---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember when Muhammad Ali got beaten…"
description: "\"I remember when Muhammad Ali got beaten the first time. I remember when Lennox Lewis got beaten the first time, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson. All of t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/naseem-hamed-5570_back_i-remember-when-muhammad-ali-got-beaten_458496.png"
---

#  I remember when Muhammad Ali got beaten the first time. I…

![“I remember when Muhammad Ali got beaten the first time. I remember when Lennox Lewis got beaten the first time, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson. All of those were legendary fighters, and they came back, and that's what made them different - what they did after they got beat.” quote by Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/naseem-hamed-5570_back_i-remember-when-muhammad-ali-got-beaten_458496.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/naseem-hamed-5570_back_i-remember-when-muhammad-ali-got-beaten_458496.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/naseem-hamed-5570_back_i-remember-when-muhammad-ali-got-beaten_458496.png)

> “I remember when Muhammad Ali got beaten the first time. I remember when Lennox Lewis got beaten the first time, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson. All of those were legendary fighters, and they came back, and that's what made them different - what they did after they got beat.”

[Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

True character is shown by how one responds after defeat, not by the defeat itself.

**In simple terms:** How you act after losing matters.

Key Takeaway

Focus on recovery and growth.

Themes

resilience determination comeback

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- sports competition
- personal setbacks
- career recovery

Key Concepts

psychology of defeat learning from failure

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you handle setbacks?
- What habits aid recovery?

A Different Perspective

Success depends on mindset, not just talent.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Beat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beat/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Got Beaten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-beaten-664506/) [Legendary Fighters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legendary-fighters-2328745/) [Lennox Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lennox-lewis-1258742/) [Mike tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mike-tyson/) [Muhammad ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muhammad-ali/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tyson Legendary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyson-legendary-3987267/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/)

## Related quotes

> [The ultimate date for me would be with someone fantastic, fun and great - and we'd go to the Lennox Lewis/Mike Tyson fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-ryan/the-ultimate-date-for-me-would-be-with-someone-fantastic-fun-and/)

[Meg Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-ryan/)

> [We talk about these legendary fighters, talk about how they had hundred-something fights, hundred-something victories... but when you look at the history books, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather-jr/we-talk-about-these-legendary-fighters-talk-about-how-they-had/)

[Floyd Mayweather, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather-jr/)

> [Madison Square Garden has held some of the best fights of all time. Many legendary fighters have fought there. Being able to fight there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-garcia/madison-square-garden-has-held-some-of-the-best-fights-of-all-time/)

[Ryan Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-garcia/)

> [Madison Square Garden is one of the biggest venues in the world. Muhammad Ali competed there. Mike Tyson competed there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-gastelum/madison-square-garden-is-one-of-the-biggest-venues-in-the-world/)

[Kelvin Gastelum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-gastelum/)

> [All I ever wanted was to be like Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns, Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard. Back in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-thurman/all-i-ever-wanted-was-to-be-like-mike-tyson-muhammad-ali-roberto/)

[Keith Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-thurman/)

> [Mike Tyson would have been a good sparring partner for me and Muhammad Ali because Tyson was a fast fighter and he could punch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/mike-tyson-would-have-been-a-good-sparring-partner-for-me-and/)

[Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/)

> [I dedicate some of my power to Mike Tyson. I watched a lot of film on Mike Tyson. Then we started taking notes on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-thurman/i-dedicate-some-of-my-power-to-mike-tyson-i-watched-a-lot-of-film-on/)

[Keith Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-thurman/)

> [Growing up I used to watch documentaries on people like Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson. I've grown up fascinated with legends and legacies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bugzy-malone/growing-up-i-used-to-watch-documentaries-on-people-like-muhammad-ali/)

[Bugzy Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bugzy-malone/)

> [There's so much pressure on becoming the next Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson, and if you don't achieve that in boxing, you're nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-joshua/there-s-so-much-pressure-on-becoming-the-next-muhammad-ali-or-mike/)

[Anthony Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-joshua/)

> [Mike Tyson has to be one of my greatest all time fighters. Muhammad Ali. I like going back looking at the classics like Roberto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-thurman/mike-tyson-has-to-be-one-of-my-greatest-all-time-fighters-muhammad/)

[Keith Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-thurman/)

> [I think the Aussieness got beaten out of me back in the States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-strahovski/i-think-the-aussieness-got-beaten-out-of-me-back-in-the-states/)

[Yvonne Strahovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-strahovski/)

> [When I was very young, coming into the Sunderland side, if we got beaten, I'd be very down. I'd go home, and it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-henderson/when-i-was-very-young-coming-into-the-sunderland-side-if-we-got/)

[Jordan Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-henderson/)

> [If I had got beaten against McClellan I would have called it a day because that was a fight in which I was at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/if-i-had-got-beaten-against-mcclellan-i-would-have-called-it-a-day/)

[Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/)

> [I was never part of the Bristol scene. My sound was a Knowle West sound. Massive Attack wouldn't come to my area because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/i-was-never-part-of-the-bristol-scene-my-sound-was-a-knowle-west/)

[Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/)

