Boxing

Shannon Briggs says he's heartbroken Wladimir Klitschko hung up his gloves ... 'cause he never got the chance to KICK THE LIVING HELL OUT OF HIM.

Briggs famously tormented Klitschko for years ... popping up on him in public places and trying to get Wlad to meet him in the ring (the paddle boarding ambush is still classic).

Klitschko just announced he's retiring, and when TMZ Sports talked with Briggs he told us he wishes the all-time great well -- that doesn't change the fact that he would've KNOCKED HIM OUT.

"I would've knocked him out cold! I'm sad, I'm sad he's gone, champ!"

Some things never change.

Conor McGregor put in some violent work Tuesday night -- going "12 hard rounds" with boxing champ Paulie Malignaggi ... and left some marks in the process.

The two got in the ring in Vegas for a full speed workout session to prep for the August 26 superfight with Floyd Mayweather -- and the former WBA welterweight champ tells TMZ Sports, "We both gave each other really good work."

Malignaggi says McGregor been making steady improvements in the ring since the last time they fought 12 days before ... and says he's landing real shots. You can tell by Paulie's face.

As for Conor's power, Paulie says it's time for a reality check.

"Conor doesn't have bad power. It's not 'Oh my god' power ... but it is respectable power."

"Every time I say this people get offended. It's like they want you to lie. It's like they want you to say he has this incredible power like I've never felt anything like it before."

"It is power to where if it hits you, it's gonna get your attention and it may even put you down if you're wearing those smaller fight gloves."

Brendan Schaub is putting his dong on the line for Mayweather vs McGregor ... promising he'll DM the world his finest wiener pic if Conor doesn't go all 12 rounds with Floyd.

That's right -- the UFC fighter-turned-MMA analyst is so sick of fans countin' out the Irishman ... he's bettin' his manhood on McGregor's chin.

"I promise you Conor will not get knocked out," Schaub told Rob King on "The Kicker" ... "If anyone gets finished that night. It's Floyd."

King asked Brendan if he was willing to put a wager on it -- to which Schaub replied, "I will send you guys a d*ck pic if it doesn't go all 12 rounds."

A bet's a bet. No pulling out now ...

Floyd Mayweather is expecting to make more than $300 MILLION from his fight with Conor McGregor ... which would break down to more than $8 MILLION per minute in the ring.

The boxer spelled it all out for Showtime's "All Access: Mayweather v. McGregor" -- explaining why no other professional athlete in the world is more bankable.

"I mean, am I the highest-paid athlete out there? And just coming back? We not talking about no contract. We not talking about no contract for no 4 years, or no contract for no 5 years. I can do it in 36 minutes. $300 (million) or better. In 36 minutes."

Not a bad deal.

As for Conor, the UFC fighter is expecting to rake in around $100 mil for the August 26 superfight -- but it'll be largest payday an MMA fighter has ever made ... so he's not complaining either.

Conor McGregor better hope Floyd Mayweather's shots don't land like this on August 26 ... 'cause T.B.E. hit the hardwood Tuesday to show off his jumper ... and the dude couldn't miss.

Mayweather took a break from his boxing training to put on his best Ray Allen impression ... connecting with the bottom of the net an impressive 11 straight times.

We've seen Floyd's hoop game in the past ... and while he might not have the ideal height of a baller at 5'8", he sure has the shooter's touch ... when unguarded.

The Mini Team.

Floyd Mayweather's tiny doppelganger has signed his contract and will go toe-to-toe with "Irishman Mini McGregor" ... and it's all thanks to Larry Flynt.

The night before the real Floyd and Conor face off in Vegas, these two guys will step in the ring at the Hustler Club just down the way.

We're told it will be a 3 round fight for the very, very lightweight championship of the world.

You may remember Mini Mayweather from his epic bout with Mini Pacquiao ... a fight that had more action than the real MayPac throwdown.

Hopefully this fight will live up to the hype ... hate to see it fall short.

Listen up McGregor ... one of the greatest warriors in the history of boxing is gonna give you the key to doing what some think is impossible ... beating Floyd Mayweather.

We got 4-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield out at the "Pat Cairo Annual Golf Outing and Dinner to Battle Cancer" on Long Island and talked with him about the biggest subject in sports, McGregor vs. Mayweather.

Holyfield won some of the biggest upsets of all time, so the question is, how does Conor do it?

Floyd Mayweather's ex-GF is FURIOUS at Conor McGregor over a "trolling" stunt that mocked her domestic violence incident with Floyd ... saying he's shamelessly profiting from her pain.

The woman is Josie Harris -- who Floyd was convicted of attacking during a 2010 domestic violence incident at the boxer's Vegas home in front of their 3 kids. Mayweather spent 2 months behind bars for the attack.

McGregor "trolled" Floyd over the incident last week by wearing an NBA jersey of C.J. Watson -- the man Floyd accused Josie of secretly texting in 2010, which led to the violent altercation.

