Boxing

Hold off on placing your wagers ... money has become a big snag in George Zimmerman's boxing match against DMX -- the rapper's rep tells TMZ, contract negotiations are STILL ongoing ... so the fight isn't official ... yet.

The rep Domenick Nati tells us, DMX verbally agreed to "beat Zimmerman's ass" ... IF and when he sees the terms of a contract ... which hasn't happened yet. Once an agreement has been finalized, we're told DMX will officially be down for the bout.

As we reported last night, the boxing promoter behind the fight released a statement, announcing DMX would face George Zimmerman in a 3-round match.

It's official ... X gonna give it to George Zimmerman -- TMZ has learned, rapper DMX has just been named Zimmerman's opponent in his upcoming celebrity boxing match.

Celebrity boxing promoter Damon Feldman tells us, DMX was selected out of 15,000 applicants ... all of whom wanted a piece of Zimmerman in the ring after he issued the open challenge to fight anyone willing to take him.

But no one wanted to beat Zimmerman's ass more than DMX.

As we first reported, DMX promised to massacre Zimmerman in the ring if he got the chance. To be exact, he said, "I am going to beat the living f**k out him … I am breaking every rule in boxing to make sure I f**k him right up." He then said he'd literally piss on George's face.

The boxing match will be 3 rounds.

George Foreman's 23-year-old son -- George Edward Foreman the 5th -- was arrested in Texas this weekend after cops say he assaulted his wife.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ Sports, officials say George the 5th choked Ashley McVea-Figueroa during an altercation on February 2.

The documents say George attacked Ashley by "impeding the normal breathing and circulation of the blood ... by applying pressure to [her] throat and [her] neck."

We're told Ashley was the person who called 911 ... and during the call, George threatened to leave the house with their child.

George was eventually arrested and booked for felony assault. Court docs show Foreman was released on $10,000 bond.

G5 is one of Foreman's 12 children -- his five sons are all legally named "George" ... but they all go by various nicknames.

Former middleweight boxing champ Kelly Pavlik was rushed to a hospital today after PASSING OUT in the middle of a court hearing in Ohio ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Courtroom sources tell us ... Pavlik was in court to face charges in a theft case (stemming from an incident where he allegedly stiffed a cab driver) ... when he suddenly collapsed.

We're told 31-year-old Pavlick was loaded up onto a stretcher and taken to an ambulance ... which transported him to a nearby hospital.

Sources say Pavlick was awake and alert inside the ambulance.

Officials have not released any information about what caused Pavlick to collapse ... but it's known he suffers from seizures -- which played a large role in his retirement from boxing.

The Game just came on TMZ Live and formally accepted the challenge to fight George Zimmerman in the ring ... but the promoter hedged, saying although Game is a front-runner, there are more than 4,700 others who want a piece of Zimmerman.

The Game scoffed at promoter Damon Feldman, who said Zimmerman would be a tough opponent because he's been heavy into boxing training. Game -- who's 6'5" and 240 lbs -- predicts a quick knockout.

"NFL Today" host James Brown says George Zimmerman would never agree to fight him ... insinuating Zimmerman would be too scared.

We got James last night in NYC ... and asked him if he'd be willing to fight GZ ... who's offered to take on any opponent -- black or otherwise -- in a celebrity boxing match.

Now's your chance to kick George Zimmerman's ass with zero legal repercussions -- he just agreed to a celebrity boxing match ... and he says he'll fight ANYONE ... even black people.

Celebrity boxing promoter Damon Feldman threw down the challenge, offering George money to step in the ring. Now here's the kicker ... the opponent has NOT been selected.

We're told George is open to fighting a black person, but the promoter is not discriminating, telling us "We're not looking at it as a race thing ... We haven't discussed purple, yellow, white, black."

Lately George has been more interested in boxing than guns ... regularly training in the ring.

As for George's cut from the fight, we're told he's donating the money to charity.

The Game will throw his hat in the ring to fight George Zimmerman in the upcoming celebrity boxing match, and he tells TMZ, "I will beat the f**k out of him."

Zimmerman has agreed to the March 1 celebrity boxing match ... the promoter hasn't selected his opponent, but is taking offers at fightgeorge@hotmail.com.

Game says, "I would not be boxing for me. I'd be boxing for the legacy of Trayvon Martin and for his family."

The rapper, who has a tattoo of Trayvon on his leg, says, "I would box him to knock him out," adding, "I would definitely take pleasure in it. It's legal, and I want to show him you can solve your disputes without a weapon."

Game would definitely have the edge ... he's 6'5", and 240 lbs of muscle.

Boxing legend Larry Holmes is NOT trying to hold back his race ... insisting Metta World Peace was WRONG when he painted him as someone who's dragging down black people.

Holmes is responding to a pretty intense cyber-rant by the NBA star -- in which Metta said Larry was "bringing down" the black community by criticizing Floyd Mayweather's flashy spending habits.

"Metta Peace should know a little bit about me before he makes statements," Holmes tells TMZ Sports ... "I don't wish anybody no bad luck, I only wish him the best."

Justin Bieber is getting support from one of his famous friends -- and it's someone who knows a thing or two about being locked up.

Floyd Mayweather offered Bieber some thoughts of encouragement Saturday afternoon via Twitter ... saying, "Keep your head up and know that you can overcome anything you are faced with in life. TMT supports you."

