As a boxer I took the liberty of using not only my fists, but also my head.

I am just taking the top fights out there for me. People will get bored seeing me every day knock someone out.

There were different heroes with different images. There was Mike Tyson, the animal, there was Evander Holyfield, the devout, the priest. And there was me, the thinker, the intellectual boxer. So there was something for every fan, if you like. The public could always identify with one of us.

I've worked hard and accomplished what I've accomplished in the heavyweight scene.

Patience is a part of boxing. After I had missed out on the Olympic gold medal in 1984, a lot of people tried to talk me into turning professional quickly to make money. They told me that the next Olympics in Seoul would be boycotted again, that I was wasting my life, blah blah. But I still had unfinished business. I wanted the gold medal, and I got it in ‘88. Only then was I ready to turn professional.

For me, there's never any bad blood - unless you do something to me.

Boxing isn't just about brute strength; it's about skill and outwitting your opponent.