of all, his jab.
LARRY HOLMES: They can talk about Joe Lewis, Dempsey, Marciano, all them guys, they say, oh, they was great, they were great. Yes, they was great but they wasn't great as Muhammad Ali. He's the only one --
[04:30:00]
LARRY HOLMES: -- I'm going to let be greater than me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RIDDELL: Well, that was Amanda Van Allen (ph) of our affiliate, WFMZ. And he will be attending the funeral on Friday.
Guys, mixed emotions, I would imagine, for Larry Holmes there. He actually cried quite a bit about this fight afterwards.
Of course he beat up his mate. It was Ali's penultimate fight and he was really in no fit state to be even in the ring for that fight and he took an awful lot of punishment from Larry Holmes that night.
And, of course, with the condition that Ali developed afterwards and all the punches he took throughout his career, he took so many that night, he really couldn't even defend himself. It was a sad fight.
ASHER: And could have been some guilt for Larry Holmes there possibly.
MICHAEL HOLMES: And well before those last fights, his trainer had told him quit, quit while you're ahead and he kept going.
RIDDELL: Yes.
MICHAEL HOLMES: Don Riddell, thank you, as always.
All right. Now to other news. ISIS militants are under attack on two major fronts in Syria and Iraq.
Let's start with Syria. A humanitarian group says U.S.-backed forces have taken control of the Manbij-Raqqah road, cutting off a key ISIS supply route between those two cities.
ASHER: And in a separate offensive, Russian-backed government troops have advanced in to Raqqah in their own approach towards the terror group's self-proclaimed capital.
In Iraq, meantime, security forces are closing in on ISIS in a militant-controlled town of Fallujah.
MICHAEL HOLMES: As our own Ben Wedeman reports now, security forces recaptured a key small town north of Fallujah in a separate assault. We do want to warn you, some of the video may be disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Iraqi army armored personnel carriers rattle through the dust at the edge of the ruins of the town of Saqlawiya.
Iraqi officials announced Saturday they had taken control of most of the town a short drive from the besieged ISIS stronghold of Fallujah. The battle rages on, however, as a combination of Iraqi military, police, Shia-led popular mobilization units and Sunni fighters prepares for the next phase.
These locally made rocket launchers have been brought up to the front for the eventual offensive to retake Fallujah. They have a range of about two and a half kilometers. Fallujah itself is about four kilometers from here.
Fighting has been intense. But Abu Haiba (ph), a veteran of many battles with ISIS, senses an enemy beginning to wither away.
"Their forces have dispersed," he says.
"Some have retreated to the center of Fallujah, others have fled into the desert."
Nearby, the half-buried corpse of an ISIS fighter rots in the sun.
In the areas of Saqlawiya we drove through, the damage was extensive, not a civilian in sight.
"Where are they?" I asked Saba Handani (ph) of the Iraqi police.
"We found them here in their homes," he responds, "and took them out, put them in our vehicles and took them to camps."
On the lookout for ISIS infiltrators, Iraqi intelligence is holding local men and teenage boys for interrogation. At this spot Friday morning, an ISIS suicide bomber blew himself up among a group of fleeing civilians, killing three children.
Gassad Ikledi (ph), a spokesman for the popular mobilization units insists most of the ISIS militants in the area aren't from here.
"We have information," he says, "that 75 percent of the ISIS members in Fallujah are foreigners and Arabs and 25 percent are Iraqis."
Iraqi officials won't say when the final push into Fallujah will begin. On the front, they wait and listen to the gathering storm -- Ben Wedeman, CNN, Saqlawiya, Iraq.
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MICHAEL HOLMES: And you can find full coverage of what is happening in Fallujah on our website at cnn.com/international, just type "Fallujah" in the search bar.
ASHER: And there you can watch another report by our Ben Wedeman on how thousands of civilians trapped in Fallujah are trying desperately to escape the fighting.
Parts of Europe remain on alert because of flooding right now.
MICHAEL HOLMES: Yes, the water is receding in some areas but the trouble far from over. What lies ahead for recovery -- that's next.
ASHER: Plus Rio beaches are ready for the Olympic crowds. But from the Zika virus to violent crime, not many people are feeling the heat.
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[04:40:00]
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ASHER: Welcome back, everybody.
The French capital is trying to get back to normal after days of flooding. The River Seine topped 6 meters -- basically 20 feet -- before receding on Saturday.
MICHAEL HOLMES: Four people died in the flooding in France; 10 people have also died in floods in Germany. The Louvre museum is set to reopen June 7 after closing as a precaution. They were worried about flooding getting into the basement areas there.
Meanwhile a massive wildfire burning just west of Los Angeles in the U.S. state of California. About 5,000 people having to leave their homes because of the flames and smoke.
ASHER: This is quite a wealthy area; the area is home to a number of celebrities. More than 500 acres, that is more than 200 hectares, have been burned. Officials think the fire started after a car hit a utility pole and knocked down some power lines.
With more on the Southern California fire, meteorologist Derek Van Dam is at the World Weather Center for us.
So just explain to us, are firefighters any closer, Derek, to getting this fire under control at all?
DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, unfortunately, it's only 15 percent contained at the moment right now, Zain. And you mentioned this is an extremely affluent part of Southern California still within the confines of L.A. County.
But this is the famous area known as Highway 101 that runs north and south along the coastal areas of California. And this is a small region, around 500 acres. But still an incredibly wealthy area with large homes and, as you mentioned, there are celebrities located within this area.
And with over 5,000 people being evacuated, you could imagine that this is impacting some of those individuals.