Of course, "Money's" bromance with Bieber is nothing new ... Justin walked Floyd into the ring at the Alvarez fight last year, and Jr. was a guest of honor at JB's famous Gatsby Party.

Evander Holyfield says he punched a pregnant horse in the face ... and he wasn't joking.

Holyfield made the shocking confession during tonight's episode of UK Celebrity Big Brother ... and an hour later he was BOOTED from the house.

The ex-heavyweight boxer told his horrified roommates ... the pregnant horse bucked him off and embarrassed him ... so he clocked it in the face.

You gotta watch the video ... and then reconsider the way you felt when Mike Tyson bit his ear off.

Evander Holyfield's rant against homosexuality pissed off the former "Big Brother" star who once cornered the market on homophobic comments -- Aaryn Gries ... who tells us the boxer is an idiot.

Gries may have called a gay guy "queer" -- and true enough she mocked African Americans and Asians -- but Aaryn says her comments pale in comparison to what Evander said on "Celebrity BB" ... claiming homosexuality is like a physical handicap which can be cured by a doctor.

Aaryn says, "I know I said mean things, but at least I'm not ignorant enough to think that homosexuality is treatable. Seeing homosexuality as a sickness is outdated."

Evander Holyfield may think homosexuality is wrong ... but his son says the heavyweight boxer's got nothing but love for gays -- and even had a great relationship with a gay in-law.

Ewin Holyfield tells TMZ ... Evander is no bigot -- despite being bashed for expressing his opinion on homosexuality during last night's "Celebrity Big Brother" in the UK.

Ewin says, "My dad is the most loving and caring person you will ever meet. He treats everyone like a human being ... even if they are homosexual."

In fact, Ewin says he has a gay uncle ... and Evander treated him like a brother.

Ewin adds, "My dad feels that being gay is a choice ... and naturally that's how things work. You cannot procreate and make a baby with two women, or two men. But at the same time, my dad is not going to judge someone for their sexual orientation."

Evander Holyfield told a housemate on "UK Celebrity Big Brother" that being gay is no different than being handicapped ... because a doctor can fix both ... and was immediately SCOLDED like a child by "BB" producers.

Holyfield made the comments Sunday -- during his first week in the BB house -- when reality star Luisa Zissman asked him if there were any gay boxers in the sport.

Holyfield -- a deeply religious Christian --cited the bible and said homosexuality is NOT a choice ... but rather something like a "handicap" ... something doctors can fix.

Zissman respectfully disagreed with Evander ... and it seemed the two were ready to move on with their lives ... when Evander was taken to a private room, where producers RIPPED him for expressing his beliefs.

In fact, "BB" producers called Evander's comments "inappropriate" because they "aren't the views that are held by a large section of society."

Holyfield says he understood that his comments could be considered offensive ... but never apologizes.

This whole situation reminds us why we revolted against England ... so we could have the freedom to express our religious and other beliefs ... no matter how offensive.

As bad as Evander is .. the show is being RIDICULOUS. Didn't they they learn anything from the A&E/"Duck Dynasty" debacle??

A crazy ex-military woman claiming to be Mike Tyson's mistress has been threatening to kill the boxing legend's wife and family ... this according to Tyson's wife Kiki ... and now, Kiki's obtained a temporary restraining order.

Kiki Tyson filed the request for the restraining order in L.A., claiming a woman named Mickey Gordon has sent her more than 60 threatening emails in the last two years ... and Kiki desperately fears for her and her family's safety.

Kiki attached the alleged emails from Gordon in her restraining order request, and they're pretty nuts. Here are a few excerpts ... and yes, the emails are all in caps:

-- YOUR FRIEND TOLD YOU ONE DAY ONE OF THESE WOMEN ARE GOING TO TAKE YOU DOWN & YOU ARE GOING TO REGRET IT, WELL I'M THAT BITCH!!!

-- YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS F**KING TWO YEARS OF TORTURE, I SWEAR YOU WILL ON YOUR MAMA & BABY GIRLS GRAVE YOU F**KING WILL!!!

-- I WAS STRONG WHEN WE MET 20 YRS AGO & NOW I'M STRONGER ... I WAS IN THE MILITARY, A DRILL SERGEANT IN THE WEAPONS FIELD, YOU KNOW WHAT THE F**K I'M ABOUT BITCH!!!

Kiki claims she's never met Mickey Gordon before, and has no idea how the woman obtained her contact information, but in one of her emails ... Gordon identifies herself as Kiki's "husband's mistress." She also calls herself "Kiki's nightmare."

America's precious pigeon population is in danger -- especially in NYC -- so says famed pigeon lover Mike Tyson, who claims the government has launched an evil campaign to get rid of our gray little friends forever!!!

Tyson was at LAX yesterday when the conversation inevitably turned to his beloved animals -- in the words of Woody Allen, "rats with wings" -- and he explained his conspiracy theory ... that municipalities like NYC have introduced falcons to curb the pigeon population.

He's not far off ... according to a government report from 2007 -- called "Curbing the Pigeon Conundrum" -- NYC officials have used hawks to keep pigeons in check ... but that brief experiment ended in 2003 when one hawk attacked a small dog.

So there you go ... it's pigeon lovers vs. hawk conservationists ... which means, we gotta ask ...