"Boxing was not something I truly enjoyed. Like a lot of things in life, when you put the gloves on, it's better to give than to receive."

"Bruce Lee was an artist and, like him, I try to go beyond the fundamentals of my sport. I want the public to see a knockout in the making."

"I'll think, If this is his first punch, how are the others gonna feel? That's the only fear I have for myself."

"I'm a competitor and a very proud man. If a guy beats me once, he'll have to do it again to make me believe him."

"I want my fights to be seen as plays that have a beginning, a middle and an end."

"Ali's belief in himself was something I picked up on, and it's become my own philosophy."

"I was painfully initiated into boxing, because the guys I fought were a lot bigger than me."

"If I hadn't had the talent, the networks wouldn't have televised my fights. No one has made me; I made myself. I paid my dues."

"I think I've become one of the best finishers in boxing; if I hurt a guy, I normally take him out."

"In Italy, I had an Afro, and a lot of the kids came up and felt my hair. It really was funny. I wish I had understood Italian."

"Aaron Pryor wants to get into the ring with me. He wants to be able to retire, and he will. For health reasons."

"Boxing was the only career where I wouldn't have to start out at the bottom. I had a good resume."

"Boxing is the ultimate challenge. There's nothing that can compare to testing yourself the way you do every time you step in the ring."

"We're all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people."

"It's hard to talk about yourself."

"I'm a free agent. I haven't allowed any promoters to have exclusive options on my fight. I don't need a promoter."

"When we got back to the U.S., I wanted to kiss the ground after seeing what people in other countries are denied or don't have."

"Before I fight, I always pray that no one gets hurt."

"No one but myself thought I could beat guys like Tommy Hearns or Roberto Duran."

"I'm not religious, but I believe that what I have is a gift, and I respect it and live up to it."

"Boxing brings out my aggressive instinct, not necessarily a killer instinct."

"Generally, the more weight you put on, the less effective you are."

"When I'm not in training. I'll walk around the streets at 153, but it's not solid; it's my socializing weight."

"To be the best, you need to spend hours and hours and hours running, hitting the speed bag, lifting weights and focusing on training."

"Within our dreams and aspirations we find our opportunities."

"Although it was a great accomplishment to win a gold medal, as soon as they put it on you, that's it; your career is over."

"Holyfield is nothing but class, and I think he's a breath of fresh air for the sport."