Tony Bellew

“I had a headache for four days after the first Haye fight. I didn't tell anyone, I just went to bed and thought it would go. But for four days it remained. Then I got my brain scan before the second fight, and I was worried when I went for it.”

“I knew about boxing, as my dad could fight. He had a successful security firm in Liverpool, and I'd see him come back from a jog before shadow boxing in the back yard. I'd watch and replicate what he was doing, as kids do. It's funny how things turn out.”

“I just idolise Nigel Benn, the things he said, how ferocious he was, how intimidating he was - I just loved watching him. As I do the old Mike Tyson, the '89 Mike Tyson. The Tyson who walked to the ring with a white towel on and looked ferocious. He frightened me just watching him.”

“I can sell a fight, make no mistake.”

“In the build-up to a fight, I am scared, and I do worry about myself. But once I step into that arena, that worry has gone. A switch gets flicked, and I want to do damage. All I care about is doing damage as fast as possible.”

“I like hurting people.”

“People wonder why I dislike my opponents. It's not personal or that I hate them: it's just that I know what I've had to sacrifice to face them.”

“I fear no man. I really don't.”

“I was hoping David Haye would beat the fight out of me in the second fight.”

“People don't drop me with shots on the temple.”

“When it's all said and done, Linares is an exceptional fighter.”

“I am not a heavy drinker, I've never taken a drug in my life, but I am prone to a pizza.”

“I could also lose to lesser fighters than David Haye, based on the fact that styles make fights.”

“Getting into character to become 'Pretty' Ricky Conlan for the 'Creed' film was surreal.”

“I've never chosen the easy route to world titles or the easy route in fights, and I came up short against Stevenson.”

“I'm after megafights, and me fighting Haye equals megafight.”

“I want people to remember me when I retire as a fighter who would fight anyone - that Tony Bellew was scared of no one. I'm happy with that. Anything more is a bonus.”

“I've achieved all my dreams.”

“I want to punch everything and fight the world.”

“I like the thought of gaining revenge over WBC light-heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson, who beat me in 2013.”