Never give up on whatever you want to do.
I'm always around people who want to drink very expensive champagne. But only when it's a celebration of success.
I don't get why people look at me the way they do. They doubted me the first time I became a world champion. Then, I fought Sadam Ali, who was a boogeyman in the division at the time, and won my second title and they were still doubting me.
After I won the Pulitzer, there was this sense of, 'OK, that's enough for you. Now go away.' What I wanted was to keep writing, keep working. But no one would produce anything of mine they didn't think would be as big as 'night, Mother.'
I was astonished at the effect my successful landing in France had on the nations of the world. To me, it was like a match lighting a bonfire.
Obviously becoming champion is always going to be my goal and something I want to accomplish, but I can't control being the champion and winning and losing. You can't control the result.
No endeavor that is worthwhile is simple in prospect; if it is right, it will be simple in retrospect.
Do more than is required. What is the distance between someone who achieves their goals consistently and those who spend their lives and careers merely following? The extra mile.
I was No 1 in the world but too much is made of it.
Any way that you can get the end result is valid, whatever it takes.
