"What could be better than walking down any street in any city and knowing you're the heavyweight champion of the world?"

"I was on my face. I heard the count from one to 10. I kept telling myself that I had to get up, but I couldn't move. I couldn't make myself move. It was the strangest feeling."

"In the ring, I never really knew fear."

"I have always adhered to two principles. The first one is to train hard and get in the best possible physical condition. The second is to forget all about the other fellow until you face him in the ring and the bell sounds for the fight."

"I don't want to be remembered as a beaten champion."