Sugar Ray Leonard was as close as anyone came after Ali to being Ali, but he wasn't Ali.

Sugar Ray Robinson was at the top of the boxing world during the 1950's when it seemed that he would either win or lose the championship about every three or four months.

It's like Jake LaMotta versus Sugar Ray Robinson or Ali versus Frazier. To be the best, you've got to beat the best on a regular basis, and we've faced those guys in a lot of big games. It brings out the best in both of us.

I came up with new leads for game stories by being observant and clever, by using the many gifts of the English language to intrigue and hook a reader.

I think on balance, Don King has been bad for boxing. I think he's done some very good things and I think he did a heck of a job of promoting Ali but I think I could have promoted Ali.

I did not choose necessarily on the basis of significance. If you have a vote for the most significant athlete, then you have Ali, then you have Babe Ruth, then you have Michael Jordan.