Great Sporting Wisdom: Legendary Quotes from the World of Sport

My aim is to become another Diego Maradona – the man with the golden fist.

Frank Bruno

Three In One

If you ever get belted and see three fighters through a haze, go after the one in the middle. That’s what ruined me – I went after the two guys on the other end.

Max Baer

Family Tree

Charlie Magri has to do well against the unknown Mexican who comes from a famous family of five boxing brothers.

Harry Carpenter

Discretion

Only the nose knows,

Where the noes goes,

When the door close.

Muhammad Ali, when asked about sex before a fight

Thrilling

It’ll be a thrilla, a chilla and a killa when I get the gorilla in Manila.

Muhammad Ali’s confident prediction before his third clash with Joe Frazier in 1975

Behind Every Great Man . . .

I don’t know what impressive is, but Joe was impressive tonight.

Marlene Bugner

Crowd Pleaser

When I got into the boxing ring, women used to scream with delight because usually I’d left my shorts in the locker.

Roy Brown

Metaphorically Speaking

That’s cricket. You get these sorts of things in boxing.

Frank Bruno, after Jorge Vaca took Lloyd Honeyghan’s world title following an accidental clash of heads

Of Biblical Proportions

Joe Bugner: Get me Jesus Christ, I’ll fight him tomorrow!

Hugh McIlvanney: Joe, you’re only saying that because you know he’s got bad hands.

Know What I Mean, Harry?

They said it would last two rounds – they were half wrong, it lasted four.

Harry Carpenter

No Contest

I’m the best heavyweight fighter in Canada and I’ll still be the best when I’m dead seven years.

George Chuvalo

Daddy’s Girl

This baby was planned. Before conception I had wanted a girl. It’s uncanny how I always get what I want.

Chris Eubank

Finnegan’s Awake

I know it’s said I can’t punch, but you should see me putting the cat out at night.

Chris Finnegan

Fair Fight

Sure, the fight was fixed. I fixed it with a right hand.

George Foreman, on his 1994 victory over Michael Moorer

The Eyes Have It

His potatoes kept getting cut eyes.

Reg Gutteridge, on why Henry Cooper quit his greengrocer’s business

Hair Today. Gone Tomorrow

With four sisters about the house, I could never get my hands on a comb.

‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler on his shaven head

Poetic Justice