With the cinema release and critical acclaim of ‘The Fighter’ coinciding with the usual doom and gloom media coverage all but confirming the death of our great sport, I have trudged high and low for some of the greatest quotes in boxing history. Some are from fighters, some are from commentators and some are from writers. When you read through this list I hope you’ll be reminded why some of the greatest literary writers and filmmakers have kept coming back to boxing through the ages. Enjoy…
“…Still, he has fought honourably for two decades. And with all the glitz and hype that accompanied his career, casual fans who cheered him on might have overlooked the essence of a prize fight. In the ring, there’s no make-believe. The show is unscripted; the violence is real. Every time that he stepped into the ring as a fighter, he was honest and on his own…” – THOMAS HAUSER on Oscar De La Hoya
“Champions aren´t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream and a vision.”
“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ”Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.””
“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”
“I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.”
“Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.”
“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.”
“A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.”
- Some gems for the greatest of them all – MUHAMMAD ALI
“A champion shows who he is by what he does when he’s tested. When a person gets up and says ‘I can still do it’, he’s a champion.” – EVANDER HOLYFIELD
“The Glory is the issue to me. Money comes and goes, but a legacy stays forever. I hate to lose” –SHANE MOSLEY
“To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there’s no music, no choreography and the dancers hit each other.” – JACK HANDY
“I’ve got it made. I’ve got a wife and a TV set – and they’re both working.” – WILLIE PEP
“My style is impetuous, my defence is impregnable, and I’m just ferocious, I want your heart, I want to eat his children” – MIKE TYSON
Billy Conn
“What’s the use of being Irish if you can’t be thick?” – BILLY CONN, when asked by a reporter why he went for the knockout against Joe Louis in the 13th round when ahead on points and was knocked out himself
“Yeah I got a question: Any more excuses tonight, Roy?” – ANTONIO TARVER, in response to referee Jay Nady asking ‘Any questions from the challenger?’ during the pre-fight instructions for his rematch with Roy Jones Jr., which he won by second round KO
“If you screw things up in tennis, it’s 15-love. If you screw up in boxing, it’s your ass.” – RANDALL ‘TEX’ COBB
“All the time he’s boxing, he’s thinking. All the time he was thinking, I was hitting him.” – JACK DEMPSEY
“The three toughest fighters I’ve ever been up against were Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Sugar Ray Robinson. I fought Sugar so many times; I’m surprised I’m not diabetic! But I did have him off the canvas once…when he stepped over my body to leave the ring.” – JAKE LAMOTTA
“It’s hard to get up at 6am when you’re wearing silk pyjamas.” – MARVELOUS MARVIN HAGLER, when asked why he was retiring
“I consider myself blessed. I consider you blessed. We’ve all been blessed with God-given talents. Mine just happens to be beating people up.” – SUGAR RAY LEONARD
Frank Bruno and Harry Carpenter
“Suddenly Ali looks very tired indeed. In fact Ali, at times now, looks as though he can barely lift his arms up . . . Oh, he’s got him with a right hand! He’s got him! Oh, you can’t believe it. And I don’t think Foreman’s going to get up. He’s trying to beat the count. And he’s out! Oh my God, he’s won the title back at 32!” – THE UNMISTAKABLE HARRY CARPENTER COMMENTING ON ALI-FOREMAN IN 1974
“And we have a new era in boxing!” – BARRY TOMPKINS, commentating on a 20 year old Mike Tyson’s victory over Trevor Berbick in 1986
