Quotes from Nigel Benn

I was a young, messed-up kid who didn't mature until he became a Christian. That was in 2008 - the rest of my life, I'd been living a lie.

I knew at once that Carolyne, my wife, was different to the other women I had known. She understood me for what I am and never asked for anything. We've been through terrible times, but she has always been there for me. Life would be meaningless without her.

I think talking about things that have happened in my life gives people an opportunity in many respects.

I fought Chris Eubank for the second time because it was the fight the public wanted to see, and there were 47,000 who turned up at Old Trafford. We packed them in because people knew we gave 100 per cent.

I've had a great career; they've put me in the Hall of Fame, and the WBC voted me the best super-middleweight with Joe Calzaghe, yet all I wanted was Southern Area champion. Maybe a shot at the British title.

I remember coming second in a cross-country run and this sergeant major ripped in to me, saying 'you knacker, you waster - you should be second to no one.' That really got to me.

Serving other people - it's in another league.

In everything I did, I wanted to go out on my badge.

I'm passing the baton on son, you go run with it.

I had six brothers, we used to fight for breakfast, for food. I'm not going to be scared by anyone with two arms, two legs and a heart.

The best time of my life was living at my mum and dad's and watching things on television like 'Saturday Night at the London Palladium with Max Bygraves.' We used to have bread, put butter on it with sugar and put it under the grill. That was our treat.

I am Nigel 'Benjamin Button' Benn, it's not about age.

I had a lot of issues in my life after my brother died in 1972, that I carried through to my adult life.

Boxing can be so important to young people, it keeps you off the street and you can channel your energy and aggression in the ring. It creates opportunities for people and I know it really helped me when I was young and stopped me from going the down the wrong path.

Conor has my characteristics but there are certain things I love about him that he didn't get from me, like the attitude towards women and the pitfalls I had.

When I was making a comeback we were talking to Roy Jones but he wasn't having any of it.

We didn't have dietitians, or strength and conditioning coaches.

It's not the Dark Destroyer no more, because everything synonymous with the Dark Destroyer I don't want to know.

Something severed when my brother died. I was living but not living. Andy used to lie on the bunk bed and cuddle me - I was his lion cub.

In finding God and delivering his message I get more joy now than I ever did when I was boxing.

I don't want to be someone who asks 'what if?'

For me, it was the Army or prison. I wanted to make something of myself. The Army gave me that determination, the will to win.

My dad was faithful to my mother. I had a good role model.

I turned to God but for a while I wasn't doing it properly.