You get to be famous or have some notoriety and there are so many people who want a piece of you.

But people get these crazy ideas, ... I went on my own roller-coaster ride to gain acceptance from Mexican-American fight fans. It was very difficult and frustrating. There were times when I felt like shouting, 'I can be your hero too.' And there were times, like my fights against Ike Quartey and even against Fernando Vargas, when I fought more aggressively and took more risks than I should have to please those fans.

There is always space for improvement, no matter how long you've been in the business.

I tried to do the impossible on paper -- beat the middleweight champ coming up from 130 pounds,

I tried to do the impossible on paper -- beat the middleweight champ coming up from 130 pounds.

I think my body went through a lot, went through the wringer. In terms of being inside the ring, getting hit, but also outside the ring, living a crazy life.