Dad couldn't train me. He was too high-strung, like, 'Throw your jab!' and I'd start crying.

I'm not going to throw chairs; I'm not going to cuss. I'm not going to do that kind of stuff, because you don't have to do that. You don't have to act like that, and you don't have to live like that in order to be successful.

My mom had struggles. My dad had struggles. He raised me as a single parent. I rebelled and almost quit amateur boxing, but my faith in God had a lot to do with me slowly getting my life together.

I didn't need to get knocked down to know the fortitude that I have in me.

I do feel at times like I'm always proving myself. But I also feel that I'm proven. I've proven I can get to the mountaintop.

More time than not, athletes, specifically fighters, have a 15 or 20-year career, and unfortunately, we end up right where we started when it's over. All we have is maybe a round of applause when we walk in a room - Hey, there's the champ! That's great; I want that, but I've got to have something tangible to show for it, too.