Former Boxer Laila Ali Faces Her Biggest Challenge on NBC's "Stars Earn Stripes"

I was, you know, stuck between a rock and a hard place because I signed up to do the show and I wasn't going to back out, so I actually started crying at one point. When I got up there and looked down, I was like, oh my God. Like, how does this work? And they're like, oh, trust us, we'll hold the rope and that's when I was like, I have to trust you. Like, oh, I don't like this.

RJ here, hanging out at the Young Hollywood studio with the one and only Laila Ali. How are you doing?

I'm good. How are you doing?

I'm doing great. So the Olympics now, they're they're finally finished, but there were some some pretty exciting moments. What were some of your favorites this year?

You know, it was a lot of fun, you know, just knowing that women are competing in every sport now that um is available for us to compete in was wonderful. Women's boxing in the Olympics for the first time and I had the opportunity to do some coverage on that. So, really exciting. A little jealous that I didn't get to compete in the Olympics, but hey, what can you do? But you know what? I now want to do volleyball. I was inspired watching the beach volleyball and I was like, yo, I can get ready for 2016. So I'm asking around, putting feelers out to see if I can, you know, get in there. Like how much do I need to learn? Is it possible? I'll make it happen.

And your father, the legendary Muhammad Ali, was part of the opening ceremony. That had to been pretty cool to actually see him on stage with all that.

You know, for me it's a little different than with everyone else because dad, so I'm kind of used to seeing him, but I know that, you know, people are so touched when they see him and it's such a big deal and I'm just excited that he still likes to travel and, you know, because it's not easy for him now with his disease, getting around, but people uplift him just as much as he uplifts others. So, I love seeing him out there.

And the crazy part about watching the Olympics is literally every other commercial was was a commercial for your new show. Isn't that cool? Stars and Stripes. That's that's got to be cool watching television and and there you are, a new show that you're starring in.

Everyone's just like, are you really doing all those crazy things? I'm like, yep, I was really doing all that stuff. It was fun.

What was the craziest? Because there's a lot of stuff you had to do.

Oh my god. The craziest for me was probably um when I had to repel off of a building. Oh wow. And, you know, I'm not a thrill seeker. I'm not a bungee jumper, you know, a hang glider, none of that kind of stuff. And it's not just because I'm scared, it's just because I don't like taking chances with my life. Right. So, I was, you know, stuck between a rock and a hard place because I signed up to do the show and I wasn't going to back out, so I actually started crying at one point. For real. Yep. Yep. When I got up there and looked down, I was like, oh my God. Like, how does this work? And they're like, oh, trust us, we'll hold the rope and that's when I was like, I have to trust you. Like, oh, I don't like this.

And did you have to do anything different to get in shape for the show? I mean, you're already in great shape, but like, did you have to do any different workouts? Did you have to eat fresher fresher than usual because of it?

I was working out like you do not know what. I was on my treadmill with my weighted vest on cuz I didn't know what they could.

Oh, wow, you took it serious.

I took it serious. I was like, okay, what could they possibly have us doing? You know, so I'm sprinting, I'm doing everything.

And how about your diet? Did you have to do anything different for that? Did you have to change the way you were eating for it?

I'm always trying trying to work on my diet. I like to eat. Problem is if there's a set and there's food, I'm in it. So. Right. That's my problem. Yep.

And speaking of food, you've done a lot of work with Subway over the years. One of the famous fans is actually interesting that that they're involved in the military, because I found out there are almost 300 Subway restaurants on military bases.

I know, isn't that crazy? You wouldn't expect that. Like a Subway and the military. Subway is like a staple. They've been around for for so long and, you know, I think it's important that, you know, people eat fresh. and that's why I was able to really get behind the company. Um because you know, you're never going to see me doing McDonald's or anything like that because that's just not how what I believe in um, you know, promoting as far as health. But what I do like about Subway is that you can get fresh food on the go. So that's why you see me on the Subway commercials. I'm also the president of the Women's Sports Foundation. So I'm always pushing fitness and health and and um keeping people strong through through fitness and education.

Any fun stories of being the famous fan? Obviously you did the biggest loser stint back in the day. Anything else that that stick out?

Well, I mean, I don't know how much more fun we can have when we talk about sandwiches, you know. Right.

There was actually a video I saw though, a happy birthday video. You remember that back in the day.

Oh my god, we've done so many different things, but Jared, I will tell you, is like famous.

What's he like in real life?

He's cool. I mean, he's Jared. Right. But he's I'm like, do you get tired of doing this? I mean, he has a full-time job working for Subway and and he's famous, like it was crazy. Everybody knows Jared. Everybody knows Jared. It's like, where's Waldo now? Yep, yep. And he he really took Subway to the next level, so.

Yeah, no, totally did. And I'm curious, did you have to get in more shape to do this show to do Dancing with the Stars? Because they're two totally different ones.

And they're different skill sets. You know, people would be surprised to hear the answer to that question, but the thing is is that with dancing, I think as an athlete, it wasn't physically as as hard for me, you know, as it was for other people. It's hard mentally because for me I'm I'm in a sport where I don't have to depend on anybody but myself. It's not a team sport. So for me just the idea of having to depend on somebody as my partner to try to go get the win was hard. So mentally that was hard. And then just day to day trying to get ready to have these dances turn around quickly. But um, it definitely was more grueling because Dancing with the Stars is like every day all day and the pressure of performing live is behind it. You know, there's no stops and breaks, whereas with with Stars and Stripes, you know, you go do your mission and then the other team does their mission, you're resting. But um, you know, dancing was just a whole another beast.

And to top all this, she's a mom. So.

So go figure, having a one-year-old and a three-year-old. That's like a full-time job in of itself. That's the most challenging job. And a lot of people assume with celebrities that, you know, we all just don't raise our own children. That's not the case. I'm very hands-on, you know what I mean? I get my kids up, I cook for them, I do everything I need to do. If I'm not there, I make sure there's something already in the fridge. So for me, it is full-time because once I get off work, I go back to work.

There you go. Laila Ali. Thank you for coming in the studio. Stars in Stripes, make sure y'all check it out.