I've always believed that you can be whatever you want to be if you are willing to sacrifice and dedicate yourself.

I was painfully initiated into boxing, because the guys I fought were a lot bigger than me.

Look at football, where you still have injuries no matter how much they improve the helmets and other equipment.

I'm not in favor of that [mandating protective headgear ] because we learn as amateurs how to protect ourselves. And that's why there's a third man in the ring, the referee. And that's why there has to be a very strong boxing commission that doesn't allow guys in the ring who don't belong there.

I've always been quiet and kind of shy. I'm sociable, but I would probably migrate to a corner.

Before the start of the '76 Olympics, I'd had 160 amateur fights. I won 155 and lost five

We're all endowed with God-given talents. Mine happens to be hitting people in the head.