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The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses — behind the lines, in the gym and out there read more
The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses — behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
Statement after losing his first fight to Ken Norton, March 31, 1973: I never thought of losing, but now that read more
Statement after losing his first fight to Ken Norton, March 31, 1973: I never thought of losing, but now that it's happened, the only thing is to do it right. That's my obligation to all the people who believe in me. We all have to take defeats in life.
It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up.
It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up.
I'm gonna have to be killed before I lose, and I ain't going to die easy.
I'm gonna have to be killed before I lose, and I ain't going to die easy.
If my fans think I can do everything I say I can do, then they're crazier than I am. After read more
If my fans think I can do everything I say I can do, then they're crazier than I am. After one of his fight predictions turned out to be wrong.
My toughest fight was with my first wife.
My toughest fight was with my first wife.
Fifteen referees. I want fifteen referees to be at this fight because there ain't no one man who can keep read more
Fifteen referees. I want fifteen referees to be at this fight because there ain't no one man who can keep up with the pace I'm gonna set except me. There's not a man alive who can whup me. I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty. I should be a postage stamp. That's the only way I'll ever get licked.
Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his read more
Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even