I was a pretty good fighter. But it was the writers who made me great.

I never went to bed in my life and I never ate a meal in my life without saying a prayer. I know my prayers have been answered thousands of times, and I know that I never said a prayer in my life without something good coming of it.

Nobody owes anybody a living, but everybody is entitled to a chance.

By forgetting the past and by throwing myself into other interests, I forget to worry.

When I was a young fellow I was knocked down plenty. I wanted to stay down, but I couldn't. I had to collect the two dollars for winning or go hungry. I had to get up. I was one of those hungry fighters. You could have hit me on the chin with a sledgehammer for five dollars. When you haven't eaten for two days you'll understand.

Champions get up when they can't.

All the time he's boxing, he's thinking. All the time he was thinking, I was hitting him.

You know what a champion is? A champion is someone who's ready when the gong rings - not just before, not just after - but when it rings.

Tell him he can have my title, but I want it back in the morning.

The best defense is a good offense.

A champion owes everybody something. He can never pay back for all the help he got, for making him an idol.

Honey, I just forgot to duck.

Nailing him was like trying to thread a needle in a high wind.