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When Muhammad Ali announced his conversion to Islam, he vowed to be more subdued and to reign in his boisterous personality--a promise that was short-lived. While his antics leading up to the rematch could be considered subdued in comparison to his former pestering of Sonny Liston, he still made it a point to poke "the bear" at every chance he got. His most notable stunt this time around consisted of him donning a jacket embroidered with "Bear Huntin'" on the back, while swinging around a jar of honey and a bear collar as he weaved through a street trying to find Sonny Liston in a car.

During mid-training interviews, Ali bragged about a new punch he had been working on that would take Liston out even quicker than before. Ali told reporters:

"I figured nine [rounds] at one time, but I'm sharper than I thought. Maybe I'll cut him up and take him out in three. He's easy to cut, and if he tries to catch me he'll fall flat on his face. Only fools believe I bet him by accident last time."

As usual, it was not only Ali having all the fun. His trainer and manager, Angelo Dundee, decided to pay a visit to Liston's training camp to watch his routine. After watching Liston's trainer throw a medicine ball at the fighter's abdomen, Dundee asked, "What don't they throw it in his face? That's whre my guy is gonna hit him."

World Champ Facing Reality Drawing, November 9, 1964