Let's get a little bit more detail and zoom into the Los Angeles County area. Here is Highway 101. You may have driven that very scenic highway. It's just to the south of that in the city called Calabasas and that's just west of Los Angeles, just west of the San Bernardino Valley, 516 --
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VAN DAM: -- acres burnt, currently contained at 15 percent.
Just given the scope of this, that when the fire actually broke out Saturday evening, it was roughly about 200 acres and then that grew to about 516 overnight. So this fire has a long way it on go before firefighters can actually contain that.
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VAN DAM: Now I'll just give you a quick update on the flooding across France, some astounding pictures coming in that region, if only we could bring some of that rainfall and help douse some of the fires in Southern California.
This is all part of the same storm system; a music festival, the Rock am Ring music festival in Western Germany had to be canceled or at least suspended because 82 individuals were affected by lightning strikes, believe it or not.
Michael, Zain, this is the second time this music festival has been suspended from lightning strikes in one year.
MICHAEL HOLMES: It could be a message.
VAN DAM: It could be a message, loud and clear, if anything.
ASHER: You know, 42 people were injured or something like that.
VAN DAM: 82.
ASHER: 82, excuse me. Thank you.
Thank you, Derek, for that --
MICHAEL HOLMES: Extraordinary.
Thanks, Derek.
ASHER: Thank you. Appreciate that.
MICHAEL HOLMES: Coming up on the program, as Brazil puts the final touches on Olympic preparations, a perfect storm steering people and some athletes away from the Summer Games.
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MICHAEL HOLMES: Welcome back, everyone. Thousands of people attended a candlelit vigil in Hong Kong on Saturday, marking the 27th anniversary of Beijing's Tiananmen Square massacre on June 4th in 1989, China sent in tanks to break up demonstrations.
ASHER: And death toll estimates ranged from several hundred to several thousand people. One lawmaker urged those present to keep pursuing justice.
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ALBERT HO, HONG KONG ALLIANCE: And I think we stand for the conscience of the whole nation and the conscience of mankind. And so we should continue to preserve the truth of history and would not allow those in power to distort or whitewash the truth of history.
MICHAEL HOLMES (voice-over): Hong Kong is the only place on Chinese soil where commemorations of the Tiananmen Square massacre are tolerated.
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ASHER: And the countdown begins. We are now officially just two months away from the start of Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
MICHAEL HOLMES: It is coming up fast.
But what is usually an exciting time for the games is being overshadowed by turbulent politics, fears over the Zika virus and also rampant crime -- as you can see there, pollution, as well. Ticket sales are low; some athletes are saying now they're not going. Shasta Darlington reports.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rio de Janeiro.
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A surprise announcement seven years ago that sent politicians leaping from their seats and set off a 24-hour party across the ocean.
On Copacabana Beach today, the mood is a little more uncertain. Despite that initial burst of enthusiasm, it's hard to find a whole lot of people rushing out to buy tickets.
Have you bought tickets?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking foreign language)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Speaking foreign language).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not yet. But I want to.
DARLINGTON (voice-over): In fact, with Brazil mired in a deep recession, just 67 percent of Olympic tickets have been sold.
Unemployment has surged. So has crime. We head out with police, patrolling the favelas where drug gangs often have the upper hand.
"Our responsibility is higher with the Olympics getting closer," he says.
"There's going to be a lot of international delegations."
But for foreign visitors, the biggest fear is Zika, with 150 doctors and scientists posting an open letter, recommending the Rio Olympics be postponed or moved.
The city fumigating venues and tourist sites. But athletes like basketball player Pau Gasol are getting nervous.
PAU GASOL, BASKETBALL PRO: Not just my health and the health of my family but also the potential of an epidemic to spread around the world.
DARLINGTON (voice-over): And then there's the political chaos, prompting rival protests as the suspended president fights to survive an impeachment trial.
There are, however, bright spots. Sporting venues are almost 100 percent complete. Organizers now working on temporary structures like the beach volleyball stands.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Many times the drilling is high. A lot of work yet to be done. But also a huge sense of pride of what we've been accomplished so far.
DARLINGTON (voice-over): As for getting Rio in a party mood, only time will tell if, as Brazilians say, everything ends in samba.
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DARLINGTON (voice-over): -- Shasta Darlington, CNN, Rio de Janeiro.
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ASHER: And to end this show, we want to return now to the life of Muhammad Ali.
A public memorial will be held for the great boxer on Friday in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.
MICHAEL HOLMES: As impressive as Ali's punches were in the ring, the power of his words also legendary. Here now, some of his most memorable moments.
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MUHAMMAD ALI: I don't like fighters who talk too much.
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MUHAMMAD ALI: I must be the greatest! Tell the world!
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee! Ho, rumble, young man, rumble!
I'm the greatest fighter in the ring today. That's my label.
And this might shock and amaze you but I will destroy Joe Frazier.
I'm so bad you know what I've been doing?
Last week I went out to the jungle. I wrestled with an alligator. I tussled with a whale. I done handcuffed lightning, throw thunder in jail. I'm bad, man.
Can I dance?
Is the pope a Catholic?
The man to beat me hasn't been born yet.
I'm the greatest. And I'm knocking out all bums. And if you get too smart I'll knock you out.
Last week I murdered a rock, injured a stone. I penalized a brick. I'm so mean I make medicine sick.
Because they's fat. Look at me now. Don't tell me that ain't a perfect specimen of a man. Look at that body. Slim, trim and on my toes.
And I'm -- I don't get hit. I'm the fastest thing on two feet, man. You crazy?
I'm tired of punking.
I'm not only a fighter. I'm a poet, I'm a prophet, I'm the resurrector, I'm the savior of the boxing world. If it wasn't for me, the game would be dead.
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