I do see myself being that big star. I do believe I have the skills and ability to be that big star. I just need to be me, be fan friendly and keep connecting with the boxing fans.

In the amateurs we fought four or five times a week so we always had different opponents.

I've been battle-tested inside the ring and outside the ring.

There's nothing Pedraza can bring to the ring that I haven't seen before.

After school let out around 2:30, I'd go straight to the gym to be the first person there, even though it didn't open until about 4:30. I was the littlest one and I was good, so they took me serious.

Normally when I train, I'm all mad, thinking about all I've been through to push me.

I've always been the type to know that if I'm getting off the track, I know, 'OK, it's time to tighten up.' I feel like I can see it before it comes.

I feel comfortable at both weights. I feel I could fight at 130 or 135.

I'm the top dog.

When it comes to Baltimore I want to say that it's actually a lot worse than what you see in 'The Wire.'

When I'm in the ring my main focus is just to get the job done.

I was supposed to be in 'The Wire' but I was getting in trouble in school and on the streets.

Me and my older brother were taken from my mother at the same time so we were pretty tight.

It's good for me to fight in the U.K.

Each fight, I'm breaking records that are meant to be broken.

I wanted to be that guy they talk about. I want to be the guy that shine. I want to be that No. 1 guy.

The love I was getting from the gym, I wasn't getting at home. That actually glued me to the gym. It made me always work harder and want to come back.

I want to be a stand-up guy, a smart guy, a business guy. I always have that in my mind.

I want to be a superstar and bring joy and entertainment to the sport.

I work my angles and things like that.

I am the cash cow in the 130-pound division.

I've been doing this for so many years that I believe Gamboa can't bring anything to the ring that I haven't seen.

I know that Gamboa is a tough opponent and he'll lay it all on the line.

I believe, just in the ring, I'm explosive.

I'm a great fighter all around the board.

Outside the ring, I'm not a mean guy. I'm a likeable guy. I'm reachable, to my people.

Some might see me on Instagram or Twitter and think otherwise, but when you really get to know me, I'm a likable guy. So that's why I think that people are drawn to me.

I believe I overcame a lot.

I think people who go through a lot, they're aggressive.

I've always made that push for me to be positive and stay forward with my goals.

Sometimes you gotta just chill. You gotta chill your thinking process.

I went to the mosque one day, and it came to me, like, 'This is where I belong.'

In all seriousness, I just think, 'Keep God first.'

I wanna do a God album, a positive album so the kids and everybody will understand what's going on.

As long as you respect me, I'm a respect you.

You go to Africa, and you see how things are over there. Spiritually, it opens you up.

The music industry needs a TV outlet for hip-hop fans and artists.

Terrorism is not related to Islam.

My father left me when I was 6. My mother tried to take care of all of us on public assistance.

Love always overcomes hate.

I like Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle. I would love to do songs with them.

If you ask me, I think it should be an eye for an eye. On everything.

I'm a wizard at poetry.

'The Wizard of Poetry' - I had that title since I did 'The Pretty Toney' album. That's when the name first came to me.

The Scarecrow needed a brain, the Tin Man needed a heart, and the other dude needed courage. I need love. You feel me?

I don't want people to confuse me as an MC that talk about nothing.

I've got stories on every one of my albums, big ones.

I write stories, I don't just write rhymes, I write books.

Lyrics over some nice beats - that's what the people want from us.

You can write music till you 70.