Mahershala Ali Quotes

My goal is to become the first Mexican heavyweight champion of the world.

I used to tease Joe Louis by reminding him that I was the greatest of all time. But Joe Louis was the greatest heavyweight fighter ever.

You don't know what it is to be heavyweight champ of the world until you become the heavyweight champ of the world.

There are 7 billion people in the world, but there's only one heavyweight champion of the world, and that's me.

The heavyweight boxing needs Shannon Briggs and boxing needs Shannon Briggs.

In the 1930s, in boxing, to be the heavyweight champion of the world was really, really big, people wanted to see the toughest guys. But what I've figured out now, in the '50s, '60s, boxing started to become more entertainment than sport.

Even when the heavyweight champion was a fighter of limited ability, he was still the heavyweight champion of the world.

One of my favourite fighters to watch ever, and of course before I was a ring announcer, was Muhammad Ali.

When I was a kid, I wanted to fight Joe Louis. But I think if I had seen Mike Tyson at that time, I would have said, 'Nah, I don't want to fight him.' He's deadly. He could have been one of the great heavyweight champions. But he goofed.

I want to go down, like my hero Sugar Ray Robinson, in history.

Laila Ali is boxing's real-life million-dollar baby.

The heavyweight championship of the world was the most coveted title in sports. Everyone knew who the heavyweight champion was. And not only when it was Muhammad Ali or Rocky Marciano: they knew when it was Ingemar Johansson.

Jack Johnson was the first black heavyweight champion, so I took part of his name. I admired Rocky Marciano, so I took part of his name.

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.

Me becoming the first Mexican heavyweight champion of the world, it's a blessing.

An offer to fight Muhammad Ali came after Stevenson won his second Olympic gold in Montreal in 1976. Stevenson was at his peak. The world had never seen a heavyweight with the tools Stevenson brought into the ring.

The roughest and toughest fighter I fought was Joe Frazier

The one-time cotton picker was now the heavyweight champion of the world.

Ray Leonard was more of a favorite than Thomas Hearns that night.

Joe Louis was one of my first heroes.

In fifty years of covering the sport, of course Muhammad Ali is by far the dominant figure.

And I love Evander Holyfield to death!

My goal is to be the undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World.

The mission I set out on in the beginning - to become heavyweight champion of the world, undisputed, lineal champion - you could say that mission is complete.

Muhammad Ali was the kind of guy you either loved or hated, but you wanted to see him. I happen to really love him. He brought boxing to another level and always made you laugh.