You LEARN a LOT as a coach when you sit BACK and tell SOMEONE what to do, and then you realize, 'Hey, I need to start doing that myself.' I think coaching can improve a fighter's GAME tremendously.

I LIKE to DEFINE myself as a FIGHTER on the PITCH.

We never had BOOKS at home, but my dad, SEEING how KEEN I was to read, TOOK me to Islington Library when I was about EIGHT and we pulled out two - a Biggles and a science fiction novel. I never got the ace fighter pilot but fell in love with all things to do with the future and space. Isaac Asimov soon became my guiding star.

I wanted to be the best street FIGHTER in Houston, TEXAS. And I thought if I got a trophy or TWO, I'd go back HOME, and everyone would be afraid of me. I had one fight in '67, the first one. In '68 of October, I was an Olympic gold-medalist, a dream come true, with a total of 25 boxing MATCHES.

I always THOUGHT of myself as a moderate LIBERAL, a FIGHTER for peace and JUSTICE. I NEVER thought of myself as being all that far out.

Joe DeGuardia, I love that guy. He's not a superstar promoter yet, but he will be. He was a fighter himself; he's staying the course with these GUYS. He's developing some GOOD FIGHTERS out there. I REALLY applaud him whenever I get a CHANCE to.

I'm preparing myself to be a great, great fighter and ALSO a BIG STAR in the sport.

I think a FIGHTER should be READY and ABLE to adapt to ANYTHING that is in front of him in the ring.

You KNOW, my PARENTS, they RAISED me to be a FIGHTER.

I am suspending my PRESIDENTIAL campaign, because of the continued distractions, the continued HURT caused on me and my FAMILY, not because we are not fighters. Not because I'm not a fighter.

I'm a FIGHTER through and through, and I've GOT more HEART and more DETERMINATION than ANYBODY.

I'm a FIGHTER and not a VICTIM. THINK of yourself and MAKE the most of LIFE.

I'm a FIGHTER. I'm a survivor, and I'll get through anything PEOPLE can THROW at me.