Boxing

Floyd Mayweather has done it again ... buying ANOTHER million dollar watch -- and TMZ Sports has the pics.

The boxer has been on a CRAZY spending spree the past few weeks -- but went especially crazy during a trip to Dubai ... picking up one of the most expensive timepieces on the planet.

A rep for Mayweather tells us, "The watch is roughly $1.1 million. This is just one of his big purchases.”

We're told the watch is a Hublot -- covered in expensive diamonds.

We're told Floyd has dropped more than $1.5 million during his 2-day spree at the Dubai Mall -- and, shocker, everyone in the mall LOVES HIM!

By the way, it's the SECOND time Floyd's dropped 7 figures on a watch -- he bought a million dollar diamond covered piece in NY back in 2014.

He's one of the fastest rising stars in boxing -- and undefeated welterweight Sammy Vasquez says he gives a lot of credit to his military background ... telling us it helps him "tremendously" in the ring.

Vasquez -- who served 2 tours in Iraq with the National Guard -- is 20-0 as a pro fighter and has a HUGE fight coming up in January against Aron Martinez.

The 29-year-old military vet says he's dedicating the fight to all of the soldiers who were injured while serving their country -- and vows to make them proud.

"God let me do what I can do, pursue a dream," Vasquez says ... "There's a lot of guys who can't do anything anymore because they got their legs blown off and things like that. So, those are the guys that I fight for."

Boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez is in the middle of a nasty lawsuit filed by another famous boxer -- who's suing Canelo for $9 MILLION over a street fight in Mexico back in 2011 ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The man behind the lawsuit is Ulises Solis -- a former IBF light flyweight champ -- who claims Alvarez beat him up during an altercation in Guadalajara.

According to the suit, Alvarez punched Solis in the face so hard -- he knocked out a tooth and fractured Solis' jaw.

As a result, Solis claims he was stripped of his IBF championship belt because he couldn't defend his title with a broken jaw.

Solis claims he was simply outsized in the fight -- with Canelo coming in a 5'9", 160 lbs and Solis at 5'3", 108 lbs.

In his suit, Solis claims he suffered more than $4 million in damages -- plus he wants another $5 mil in punitives.

We've learned trial proceedings have begun -- jury selection started on Monday -- and the trial could wrap by the end of the month.

File this one under: Is it too late to become a boxer?

Adrien Broner doesn't have to ask that question ... 'cause the WBA lightweight champion is showing us all the upside of getting socked in the face for a living ... you can afford $750k jewelry for your trouble.

We spoke to Joe Avianne from Avianne & Co. jewelers in NYC and he told us Broner came to him wanting a 1-of-1 for his wrist ... basically something no one will ever have again.

Joe went to work for AB ... dreaming up a yellow stoned blinged out monstrosity with over 100 karats worth of diamonds in the bracelet that ended up setting the champ back 3 quarters of a mil.

Floyd Mayweather says DRUGS are to blame for Oscar De La Hoya's recent attack on the boxer -- claiming Oscar must be screwed up in the head for picking such a public fight.

Mayweather appeared on DJ Whoo Kid's "The Whoolywood Shuffle" show and addressed De La Hoya's scathing letter to Floyd ... in which Oscar called him boring and said boxing is better off without him.

"I’m just saying the reason why he’s probably going after me it could be because of the drugs ... because of the jealously."

De La Hoya famously completed a stint in rehab in 2013 for drug and alcohol abuse -- and has admitted a problem with cocaine in the past.

But Mayweather clearly feels the drugs took a toll on Oscar -- insinuating that it messed with his brain so much, he clearly doesn't realize what he's doing.

Oscar De La Hoya says his strongly worded attack on Floyd Mayweather is NOT a publicity stunt to get Floyd in the ring ... saying he's NOT planning on a rematch because he's too old.

De La Hoya appeared on "TMZ Sports" on FS1 on Tuesday -- and we asked if he's afraid of meeting Floyd in the streets after blasting the guy as boring and saying boxing is better off without him.

The Golden Boy says he WOULD be down to scrap with Floyd ... if there was a way to turn back the clock -- but says for all intents and purposes, his fighting days are over.

We also asked Oscar about his $100,000 bet with Jay Z over the Canelo Alvarez vs. Miguel Cotto fight this weekend ... and De La Hoya made it clear, he wants Hova's money bad ... for a really good cause.

Sure, he wants to take him for $100,000 ... but Oscar De La Hoya says Jay Z is GREAT for the sport of boxing ... unlike Floyd Mayweather.

The Golden Boy just ripped Floyd in a "farewell letter" in Playboy ... claiming the sport will be BETTER without him in it.

But when we saw Oscar at LAX moments ago, he had a completely different opinion about Jay Z -- who's been loading up his Roc Nation Sports roster with big name boxers.

"He's great," Oscar said of Jay Z ... "He's a breath of fresh air."

Oscar and Jay also have a $100k bet (for charity) on the Canelo Alvarez vs. Miguel Cotto fight -- since Oscar reps Canelo and Jay reps Cotto.

Boxer Yusaf Mack KO'd the closet last night ... celebrating his new status as an openly gay man at one of the most famous night spots in West Hollywood.

Yusaf had a "coming out party" at Rage nightclub in Weho on Sunday night ... a longtime landmark on the L.A. gay scene. It was a helluva leap for Mack, who just revealed his sexual orientation last week.

