You don't win championships by just being normal, by just being average.

The main ingredient of stardom, is the rest of the team.

Chess is a game by its form, an art by its content and a science by the difficulty of gaining mastery in it. Chess can convey as much happiness as a good book or work of music can. However, it is necessary to learn to play well and only afterwards will one experience real delight.

Most people have the will to win, few have the will to prepare to win.

My life is much more than boxing — I've been knocked out more outside the ring than in the ring.

The hardest skill to acquire in this sport is the one where you compete all out, give it all you have, and you are still getting beat no matter what you do. When you have the killer instinct to fight through that, it is very special.