Although I think of myself as the greatest heavyweight, I do respect the legends of the past for what they did. But they are not my heroes.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
It is up to the people and boxing fans to give me the respect I deserve once I have finished my career. I personally do not think about my legacy.
In 1973 I became heavyweight champion of the world with 38 victories, no defeats as a professional. You get to a point where you think you cannot lose. I felt like I had the greatest power with my fists, I was the strongest man in the world.
I've been knocked down more than any heavyweight champion in history.
If I'm watching my favorite boxer, and he's just won the heavyweight championship of the world, and he retires, it kind of makes the guy a legend.
You don't know what it is to be heavyweight champ of the world until you become the heavyweight champ of the world.
It's not my place to compare myself to greats like Tyson, Frazier or men like that. But I would look at a fighter like Evander Holyfield. He's a great heavyweight who worked his way up through the weight classes to become champion and had to beat bigger men along the way.
If you look at my career, towards the end you will see I was fighting like once a year. I was not part of the Don King top heavyweights, so I was kind of kept out. His guys were getting three to four fights a year and I could only get one.
Klitschko was the reigning champion for a decade and regarded by many as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. I'm never going to face another opponent with that legacy.
Boxing is a dying sport, really. Years ago, the world heavyweight champion could be said to have reached the highest pinnacle of sport. Even in this country, boxers were heroes. Think of Henry Cooper and Frank Bruno.
I always ask myself why old heavyweights come back, but I plan to stay out of the ring.