Days ago he alleged he'd been drugged and forced to participate in a gay porno movie, but a lot has changed. We got Yusaf outside Rage, and we gotta say ... he looks really happy.

Former heavyweight contender Clifford "The Black Rhino" Etienne has found something new to live for while serving his 105 year prison sentence ... his love of painting.

Etienne made the big time when he fought Mike Tyson back in '03 ... but saw his life spiral downward after that ... and is currently serving time in Louisiana for armed robbery, kidnapping, and attempted murder of a police officer.

We spoke to Lynn O'Shea -- who handles Etienne's business affairs -- and she tells us he began painting while inside ... and that his passion for the craft may have saved his life.

"He's amazing. He took painting serious inside and after he earned trustee status he was actually able to become the warden's artist and sleep in his paint room. That kept him away from all the drama in gen pop."

O'Shea tells us that Clifford's paintings sell "very well" and his work has been displayed at several high profile spots around south Louisiana ... including one of the last places you'd expect.

"The city of New Orleans bought one that hangs in a district police department, if you can believe that."

Unfortunately, Etienne's had a rough go of it as of late ... he was transferred to a new prison after he was nearly killed in an attack in his paint room ... and O'Shea says it's taken a toll on him.

"Things slowed down after the attack. He used to make all his own canvas and stuff to paint on ... but now he's locked down. I'm hoping some friends from his past life as a boxer can help him out."

Here's Jay Z checking on one of his biggest investments -- boxer Miguel Cotto -- making sure he's ready to rumble when he steps into the ring with Canelo Alvarez next month.

Jay stopped by Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles -- where trainer Freddy Roach also trains Manny Pacquiao -- and watched as the Roc Nation Sports boxer prepped for his Nov. 21 title fight.

As our friends at BSO pointed out, it's a huge fight for Jay Z -- who reportedly inked Cotto to a $55 MILLION contract back in March.

"If Cotto wins, it is on to bigger and better things (more money for Hov)," BSO says ... "If he loses, then back to the drawing board."

Pretty cool moment from Floyd Mayweather ... when he hooked up Leah Still with an autographed pair of boxing gloves to help her KNOCK OUT cancer!!

The backstory is interesting ... Leah's dad Devon Still says he's been advising his daughter to approach the cancer fight like Mayweather approaches his opponents in the ring.

"When she was diagnosed with cancer I told her she had to win every round (like boxers- mayweather to be exact) of chemo/treatment and she would win the fight against cancer."'

When Mayweather's camp got word -- he wanted to help ... and according to Devon, "He surprised Leah with an autographed glove for winning her fight and he threw in another glove for me to auction off at my first annual Still Strong Foundation Gala!"

Nice work, Floyd

It's official ... boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. is now a full Russian citizen -- with a passport to prove it.

Roy had personally asked Vladimir Putin to get him citizenship back in August so he could do more business in Russia ... business that includes boxing and promoting other fights.

Putin obliged ... and on Tuesday, Jones Jr. got his passport -- which he flaunted around Moscow while draped in a Russian flag. He thanks Putin for making it happen.

But Jones says he still bleeds red, white and blue and hopes the move will unite his two favorite countries -- "I'm happy to bring the U.S. and Russia together in the ring."

In the market for an authentic X-ray of Muhammad Ali's broken jaw??? Well, too bad ... 'cause it just sold at one of the coolest charity auctions we've ever seen.

It's a pretty cool piece of memorabilia -- taken right after Ken Norton busted his face during their big fight in 1973 ... a fight Ali actually lost.

Ali signed the X-ray, "To Carol & Russ From Muhammad Ali, 1973" ... and it ended up in the private collection of "Simpsons" creator Sam Simon, a HUUUUGE boxing fan.

Simon's massive collection was auctioned off to raise money for his charity organization -- along with a TON of other cool stuff -- with the X-ray raking in a cool $1,500! No word on the I.D. of the buyer.

All of the proceeds from the auction -- which raised more than $250k -- supports both animal welfare programs and poverty alleviation and disaster relief organizations.

Good news: Boxing champ Adrien Broner scored a sweet cameo on "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta."

Bad News: You won't actually see it because Broner angrily stormed off set before cameras even starting rolling.

Boxing star Antonio Tarver says he "vehemently refutes" reports that he failed a drug test before his August fight with Steve Cunningham ... saying, "I am 100% innocent."

Tarver is responding to an article on SI.com -- which says he tested positive for synthetic testosterone, which is considered a banned substance.

But Tarver says he "categorically denies taking any banned substance before his fight with Cunningham."

"I have no idea how my urine sample tested positive because I didn't take anything illegal," Tarver said.

"Either the test was contaminated, or mixed-up with another sample. We believe in the process and I will fully comply. Further analysis will prove I'm 100% innocent because I've done nothing wrong."

Boxing superstar Amir Khan has a pretty insulting message for Floyd Mayweather -- Cluck. Cluck. Cluck.

The 28-year-old champ is seriously pissed off at Floyd -- and Manny Pacquiao -- calling them both out for refusing to fight him in the ring ... and comparing Mayweather to poultry in the process.

"I wanted the Floyd Mayweather fight," Khan told Boxing News ... "Floyd in a way he chickened out, he didn’t give me the fight. Three years he was saying he was going to give me the fight, then he didn’t give me the fight."

When the Mayweather fight fell through, Khan turned his attention to Pacquiao -- but that deal fell apart earlier this month, with Khan claiming Pacman was dragging his feet.