Not any disrespect to Kovalev or anything but I'm not focussed on Kovalev, I'm not a fan of his.
I've had 12 amateur fights, 18 professional fights and I've come to Russia, not just to Russia but to Chelyabinsk, home of Sergey Kovalev who has an impressive resume. The fact I've come to his backyard means I feel it will go down as one of the best results ever.
I've won my last four matches by knockout. Out of 30 fights, I've won more than 20 by knockout. I think that a ballet dancer wouldn't win by knockout.
Nobody has really gone out to Russia to fight somebody like Kovalev. A lot of people are paying attention to it and can't believe what I'm doing. Some people think I'm going to pull out. I've seen comments saying 'Oh this is a good publicity stunt' and I was just laughing. They don't understand.
Of course I would want the knockout, but with me, I just look for, you know, a spectacular performance. It's like, walk them down, or go for the knockout. You know, hopefully I get the knockout.
It was an impossible ask to go out to Russia and knock out Kovalev. I felt that was the only way I'd win, but I made a good account of myself and we keep moving onwards and upwards.
One journalist said that everybody in Russia is miserable. Russia is a terrible place. And I'm going to end up miserable and I'm going to be a drunk and I'm never going to do anything. I don't drink. I've never been drunk in my life. And they talk about Russia like it's the worst place on earth. Russia's great.
I'm not aiming for a knockout. I focus on doing my best. If the knockout comes, fine. If not, that's okay.
You know me: I'm a knockout guy. I'm always looking for the knockout.
I never go for the knockout, but the knockout comes because I train as hard as I do.
I do think Wilder can be a household name in America. He is a good fighter, and he has knockout power and has knockout potential, which is what you need as a heavyweight.
I fell in love with the knockout. I was in a relationship with the knockout.
I have lots of concerns at working with Russia going against ISIS until we have agreements in terms of what Russia's behavior is going to be.
Putin described Kiev is the mother of Russian cities. These - the Russian people view Ukraine as an extension of Russia. And so there is a sense that Putin really will do whatever it takes, even in the face of overwhelming, diplomatic, and economic pressure to defend what he sees as Russia's vital interest. And I think when we're trying to understand what's going on in Ukraine we have to keep that in mind. This isn't a simple case of Putin agitating for a fight.
Before I was elected to represent southwestern Texas in the U.S. Congress, I spent almost a decade as an undercover officer in the CIA. I served in places where Russia has geopolitical interests, and learned that Russia has one simple goal: to erode trust in democratic institutions.
I had traveled to Russia and met with Snowden, which was a pretty involved meeting that required encrypted communication and the like. And it was fascinating because of who he is and what he's done. And more so because what's going on between our two countries, Russia and the U.S., and to meet Edward Snowden in Russia was unforgettable.