--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I love boxing and it did a lot for me…" description: "\"I love boxing and it did a lot for me. But sometimes it made me think how savage human beings could be to each other. That wasn't the kind of boxer I w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/muhammad-ali-386_boxers_i-love-boxing-and-it-did-a-lot-for-me-bu_976561.jpg" --- # I love boxing and it did a lot for me. But sometimes it… ![“I love boxing and it did a lot for me. But sometimes it made me think how savage human beings could be to each other. That wasn't the kind of boxer I wanted to be. My strategy was to be as scientific as I could when I fought. I didn't want to be seriously hurt, and I didn't want to do that to…” quote by Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/muhammad-ali-386_boxers_i-love-boxing-and-it-did-a-lot-for-me-bu_976561.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/muhammad-ali-386_boxers_i-love-boxing-and-it-did-a-lot-for-me-bu_976561.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/muhammad-ali-386_boxers_i-love-boxing-and-it-did-a-lot-for-me-bu_976561.jpg) > “I love boxing and it did a lot for me. But sometimes it made me think how savage human beings could be to each other. That wasn't the kind of boxer I wanted to be. My strategy was to be as scientific as I could when I fought. I didn't want to be seriously hurt, and I didn't want to do that to anybody else either.” [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on boxing's dual nature: personal growth and the harshness of human aggression, choosing a measured, scientific approach to avoid harm. **In simple terms:** Boxing taught him discipline but revealed human cruelty; he sought a humane, strategic style. Key Takeaway Adopt a thoughtful, non‑violent mindset in competition. Themes self‑discipline human nature sports ethics Mood reflective determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - training - conflict resolution - personal development - sportsmanship Key Concepts Boxing strategic thinking non‑violence Questions to Reflect On - How can athletes balance competitiveness with compassion? - What strategies reduce aggression in high‑stakes environments? A Different Perspective Physical sport can still cause emotional trauma despite restraint. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxer/) [Boxers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxers/) [Boxing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxing/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Savages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/savages/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [I fought every kind of boxer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-cesar-chavez-sr/i-fought-every-kind-of-boxer/) [Julio Cesar Chavez Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-cesar-chavez-sr/) > [Allah is the Greatest. I'm just the greatest boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/allah-is-the-greatest-i-m-just-the-greatest-boxer/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Boxing is a stepping stone just to introduce me to the audience. If I was still in Louisville, Kentucky and never was a boxer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/boxing-is-a-stepping-stone-just-to-introduce-me-to-the-audience-if-i/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [No boxer in the history of boxing has had Parkinson's. There's no injury in my brain that suggests that the illness came from boxing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/no-boxer-in-the-history-of-boxing-has-had-parkinson-s-there-s-no/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [People love boxing, but you've gotta wait two or three years for your favorite boxer to have a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/people-love-boxing-but-you-ve-gotta-wait-two-or-three-years-for-your/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [I love boxing. I really respect the guys and admire the guys who do it. But, I'm very, very happy with my career as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holt-mccallany/i-love-boxing-i-really-respect-the-guys-and-admire-the-guys-who-do-it-2/) [Holt McCallany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holt-mccallany/) > [I love boxing but one of the reasons I struggle with it is because I can't easily connect with a fighter who doesn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hardy/i-love-boxing-but-one-of-the-reasons-i-struggle-with-it-is-because-i/) [Dan Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hardy/) > [Outside boxing, I did well in cross country competitions and I won a schoolboys' doubles badminton tournament at once. I was pleased because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-jr/outside-boxing-i-did-well-in-cross-country-competitions-and-i-won-a/) [Chris Eubank Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-jr/) > [The work I do in helping people out means much more to me than boxing ever did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/the-work-i-do-in-helping-people-out-means-much-more-to-me-than-boxing/) [Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/) > [I didn't push Cory. I wanted him to decide if he wanted to go into boxing and he did. Can't blame it on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-spinks/i-didn-t-push-cory-i-wanted-him-to-decide-if-he-wanted-to-go-into/) [Leon Spinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-spinks/) > [A boxer makes a comeback for two reasons: either he’s broke or he needs the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-minter/a-boxer-makes-a-comeback-for-two-reasons-either-he-s-broke-or-he/) Alan Minter > [I've got a new life now, a new future, there's a lot more to Lennox Lewis than just being a boxer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennox-lewis/i-ve-got-a-new-life-now-a-new-future-there-s-a-lot-more-to-lennox/) [Lennox Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lennox-lewis/) > [I have a thing for men's boxer briefs and a tank top. If I'm wearing them, I'm a happy gal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-vassey/i-have-a-thing-for-men-s-boxer-briefs-and-a-tank-top-if-i-m-wearing/) [Liz Vassey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-vassey/) > [I'm a world class Beat Boxer; you should hear the noises I can make with my mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-delevingne/i-m-a-world-class-beat-boxer-you-should-hear-the-noises-i-can-make/) [Cara Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-delevingne/) > [A boxer never sees the big one that hits him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/a-boxer-never-sees-the-big-one-that-hits-him/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) ## More by Muhammad Ali > [There are more pleasant things to do than beat up people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-are-more-pleasant-things-to-do-than-beat-up-people/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I've never let anyone talk me into not believing in myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-ve-never-let-anyone-talk-me-into-not-believing-in-myself/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-m-too-fast-i-m-too-smart-i-m-too-pretty/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I don't count my sit-ups. I only start counting when it starts hurting. That is