Athlete

My mother really struggled when we were young. She was on food stamps and welfare. Looking back, I know we didn't have a lot, but I never felt I was at a loss for anything.

I wasn't exactly born with a silver spoon in my mouth.

I'm looking forward to a long, fruitful career now behind the mic, staying around the sport I love so much and the sport that changed my life for the better.

I'm a fighter. That's what I do. I am a fighter to the core.

I was never tested in my first 21 fights.

British boxing fans are amazing, and the O2 is one of the best venues in the world.

I'm sure Adrien Broner would jump at the opportunity to pick up two belts in one night, and I think a lot of big names would take that opportunity.

The Americans love Carl Froch. He has brought nothing but excitement to these shores in those Super Six victories he produced.

Money can make money if you're intelligent about it and don't waste it the wrong way.

I believe it's going to be easier to stop Ricky Hatton than it will be to stop Lovemore N'dou.

Sometimes it's kind of strange, and it's definitely something I have to work on in the future, but when I'm big favourite in fights, it's almost like I try too hard and try to force things to happen. That always seems to take a bad turn and makes my performance look bad, even if I win.

When I was part of McGregor's sparring camp, I struggled to find words to compliment him; I knew he couldn't fight from the first moment we sparred. It's very hard to find nice things to say about his skills. Perhaps his best attribute is his intensity, but he has to do it cleanly.

Sometimes when you get older, you need to tone down the trash talking, and sometimes you need younger fighters to bring it out of you.

It's a shame I have to hurt people. I'm a nice guy.

It is tougher to control range on a guy who is as tall, lengthy, and busy as Amir Khan, who has a very good jab.

I would love to fight Ricky Hatton.

I try to do everything I can to make sure I stick in people's minds.

I do best when guys come at me. Stylistically, the Ricky Hatton fight is the best fight for me.

The Hatton fight left a bad taste in my mouth.

You don't have to like me as a person - I understand that I can get on people's nerves with the antics I do in the ring. This is not a popularity contest. I'm trying to do whatever I can to win the fight.