To win takes a complete commitment of mind and body. When you can't make that commitment, they don't call you a champion anymore.

I have always adhered to two principles. The first one is to train hard and get in the best possible physical condition. The second is to forget all about the other fellow until you face him in the ring and the bell sounds for the fight.

Liston is like most big bullies, if you can stay away and make him miss for a few rounds he'll get frustrated. Once you strip away that feeling of invincibility, he can be had.

In the ring, I never really knew fear.

To win takes a complete commitment of mind and body. When you can't make that commitment, they don't call you a champion anymore.

I don't want to be remembered as a beaten champion.

There is no doubt that man is a competitive animal and there is no place where this fact is more obvious than in the ring. There is no second place. Either you win or you lose. When they call you a champion, it's because you don't lose. To win takes a complete commitment of mind and body.