“This is no game. You get up in there, and you take some punches. You risk your life, and then let me see you talk then. That’s why I don’t respect people who criticize fighters.”

I was raised by both parents up to 17. We had a good family. We had a middle class family, good teaching and good surroundings, raised by the church, where I went every week whether I wanted to or not.

I definitely got into a lot of fights when I was a kid. I never understood it. I was one of those quiet kids. I never picked with no one.

I’m looking forward to the fighting with no headgear – I’m jealous. I kind of want to go back to the Olympics to experience no headgear.

I didn’t even know about amateur boxing, period.

All my prayers go out to Tyson Fury. I know it’s difficult to be in his situation.

Going to Russia is going to be nothing for me. I’m going to treat it like it’s the U.S. because, at the end of the day, it’s one man, one ring.

I like to have fun in the ring, but I knock them out.

I can be a tennis player, a golf player, and even a soccer player.

I don’t play boxing.

The craziest thing about it, I used to hate fighting, but you had to show how tough you was; you had to show you wasn’t no punk.

I want to put my name in history. I love history.

I have so many things that I want to do with my life. I just don’t see myself being a fighter forever. Boxing is my love and passion. It also opens up and sets up other things in my life as well.

I can adapt to any environment or any situation I need to, so I am ready to go to Russia. You take what you get or start crying about it, but I am re-doing ‘Rocky IV.’ I am doing the black ‘Rocky.’

I could put everything I got in the bank on my abilities and skill and will, and what I’m capable of doing in the ring.

It’s a great feeling to be the WBC champ of the world, but there’s more to gain from this.

People who know me know that if I say I’m going to do something, I’m doing it. I am hungry. I am determined.