“I admire people who have fought for change: Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln. I’m dead serious when I say that – those are my heroes. I also like Ben Affleck.”

I’ve been boxing since I was 7 years old.

If I’m fighting the best, then I can inspire a younger generation. I walk into the gyms and see girls boxing. They say I’m their inspiration. I love that.

Madison Square Garden has held some of the best fights of all time. Many legendary fighters have fought there. Being able to fight there is an honor.

Promoters need you. You don’t need them. The boxer has the leverage, and a lot of boxers don’t know that.

That’s one of my idols, I really look up to Pacquiao. This guy is everything I would want to be.

There’s so many people who come to me here in L.A., promising me this and promising me that. What I’m learning is figuring out what’s real versus what’s just talk.

Canelo’s a very disciplined guy, but he’s very relaxed in the ring. He taught me that there are ways to relax so you won’t get hit with certain punches. He showed me that the more relaxed you are, the easier it is to fight your fight by staying put.

I just love challenges.

Canelo has experience and is a superstar. He’s showed me a lot as a mentor. It’s the biggest blessing that I can have.

Everything takes a vision and I have a very definitive vision of what my future will be like, in the ring and then outside of it.

I want to become a movie director and win an Academy Award. That’s what I’m trying to do.

I’m looking to expand my brand everywhere. I want to be worldwide, I want to reach the world.

My mom is the Kris Jenner of boxing.

The Velez fight wasn’t my best.

I’m learning along the way, and there’s going to be some little bumps and bruises, but as long as I keep rolling with the punches, I will keep moving up.

I know I need a work ethic to match my talent.