(Mayweather is) too big of a fight not to happen, but obviously, it has to happen without Top Rank. Because I just feel that things that happened in the past with Top Rank, us not making fights together and Bob Arum not wanting to make fights with our fighters ... well, OK. If you don't want to make fights with our fighters, if I fight Floyd Jr., then you're not going to be involved. It's not giving him the satisfaction. It's like saying, 'OK, you're not going to be involved in the biggest fight in boxing since (my fight against Felix) Trinidad. If he wants to play that way, I'll play that way, too. |
A couple weeks after (we fought), I called up for a meeting with him and tried to patch things up. Still, I couldn't. He was still arrogant and still saying that he deserves a shot and he can beat me. So I don't know. I don't think he'll ever change. And that's fine with me. It doesn't bother me at all. |
A well-placed body shot, |
Bernard wants to do what Sugar Ray Robinson tried to do and go from middleweight to capture that light heavyweight title. He has nothing to lose, but this is a big challenge that will really motivate him. |
Bob has to submit an offer on how much he is willing to pay for my next fight. If there is another promoter who can top that, including us at Golden Boy (Promotions), then he won't be the promoter for my next fight. |
Boxing is a never-ending story. New fighters keep coming along. Opponents keep popping up. The next superstar is always on the way. |
But if he beats Vargas, the doors open for him. He'll have some big fights that he can win at 147 pounds. That's where he's explosive. |
But people get these crazy ideas, ... I went on my own roller-coaster ride to gain acceptance from Mexican-American fight fans. It was very difficult and frustrating. There were times when I felt like shouting, 'I can be your hero too.' And there were times, like my fights against Ike Quartey and even against Fernando Vargas, when I fought more aggressively and took more risks than I should have to please those fans. |
EA Sports Fight Night Round 3 is so realistic that anyone can pick up the game and learn about the actual sport while having a fun time doing it. The visuals in the game are so amazing. It's exciting to be contributing to a project that pushes the popularity of boxing to a new level and to a new audience. |
He caught me right on the button. Believe me, I tried getting up but I couldn't. I have what it takes, but he hit me right on the button. |
He's a breath of fresh air for the sport of boxing, and we need that. |
I don't know if I'm going to fight again or not, ... I have an odd relationship with boxing. Boxing took me to a better life, and I love being in the ring. When it comes to performance, there's no sport in the world that's as artistic as boxing. It takes genius to win a championship fight at the highest level. Boxing is a love I have that will never go away. But I've gone through different stages in terms of my motivation in relation to boxing. At first, I was fighting to please my father. Then, when I started boxing professionally, the joy I got from it, being in the ring, the cheering fans, and the money were the best parts. After that, there was a time when I did it for the belts. Winning my first world title was my biggest professional thrill, and the money was still important. Now I'm doing it for history. The money doesn't matter anymore. |
I know a few things about him that other people don't know. He's a good talent, but if he fights a boxer, he doesn't know what to do. But if you stay in front of him, he has a chance to knock you out. |
I need to fight the fighters that have wins over me. I hope Felix Trinidad comes back. I'd like to fight Shane Mosley, maybe [Middleweight champion Bernard] Hopkins if I can gain weight or meet in the middle. Those are the fights I'm looking for and those are the fights that will define my career. |
I think I proved my point. I think that winning the title at 154-pounds and knocking him out in the eleventh round, I think at this point in my career I really can't afford to give rematches to anyone I already knocked out. |