The verbal battles from January to June in 2016
Monday 26 December 2016 16:04, UK
It's been another busy year in boxing, with verbal battles galore outside of the ring.
British boxing has never been on such a high and rarely have we had so many out-spoken stars, but 2016 has taken us to a new level.
To kick off our Quotes of the Year, here's some random and ranting words that emerged in the first six months of the year...
"Did he celebrate when he found out last night? He probably had an extra slice of toast this morning."
Paul Smith pays tribute to Joe Gallagher, who became the first Brit to be named The Ring Magazine's trainer of the year.
"I think this is going to be one of those fights where people will say 'I was there the night Frampton beat Quigg'."
Sky Sports Box Office confirmed the all-British unification fight and Carl Frampton's prediction was correct, but not necessarily for all the right reasons.
He seems to be the most hated man in boxing.
"It's going to be exciting while it lasts but I've been out for that long you don't know what's going to happen."
David Haye returned to the ring against Mark De Mori and we all knew what was going to happen...
"The goal to become a world champion is still very much achievable. I haven't delivered yet but I am not going to
bury my head and give up."
George Groves blew Andrea Di Luisa away and had new trainer Shane McGuigan on board to start the year.
"What is meant to be in life is meant to be. If it is meant for me to come back and fight again for the UK fans, then I'll come back. But, as of right now, I don't have the urge and I am far away from boxing as possible."
If fan power had anything to do with it, Floyd Mayweather would fight again, he claimed.
"All I really want to do is fight 'Numpty' but I'm not going to play his games."
There was brief talk of a trilogy between Chris Eubank Jr and Nigel Benn after all those years but the Dark Destroyer remained diplomatic.
I've been doing this 22 years and it's time to call it a day and start a new chapter in my life. As a young man, I lived a bit of a party lifestyle. Partying and training don't work together. The last two or three years, I worked on my career but if I could go back, that's something I would have done differently."
"Nike strongly opposes discrimination of any kinds and has a long history of supporting and standing up for the rights of the LGBT community. We no longer have a relationship with Manny Pacquiao."
Politics are supposed to be one of Manny Pacquiao's strong points but he still has a lot to learn outside the ring, at least.
"The shots the judges must have been scoring, I felt I was blocking and in the second half - especially the last four or five rounds - I put the foot to the pedal."
Scott Quigg's assessment of his huge unification fight with Carl Frampton suggested his words spoke louder than his actions.
"Tony said that he is Godzilla. I didn't see the movie, but on Saturday night, King Kong is going to beat Godzilla."
Luiz Ortiz and Tony Thompson were about to hit the big screen, with Godzilla sunk three times on his way to defeat.
"I would like to assure all my fans, the whole of the boxing world and all of Australia that I am not a drug user or a drug cheat."
Lucas Browne made history by becoming the first heavyweight world champion from down under, but was soon back in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
I walk this earth like a god.
"I don't have a preference - you can say Danny Garcia because he knocked out Amir Khan."
Kell Brook blasted Kevin Bizier away in two and immediately broadened his horizon. But not without Amir Khan in view either.
"Let's go champ! Give us an answer chump. We need an answer."
It wasn't the first or last time Shannon Briggs would be seen, heard, or have a pop at David Haye.
"This game is not all about body-building. It's about knowing how to box. Joshua can't box. No, he doesn't have a jab. Yes, his movement is terrible and he's wide open with no idea how to defend himself."
Tyson Fury was full of negatives and positives when it came to AJ.
"It's been tough, obviously, working on these strategies with my trainer Virgil, being more focused, because I know that one little mistake in a fight like this could get me in trouble."
Amir Khan knew what he was up against in the shape of Canelo, but in soothsaying mode, knew exactly what would cost him.
To Tyson Fury and all the people out there who think the same way, I want to say: **** off. It's definitely something that affects the sweet science. I would like to see boxing as a sweet science with a good image that everybody can follow, get into the ring, be an athlete and be respectful.
"I want a number boy. I think that's only fair, and I'm sure it will give the women in the audience some pleasure as well."
Mikaela Lauren, the WBC world female super-welterweight champion, stood up for equality and did get her boys carrying the cards, all the way into the third round.
"This will be an event that no-one had seen in Liverpool before. It is a complete one-off. But this is going to be an event for Scousers, red and blue. That's what I want."
Tony Bellew was to switch from the red carpets to the blue carpet at Goodison Park, taking on Ilunga Mukaba for the coveted WBC belt.
"For me, I'd have swapped the world title for them winning this but as a Leicester lad, if I could've won a world title, how good would it have been? Leicester would have had a boxing world champion and Premier League champions!"
Rendall Munroe came close in the ring but couldn't hide his delight when the Foxes went a step further.
"That was it, I just lost my mind. I think any man, if they got hit in the face with a bottle, would lose their mind, and I just did that."
Dereck Chisora was in his latest pre-fight scuffle, this time one of Kubrat Pulev's team hitting him with an object that - thankfully - was made of plastic.
This is my house. No-one comes into my house and takes what's mine.
"I invited him to come to the ring. I invited him because in Mexico we don't **** around, we don't fight for rings and things like that."
Saul Alvarez saw off the threat of Amir Khan and before leaving the ring, took another swipe at Gennady Golovkin.
"A ring is a ring and there is no problem where it is. I can also add to this fact that Floyd Mayweather never fought in Switzerland!"
Arnold Gjergjaj was the next man to face David Haye, which is something else Floyd Mayweather hasn't managed to do.
"Roberto Cammarelle the Italian, he won that gold medal. Fighting in your back yard leaving things up to the judges, you're going to get that nod. That's why I don't plan on letting that fight on June 25 go to the judges."
Dominic Breazeale was the next to take on Anthony Joshua and he did what he said he'd do... not letting the judges getting involved.
"Who are you to talk about my life? Who are you to talk about my personal life in front of all these cameras? I find that extremely disrespectful. If you want to talk about my dad, talk about him but don't come with all that."
Conor Benn followed in his father's footsteps and had heard enough from Chris Eubank Sr at the pre-fight press conference ahead of them both appearing on the Sky Sports Box Office.
Muhammad Ali was The Greatest - period. If you just asked him, he'd tell you. He'd tell you he was the double greatest; that he'd 'handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder into jail'.
"Tyson Fury couldn't break a walnut and Anthony Joshua is a head-hunter with a glass jaw."
American heavyweight hopeful Jarrell Miller gave his assessment of Britain's big guns.
"Great Britain has never had a two-time Olympic champion so I am really looking forward to defending my title in Rio and having the opportunity to make history for a second time."
It was left to Nicola Adams to put professional boxing in the place it belongs...every four years, at least.
