Even when I was hurt, I was always the aggressor, no matter what.
Forward, always moving forward, from the time I can remember - a kid. I was short, and the big guys would take advantage; I had to turn myself into a body puncher. By that time I was in reform school, they'd have a boxing match every week; they'd bring guys in from outside to fight me.
Big money causes me too much trouble with my ex-wives and the government. All I want is to keep busy and to be comfortable.
I been in jail twice. The first time was reform school: they got me for carrying burglar's tools, something like that. The morals charge was a frame-up.
Something's bound to happen to you in a tough fight: cut eye, broken nose or broken hand or something like that. So you could make excuses out of anything, you know, but you got to keep on going if you're a champ or you're a contender.
There was only one thing I wanted out of life. That was to be the champ.
When you're No. 1 contender for five years, and you know who's controlling things, you'll do something you're not proud of.
I had such a crazy life. How I got away with it, I don't know.
I ask for personal appearance fees because I've earned them. I deserve them. My presence at events is what they need, so they ought to pay for it.
You know what's the greatest sin in the world? Hurting your fellow man.
My nose was broken six times, my hands six times, a few fractured ribs. Fifty stitches over my eyes. But the only place I got hurt was out of the ring.
I hypnotized myself so in my subconscious, I believed I couldn't get hurt. And I don't mean 'believe' - I mean believe believe believe.
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.
People get in auto accidents, they're paralyzed for life. I got hurt worse getting married.
There's no pensions for old prize fighters.
I purposely lost a fight to Billy Fox because they promised me that I would get a shot to fight for the title if I did.
The world knows me as the Raging Bull.
You have to treat everybody the right way. Otherwise, you'll have a short life. God bless.
Besides being a slum kid with no great education in anything except how to fight and stay alive and steal, I also had this temper.
