It's not just fleet of foot or speed. It's about who gets caught and gets knocked out.
Andre Ward
I went to a nutritionist; my diet is pretty clean, but I wanted to get some more knowledge and understanding in some areas. My two favorite things, Clif Bars and lattes, she just destroyed in our first meeting. Coffee is fine, but soy is the most genetically modified food that we eat.
You don't stay undefeated without being a little stubborn.
Boxing is a lonely sport.
Did I have rough days? Days I didn't want to train? Days I thought my career would never get back off the ground and possibly be over? Absolutely.
No disrespect, but I don't make decisions based on opinions.
It's a beautiful thing when you come to fight week and you know that you haven't cut any corners.
This has nothing to do with ego. It is solely about my religion and me being a devout Christian. I chose my ring name because I regard myself as A Son Of God.
More time than not, athletes, specifically fighters, have a 15 or 20-year career, and unfortunately, we end up right where we started when it's over. All we have is maybe a round of applause when we walk in a room - Hey, there's the champ! That's great; I want that, but I've got to have something tangible to show for it, too.
Once a fighter becomes enamoured with another, to the point where they can't perform and compete, you have got problems.
You're going to face adversity. It's not if - it's when.
Sounding bitter is not a good look. Less so if you're retired.
Dad couldn't train me. He was too high-strung, like, 'Throw your jab!' and I'd start crying.
I don't come from a position that I am better than everybody; I come from a position that I had a tough upbringing. And I don't always highlight it, because I just never wanted to be that person with another rags to riches story.
My mom had struggles. My dad had struggles. He raised me as a single parent. I rebelled and almost quit amateur boxing, but my faith in God had a lot to do with me slowly getting my life together.
I'm just trying to get those marquee victories and continue to get those accomplishments so when the time comes and the vote is cast, hopefully my spot is secured in the Boxing Hall of Fame.
Being a champion is not just being a frontrunner and being ahead, but it's facing adversity.
You have to change on the fly. You have to adapt. It's what I do. It's what wins for me.
People don't realize I tore my rotator cuff when I was 12 or 13. At that time, being so young, we decided just to not have surgery.
You don't get points for leaving the chin open.
I don't think anyone in that Roc Nation office gets eight hours of sleep; I highly doubt it. They're constantly working, and they're on top of everything, and they have a department for everything.
I got an old school coach who's more of a teacher than a coach.
The British fans, they are very festive; they support their people.
Manny Pacquiao has a whole country behind him. His journey and his rise, from a career standpoint, he was fortunate to have a lot of great opponents and rivalries for years. People forget about Barrera and Morales and those guys. That's how he built his legacy. Plus he had a country behind him.
My legacy is so, so important to me.
There's a lot of ways to win a belt, but taking it from a champion is very important to me.
The game plan might be different based on the opponent, but the approach is the same.
I'm hungry. Always have been, my whole career.
One of the reasons why I signed up with Roc Nation was because of their ability to not just have a vision of doing things but the actual ability and resources to carry that vision out.
Monsters have always been built in this sport. I just don't believe the hype. You've got to show me.
The guys that I beat in the 'Super Six,' every one of those fights was tough, even if I did dominate some.
You have to be able to adjust on the fly, and that is what the great ones do.
Going through a long legal battle is not what you sign up for as a fighter.
I don't like to lay down on my food - it's not good for you. I like to take a walk, then meditate and read the Bible.
I don't owe any explanations for anybody I'm fighting.
I see sometimes how guys may make a buffoon of themselves to sell a few more tickets. They create this image, and when it's all said and done, it's like everything falls out from under them. They have no stability. I never wanted to be one of those guys.
People are entitled to their opinion. I respect them, but it doesn't mean they're right.
Once you go up in weight, I will never go down; you just don't do it.
I know I'm a good fighter, probably a great fighter. I've fought the best in the world since I was a kid, and I've been fortunate to come out on top.
I only ever give praise to elite fighters.
Not fighting, avoiding talking to fans... that's when the thoughts creep in about retiring and moving on to something else.
Sometimes the biggest statements you can make are by living something out.
If something happens and you're behind, and you get hit in the mouth early like that, you have two options: You can either pack it in mentally and internally and go into survival mode and quit, or you're going to get up and go to work.
Whether it's Alexander Brand or Sergey Kovalev, I approach every situation the same way.
I'm a very respectful fighter, I don't get out of character and start talking crazy, but if you don't want to fight a fighter, or you don't think it's a good style, or it's just not time, then say that.
A lot of times in America, we work on bully muscles. We want the big muscles and the stuff that looks good. But we don't focus on the little things. But that's the stuff that sustains you and keeps you strong.
I do feel at times like I'm always proving myself. But I also feel that I'm proven. I've proven I can get to the mountaintop.
A lot of boxers have too much on their plate.
I want to be the light heavyweight champion of the world.
That's why I train the way I train. I don't like to lose.
