To be a Negro in America is to hope against hope.

To be a Negro in America is to hope against hope.

Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his read more

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

My toughest fight was with my first wife.

My toughest fight was with my first wife.

Let the other guy have whatever he wants before the fight. Once the bell rings he's gonna be disappointed anyway. read more

Let the other guy have whatever he wants before the fight. Once the bell rings he's gonna be disappointed anyway. Rrelating boxing advice he received from Archie Moore on posturing before a fight.

God gave me this illness to remind me that I'm not number One; he is.

God gave me this illness to remind me that I'm not number One; he is.

But there are certain very practical things American Negro writers can do. And must do. There's a song that says, read more

But there are certain very practical things American Negro writers can do. And must do. There's a song that says, "the time ain't long." That song is right. Something has got to change in America—and change soon. We must help that change to come.

If violence is wrong in America, violence is wrong abroad. If it is wrong to be violent defending black women read more

If violence is wrong in America, violence is wrong abroad. If it is wrong to be violent defending black women and black children and black babies and black men, then it is wrong for America to draft us, and make us violent abroad in defense of her. And if it is right for America to draft us, and teach us how to be violent in defense of her, then it is right for you and me to do whatever is necessary to defend our own people right here in this country.

Statement after losing his first fight to Ken Norton, March 31, 1973: I never thought of losing, but now that read more

Statement after losing his first fight to Ken Norton, March 31, 1973: I never thought of losing, but now that it's happened, the only thing is to do it right. That's my obligation to all the people who believe in me. We all have to take defeats in life.

I'm gonna have to be killed before I lose, and I ain't going to die easy.

I'm gonna have to be killed before I lose, and I ain't going to die easy.