when I start counting, because then it really counts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-don-t-count-my-sit-ups-i-only-start-counting-when-it-starts-hurting/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I said a lot of things in the heat of the moment that I shouldn't have said. Called him names I shouldn't have called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-said-a-lot-of-things-in-the-heat-of-the-moment-that-i-shouldn-t/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Many people are quick to say that we are not recognized by Muslims in the East . And I start with the Honorable Elijah…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/many-people-are-quick-to-say-that-we-are-not-recognized-by-muslims-in/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I have been so great in boxing they had to create an image like Rocky, a white image on the screen, to counteract my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-have-been-so-great-in-boxing-they-had-to-create-an-image-like-rocky/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Money and riches don't mean nothing to me. I don't care nothing about being no rich individual. I'm not living for glory or for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/money-and-riches-don-t-mean-nothing-to-me-i-don-t-care-nothing-about/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Allah is the Greatest. I'm just the greatest boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/allah-is-the-greatest-i-m-just-the-greatest-boxer/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [My wealth is in my knowledge of self, love, and spirituality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/my-wealth-is-in-my-knowledge-of-self-love-and-spirituality/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [We followed the Honorable Elijah Mohammed, who is the boss. And we don't waste a lot of time arguin' about a dead black man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/we-followed-the-honorable-elijah-mohammed-who-is-the-boss-and-we-don/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I'm gonna have to be killed before I lose, and I ain't going to die easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-m-gonna-have-to-be-killed-before-i-lose-and-i-ain-t-going-to-die/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [If some black man go out and start something, a riot or something or, I'm not going to jump in it and get killed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/if-some-black-man-go-out-and-start-something-a-riot-or-something-or-i/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [If you want to be equal with me, you can get your own Rolls-Royce, your own house and your own million dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/if-you-want-to-be-equal-with-me-you-can-get-your-own-rolls-royce-your/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) [Explore all 609 Muhammad Ali quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) ## More Boxer quotes > [I thought I was going to be a footballer or a boxer or something like that - I was into sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-keoghan/i-thought-i-was-going-to-be-a-footballer-or-a-boxer-or-something-like/) [Barry Keoghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-keoghan/) > [“Here lies Mago the boxer, of whom it may honestly be said that he never harmed anybody.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-parker/here-lies-mago-the-boxer-of-whom-it-may-honestly-be-said-that-he/) [K.J. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-parker/) > [“It's not the size of the man, but the size of his heart that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/it-s-not-the-size-of-the-man-but-the-size-of-his-heart-that-matters/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [My parents gave me a boxer puppy as a present. I have wanted a dog for years and must first give her attention in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-du-toit/my-parents-gave-me-a-boxer-puppy-as-a-present-i-have-wanted-a-dog-for/) [Natalie du Toit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-du-toit/) > [A boxer never sees the big one that hits him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/a-boxer-never-sees-the-big-one-that-hits-him/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [I don't claim to be the best boxer in the world. What I claim to do is give 100% when I get in that ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bellew/i-don-t-claim-to-be-the-best-boxer-in-the-world-what-i-claim-to-do-is/) [Tony Bellew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bellew/) > [I'm a world class Beat Boxer; you should hear the noises I can make with my mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-delevingne/i-m-a-world-class-beat-boxer-you-should-hear-the-noises-i-can-make/) [Cara Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-delevingne/) > [Allah is the Greatest. I'm just the greatest boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/allah-is-the-greatest-i-m-just-the-greatest-boxer/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [When I converted, people suggested that I change my name to Muhammad Ali but I turned down the idea as I had already fought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-inoki/when-i-converted-people-suggested-that-i-change-my-name-to-muhammad/) [Antonio Inoki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-inoki/) > [BOXER…GREAT.. BOXER…GREAT..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhatsprincess/boxer-great-boxer-great/) ZhatsPrincess > [There is a world of difference between being a reality TV star and a world champion boxer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-calzaghe/there-is-a-world-of-difference-between-being-a-reality-tv-star-and-a/) [Joe Calzaghe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-calzaghe/) > [Tommy Hearns was a masterful boxer who was tall, rangy, and had a fast jab.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mosley/tommy-hearns-was-a-masterful-boxer-who-was-tall-rangy-and-had-a-fast/) [Shane Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mosley/) > [Mike Tyson is a good boxer, but he is not the best fighter. I am the best fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/royce-gracie/mike-tyson-is-a-good-boxer-but-he-is-not-the-best-fighter-i-am-the/) [Royce Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/royce-gracie/) > [I have a thing for men's boxer briefs and a tank top. If I'm wearing them, I'm a happy gal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-vassey/i-have-a-thing-for-men-s-boxer-briefs-and-a-tank-top-if-i-m-wearing/) [Liz Vassey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-vassey/) > [GGG is known for his knockouts. I knock out people, too, but I'm a better boxer than him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrius-andrade/ggg-is-known-for-his-knockouts-i-knock-out-people-too-but-i-m-a/) [Demetrius Andrade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrius-andrade/) [Browse all 236 Boxer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I love boxing and it did a lot for me. But sometimes it made me think how savage human beings could be to each other. That wasn't the kind of boxer I wanted to be. My strategy was to be as scientific as I could when I fought. 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