> [My idol, Muhammad Ali, got beat when nobody thought he would, and he came back and back to beat Joe Frazier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/my-idol-muhammad-ali-got-beat-when-nobody-thought-he-would-and-he/)

[Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/)

## More by Naseem Hamed

> [I'm not immortal. I'm not unbeatable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/i-m-not-immortal-i-m-not-unbeatable/)

[Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/)

> [I don't know what other fighters do, but when I get hit and go down, I smile and I say, 'I'm going to hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/i-don-t-know-what-other-fighters-do-but-when-i-get-hit-and-go-down-i/)

[Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/)

> [I'm not selfish before a fight or afterwards, but for the time of the fight itself, I have to think totally of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/i-m-not-selfish-before-a-fight-or-afterwards-but-for-the-time-of-the/)

[Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/)

> [I came out out at the age of 28 and knew I'd had one loss on points, and the only reason I had that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/i-came-out-out-at-the-age-of-28-and-knew-i-d-had-one-loss-on-points/)

[Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/)

> [I'm blessed with a gift from God. When you're blessed, you have an advantage. You know you're not going to get beat when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/i-m-blessed-with-a-gift-from-god-when-you-re-blessed-you-have-an/)

[Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/)

> [As a father, you become more responsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/as-a-father-you-become-more-responsible/)

[Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/)

> [GGG is a great fighter, but he hasn't got the ability that Kell has - Brook is the far superior boxer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/ggg-is-a-great-fighter-but-he-hasn-t-got-the-ability-that-kell-has/)

[Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/)

> [Being a fighter is no joke. Year in and year out. Especially as a world champion. All eyes are on you, and you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/being-a-fighter-is-no-joke-year-in-and-year-out-especially-as-a-world/)

[Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/)

> [No one can stand up to the extraordinary power of my fists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/no-one-can-stand-up-to-the-extraordinary-power-of-my-fists/)

[Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/)

> [I fall back on my faith; whatever happens, whatever goes wrong in your life, Muslims thank God because it could have gone worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/i-fall-back-on-my-faith-whatever-happens-whatever-goes-wrong-in-your/)

[Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/)

> [Ali could only fight a couple of ways. I can fight five or six different ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/ali-could-only-fight-a-couple-of-ways-i-can-fight-five-or-six/)

[Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/)

> [You can't duplicate me. A lot of fighters come out with a certain amount of style, and I like to see that, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/you-can-t-duplicate-me-a-lot-of-fighters-come-out-with-a-certain/)

[Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/)

> [One thing that has irritated me in the sport of boxing since I stopped is I'm really surprised that no one has come along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/one-thing-that-has-irritated-me-in-the-sport-of-boxing-since-i/)

[Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/)

> [From the age of seven, I was destined to be a legend, to be the world's most popular fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/from-the-age-of-seven-i-was-destined-to-be-a-legend-to-be-the-world-s/)

[Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/)

> [Yes, definitely, I've got so much belief in God, and I think that God's got so much belief in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/yes-definitely-i-ve-got-so-much-belief-in-god-and-i-think-that-god-s/)

[Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/)

[Explore all 100 Naseem Hamed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/)

## More Back quotes

> [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/)

[Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/)

> [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [Drumming's pretty physical. We sit at the back of the stage getting beat up like a workhorse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/drumming-s-pretty-physical-we-sit-at-the-back-of-the-stage-getting/)

[Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/)

> [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/)

[Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/)

> [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/)

[Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/)

> [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/)

[George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/)

> [I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/i-ve-always-stuck-my-arms-behind-my-back-anyway-when-trying-to-block/)

[Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/)

> [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/)

[Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/)

> [Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/any-time-someone-achieves-success-before-they-ve-earned-it-it-always/)

[Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/)

> [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/)

[Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/)

> [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/)

[Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/)

> [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/)

[Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/)

> [Ronaldo is just an athlete. He works so hard and back to back; he is always there. But if you work hard, can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/ronaldo-is-just-an-athlete-he-works-so-hard-and-back-to-back-he-is/)

[Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/)

> [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/)

[Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/)

> [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/)

[Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/)

[Browse all 9,709 Back quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I remember when Muhammad Ali got beaten the first time. I remember when Lennox Lewis got beaten the first time, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson. All of those were legendary fighters, and they came back, and that's what made them different - what they did after they got beat.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Naseem Hamed"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/i-remember-when-muhammad-ali-got-beaten-the-first-time-i-remember/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Back"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/i-remember-when-muhammad-ali-got-beaten-the-first-time-i-remember/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/naseem-hamed-5570_back_i-remember-when-muhammad-ali-got-beaten_458496.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/naseem-hamed-5570_back_i-remember-when-muhammad-ali-got-beaten_458496.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/naseem-hamed-5570_back_i-remember-when-muhammad-ali-got-beaten_458496.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I remember when Muhammad Ali got beaten the first time. I remember when Lennox Lewis got beaten the first…” — Naseem Hamed",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Naseem Hamed",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I remember when Muhammad Ali got...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/i-remember-when-muhammad-ali-got-beaten-the-first-time-i-remember/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/i-remember-when-muhammad-ali-got-beaten-the-first-time-i-remember/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
