The Great White Hype

The Great White Hype is a 1996 film directed by Reginald Hudlin. It stars Samuel L. Jackson, Peter Berg, Damon Wayans, Jeff Goldblum, Jon Lovitz, Cheech Marin, John RhysDavies, Salli Richardson and Jamie Foxx.

James The Grim Reaper Roper Damon Wayans, the undefeated heavyweight boxing champ of the world, defeats his latest challenger with ease and visits an afterparty thrown by the Rev. Fred Sultan Samuel L. Jackson, a conniving and manipulative businessman who also acts as Ropers fight promoter. The Sultan relays some bad news to everyone The fight was a financial flop. He deduces the reason that boxing events have become far less profitable is because audience members are sick of watching only black boxers fight each other. The Sultan predicts that a white contender, even one without a viable chance of winning, would create a huge payday for all involved in the fight citing the Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney battle in 1982 and the playing of the race card in that instance as a precedent, and he vows to either find or create a white contender in no time at all.After failing to find a white boxer currently in the sport suitable by any means, he discovers that Roper actually lost to a white boxer, Terry Conklin Peter Berg, back in his amateur days. The Sultan and his unethical crew which contains actors Cheech Marin, Jon Lovitz, Salli Richardson and Corbin Bernsen find Conklin in Cleveland, where he fronts a heavy metal band, advocates peace and Buddhism, and constantly preaches progressive social issues. Conklin is uninterested in returning to boxing to face Roper, though he is eventually coaxed through egostroking by the Sultan and a promise ofmillion to help his quest in eradicating homelessness. ........

Source: Wikipedia