I retired and came back in '97. Woo! I mean, come on! I don't know, man. A six-year layoff? That was crazy! My career was relatively short, whether you look at either its length in years or the number of fights I had. But it was brutal.

When I turned pro, Muhammad Ali was laying back, and I was able to fill up an area that was empty.

I wouldnt change anything because the mistakes and the hurt are as important as all the great fights. They made me who I am today.

It's different when you become a professional, because you also have to become a businessman, and that takes something away from it.

Except for Ali, fighters had never been marketable.

My toughest fight was myself. For me to disclose and let things out was not easy because we don't want to seem weak or like we are different, but I learned that it's okay.

Generally, the more weight you put on, the less effective you are.