I always picture my grandkids looking at their grandfather and saying, 'My grandfather was the last or the first to do something.' There's nothing like setting goals and watching yourself get there, accomplishing that goal and putting your name to a part of history.
Anybody who knows me knows that I don't just love this sport, I am in love with it. I am really in love with this sport. I am obsessed with boxing. I eat, breathe and sleep it. You know, I do it all; this is my life. This is not a hobby for me. This is a lifestyle for me, and I address it accordingly. I take it very, very seriously.
I can adapt to any environment or any situation I need to, so I am ready to go to Russia. You take what you get or start crying about it, but I am re-doing 'Rocky IV.' I am doing the black 'Rocky.'
My dream was to play for Alabama - football, basketball.
When I went to college, I went to a junior college. I wanted to go to the University of Alabama but had to go to junior college first to get my GPA up. I did a half-year of junior college, then dropped out and had my daughter. College was always an opportunity to go back. But she, my daughter, was my support. I gave up everything for her.
I'm one of the baddest, hardest-hitting heavyweights in the business. Right here from Alabama, baby.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama - I love you.
When I structured my career, I looked at Muhammad Ali, which is my all-time favorite and an idol of mine, and what he has done for this sport. He was a real-life hero.
I didn't even know about amateur boxing, period.
There's no other heavyweight in the division like me, especially when it comes into the athletic department. I'm the most athletic heavyweight in the division.
When I was up in college, I had a friend, and he was the only guy who knew I wasn't going to be able to attend school no more because I had a child on the way. I remember we was right at the lunch table. I was like, 'Man, I should start boxing.' I felt like every fighter that's on TV made a lot of money. I was like, 'You gotta make a lot of money.'
When they throw punches, the breathing, the sparring. The heavy bags being hit. All of that - it was a heavenly sound to me.
I think Joshua has been doing a good job winning his fights and beating the guys in front of him. You got to congratulate him for his success.
Having patience is one of the hardest things about being human. We want to do it now, and we don't want to wait. Sometimes we miss out on our blessing when we rush things and do it on our own time.
I'm definitely an active champion. I'm looking forward to defending my belt as many times as possible.
I want to defend and put my title on the line as much as possible. If the top in the division are ready to try to come and take my belt - and the key word is 'try' - I'm ready to give them that opportunity.
My goal is to unify the division. Whoever's got those belts, that's who I want.
At the end of the day, I am going for all the belts, so I am going to have to go through all of them. And I would live to fight the U.K. guys - even in the U.K.
If I have to go through Fury after my Povetkin fight - and I never look past my next fight; I am not that foolish - to get those belts, I would love to fight him next.
I decided to do something I've been wanting to do for a long time - go get a chef and a nutritionist - and I brought them on board.
