That's the most terrible mistake you can make: to relax. It's difficult to become a champion, but it's more difficult to maintain it for many years because you're getting too comfortable.

I never fought in my life outside of a ring.

I don't like to get hit, who likes it? I probably wouldn't do this sport if I was getting hit that much.

There's certain things that you cannot cross, no matter who you are, what you're doing or where you're coming from.

There is no money in this world that will make us fight.

I would compare it to an actor. I drive myself into the character that later on is in the ring.

I learned in my Ph.D. the discipline I needed to be successful. Most boxers are not that disciplined. They have talent, but the self-organization - the ability to schedule yourself and your priorities - is lacking. My studies were about the control of training on both the psychological and the physical side.