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.

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.

God gave me this illness to remind me that I'm not number One; he is.

God gave me this illness to remind me that I'm not number One; he is.

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.

Of course that is not the whole story, but that is the way with stories; we make them what we read more

Of course that is not the whole story, but that is the way with stories; we make them what we will. It's a way of explaining the universe while leaving the universe unexplained, it's a way of keeping it all alive, not boxing it into time. Everyone who tel

Pleasure is not happiness. It has no more importance than a shadow following a man.

Pleasure is not happiness. It has no more importance than a shadow following a man.

I'm the best. I just haven't played yet [on his golf game].

I'm the best. I just haven't played yet [on his golf game].

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.

Explaining why he refused induction into the Army. I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Congs.

Explaining why he refused induction into the Army. I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Congs.