On his current status

“I’ve never looked like an athlete, and I don’t suppose if I took my shirt off now I’d look like an athlete. I’m just a fat, bald fella who does what he does, and he’s good at something — naturally gifted, I suppose.

“I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved, because when I started boxing as a young boy, the odds of becoming a world champion were astronomical. I’ve won every belt along the way. It’s been an amazing journey. I’ve had my ups and downs, but along with the sunshine, there has to be a little rain sometimes.

“I’ve had a lot of sunshine, but I’ve had a lot of rain, too. It builds character. It does, it really does. I’m sat here today, I’ve managed glory, fame, and lots of pain, too. I’m experienced campaigner in the division. Not only can I talk about boxing and know what I’m talking about, I can talk about other things. I’m experienced and I’ve been there.

“It’s great. It’s a new chapter for me. I’m in my second career, anyway. This is my third career. I’ve had a million careers, a million lives. I’m so thankful for everyone who keeps giving me the opportunities. All I’ve got to do is keep winning, keep doing what I do best, training and keeping out of trouble, on the straight and narrow, and I think I’ll be alright.”

On fighting Deontay Wilder again

“Whatever happens in my life, whatever cards I’m dealt, I’m happy with. I’m happy with everything, I’m happy and well sat here. On the same night (I fought Wilder), Adonis Stevenson got a bit of brain damage or whatever, and I hope he gets well soon and all that. We’re in a very dangerous sport. Not only more than winning, to go home healthy to my family is a massive thing. I’ve got five kids and a wife. If I got brain damage, that’d be the end of everything.

“It’s a very dangerous world we live in. I’m very thankful to be sat here healthy and well-minded, fit as a fiddle and healthy as a trout.

“Deontay Wilder, great guy, top fella, good fighting man. But to me he’s still a big, useless dosser. And he had to rob me in America to get a (draw). It basically messed my record up by giving me a big old blue tick on my record.

“It is what it is, I can’t complain. I’m healthy and well and I’m out of trouble, which is the most important things you can be in life.”