Fighting in Flint in front of all my fans has been a dream of mine since turning pro. Having the opportunity to make history by fighting for the undisputed title in a second weight division is something I'm very proud of.
People are still crying out for Lennox Lewis. They still want to see Lennox Lewis. That motivated me. I am still young. I have a couple fights left in me.
I'm personally not a Muhammad Ali fan.
Look at what George Foreman did to Michael Moorer. No matter his age, he hits so hard that he's always in a fight.
I'm proud to be one of only a few fighters in history to retire undefeated.
I always bring out the best in men I fight, but Joe Frazier, I'll tell the world right now, brings out the best in me. I'm gonna tell ya, that's one helluva man, and God bless him.
George Foreman. A miracle. A mystery to myself. Who am I? The mirror says back. The George you was always meant to be. Wasn't always like that. Used to look in the mirror and cried a river.
I met Muhammad Ali in Toronto when he was still Cassius Clay... We got to talking and it was like we knew each other for 50 years. We just clicked.
When I'm done, I want to be known as the fighter that everybody wishes they could've seen live.
Jack Johnson was the first black heavyweight champion, so I took part of his name. I admired Rocky Marciano, so I took part of his name.
I did a bit of boxing when younger. Once I was joined by Muhammad Ali as my co-commentator. I've got a picture of the two of us together ringside at the Albert Hall on my wall at home.
Ali was a legend of our sport. For me as a kid, he inspired me to represent myself like a champion in and out of the ring.
Terence Crawford being across the street - I can't promise it's going to happen this year, but it's going to happen.
Different days, I think about different victories. Ricky Hatton is one of those fights. I respect Ricky Hatton. He's a warrior. He's a hell of a warrior.
The first time I got recognized in the Sates, it was by Mike Tyson. He sang 'Cruel Summer' at us as we were walking out of the hotel to go to the beach.
Ali helped raise black people in this country out of mental slavery. The entire experience of being black changed for millions of people because of Ali.
Everyone in boxing knows that I am a big guy.
I built a relationship and a rapport with Muhammad Ali, and I could never top that experience.
Joe Louis is a credit to his race - the human race.
I watched Ali, studied Ali, and I studied Sugar Ray Robinson. I watched them display showmanship. I watched them use pizzazz, personality, and charisma. I took things from them and borrowed things from them because boxing is entertainment.
If I'm watching my favorite boxer, and he's just won the heavyweight championship of the world, and he retires, it kind of makes the guy a legend.
The one-time cotton picker was now the heavyweight champion of the world.
If I had the medical clearance to fight, I would want to fight the best. The best would be Mayweather.
I want to retire from boxing by the time I am 25 or 26 and be a legend by that age.
When I won the title against Jean Pascal it also won me fight of the year.
