Joe Louis is the greatest heavyweight champion of all time. Rocky Marciano is second only to Louis. Where do I rate Ali? Somewhere below me. I beat him, and if I could beat him, no doubt Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano could have beaten him.

The way I fight, it's not me beatin' the man. I make the man whip himself.

Boxing is the only sport you can get your brain shook, your money took and your name in the undertaker book.

Life doesn't run away from nobody. Life runs at people.

I got a burlap sack, put a brick in the middle, and filled it with rags, corncobs, some Spanish moss, and sand. I hung that sack off the branch of an oak tree. I'd wrap my hands with a necktie of my daddy's and punch at it. My mom gave me an hour a day. My brothers and sisters said, "Nah." I said, "You'll see."

If I lose, I'll walk away and never feel bad because I did all I could. There was nothing more to do.

His mouth made him feel like he was gonna win. Not his hands, I had my hand. He had his lips.