By forgetting the past and by throwing myself into other interests, I forget to worry.

Nobody owes anybody a living, but everybody is entitled to a chance.

When I was a young fellow I was knocked down plenty. I wanted to stay down, but I couldn't. I had to collect the two dollars for winning or go hungry. I had to get up. I was one of those hungry fighters. You could have hit me on the chin with a sledgehammer for five dollars. When you haven't eaten for two days you'll understand.

I never went to bed in my life and I never ate a meal in my life without saying a prayer. I know my prayers have been answered thousands of times, and I know that I never said a prayer in my life without something good coming of it.

A good fighter usually knows, to within a very few seconds, when a three-minute round is going to end.

A champion owes everybody something. He can never pay back for all the help he got, for making him an idol.

You know what a champion is? A champion is someone who's ready when the gong rings - not just before, not just after - but when it rings.