LL Cool J’s Iconic Hit Soundtracks Inspiring Super Bowl Ad: ‘Cancer, We’re Gonna Knock You Out’

Thanks in part to LL Cool J‘s “Mama Said Knock You Out,” Pfizer’s new Super Bowl commercial will leave viewers feeling hyped about the medical company’s ongoing cancer research — but because of the inspiring message at its center, it’ll also likely leave you in tears.

Posted to YouTube Friday (Feb. 7), the minute-long commercial opens with a young cancer patient lying in a hospital bed and watching a boxing match introduced by Michael Buffer’s iconic line, “Let’s get ready to rumble!”

The little boy then stands up, suddenly dressed in boxing shorts and gloves, and lands a knockout punch on a celebratory bell on the wall, signifying the end of treatment. After that, he struts through the hospital hallways to the triumphant beat of LL’s iconic 1991 hit as doctors and nurses applaud.

The celebration continues on the streets, where crowds of people gather to cheer on the young champion on every step to his final destination: home, where his mom tearfully wraps him in a big hug.

“Hey cancer,” reads onscreen text at one point. “We’re gonna knock you out.”

After showing photos of the little boy’s difficult treatment journey, the ad then displays a call to action with more bits of text. “Pfizer is fighting for eight cancer breakthroughs by 2030,” it reads. “Join the fight at PfizerForAll.com.”

The spot is set to air during the Super Bowl broadcast during a commercial break as the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday (Feb. 9). Of having his song — which reached No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991 — featured in such an inspiring ad, the “Loungin” rapper told People, “It feels good to have my song used for such an important cause.”

“Strength and resilience are at the heart of hip-hop, and they’re just as crucial in the fight against cancer,” continued LL, whose wife, Simone Smith, has battled bone cancer. “My family knows firsthand — staying on top of your health and getting screened early can save lives.”

Watch Pfizer’s “Knock Out” Super Bowl ad above.