Josie wasn't laughing when she saw Conor's stunt -- and claims CM's doing nothing more than exploiting her trauma to promote his superfight with Floyd next month.

"[The stunt] demonstrates not only an insensitivity toward the emotional wellbeing and privacy of the victim of Mayweather’s dom. violence, but also a general disregard for the physical and emotional trauma and long-lasting psychological impacts suffered by victims of dom. abuse," Josie's attorney, Dan Friedlander, tells TMZ Sports.

"On behalf of Josie Harris, her and Mayweather’s three children, and all victims of domestic violence, we ask that Conor McGregor refrain from capitalizing off of the trauma suffered by her and other victims of domestic abuse."

Adrien Broner will have some major starpower in his corner when he takes on Mikey Garcia this weekend -- FLOYD MAYWEATHER.

Broner and Floyd have a big bro, lil bro relationship with major ups and downs. But it seems they're on great terms at the moment ... with Floyd promising he'll be in the building to support AB on Saturday.

"He called me the other day and said he was gonna be there," Broner tells TMZ Sports.

Floyd's been training at his gym in Vegas -- but the Broner vs. Garcia fight is at the Barclay's Center in NY.

No problem for Money May ... who can gas up one of his TWO private jets to make the trip.

Jon Jones has some serious love for Floyd Mayweather -- and it seems it's just a matter of time before the UFC superstar joins The Money Team.

Remember, Floyd shouted Jones out last year -- saying TMT always had his back, even when others gave Jones the cold shoulder following his legal troubles. Mayweather told TMZ Sports he planned on talking with Jones about joining the squad.

So, when we saw Jon after the UFC 214 media event on Wednesday, we asked if there had been any movement.

"Floyd Mayweather's a guy I respect dearly," Jones said ... "He's a magnificent promoter and fighter."

"I would love to do something with Mayweather in the future."

One of Floyd Mayweather's TMT members tells TMZ Sports ... he's courting Nate Diaz to walk out with Floyd for the McGregor fight -- and says there's a REAL chance it will happen.

The man with the plan is "Love & Hip Hop" star, Jason Lee -- who's so close with Floyd, he was part of the boxer's entourage during the McGregor news conference in London.

Lee also happens to be from Stockton, CA -- home of Nate Diaz -- and says he's making a serious run to get Nate to be a special TMT VIP for the fight ... to essentially troll Conor.

Rising boxing phenom Gervonta Davis has a brand new training partner ... Drake!

The 22-year-old -- who's fighting in the co-main event at Mayweather, McGregor -- hit a 6-mile run with the 6 God in Houston over the weekend.

Not only did Drake keep up ... but he also provided the soundtrack for the run. Despite the fact it sounds like it could be new music from Drake, we're told it's NOT the rapper.

(Sounds just like him though!)

Oscar De La Hoya says the only way Conor McGregor can beat Floyd Mayweather is with a flying kick to the head ... 'cause there's absolutely ZERO chance he'll out-box the Money Man.

ODLH says he "wishes" McGregor was on Mayweather's level, but he's simply not -- and tells TMZ Sports if he couldn't beat Floyd during his own boxing heyday, McGregor has no real shot.

That said, Oscar does dish out some advice for Conor on how to fight Floyd ... but he doubts it's gonna help.

FYI, Floyd and Oscar fought back in 2007 -- Mayweather won by split decision.

Ex-boxing champ Jermain Taylor was arrested for allegedly biting and threatening to kill his girlfriend during an argument Tuesday morning ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.

Maumelle PD in Arkansas were called to Taylor's home around 2:40 AM for a domestic disturbance when Taylor's girlfriend, Ashley White, told cops that he bit her several times and broke her cell phone during an argument.

The GF claims Taylor bit her on the face and left arm while trying to escape the residence ... and says she had to pepper spray him before fleeing the home.

Taylor allegedly chased White out of the house and down the street while threatening to kill her. Once the girlfriend returned to the home, cops arrived on the scene.

Police say Taylor smelled of intoxicants at the time of his arrest.

Taylor's been charged with felony terroristic threatening and 2 misdemeanors -- battery and interference with emergency communication.

It's worth noting ... Taylor is currently on probation stemming from several incidents over the past few years, so there's a chance he'll end up behind bars again.

You thought the last Mayweather, McGregor news conference was nuts?! Wait'll you see what happened outside!

As Mayweather's Rolls-Royce was leaving the SSE Arena in London on Friday, dozens of McGregor fans swarmed Floyd's ride ... flipping him off and shouting insults at the car.

Security tried like hell to keep the hooligans away ... literally ripping people from the car ... but during the process, one guy appeared to get rocked by the front of the Rolls.

You can't actually see the collision -- but you can hear it -- and you can see the security guy go flying down the street. He appears to be okay.

Floyd Mayweather says he ain't buyin' the rumors that Conor McGregor got knocked out during a sparring session ... essentially saying he won't believe it until he sees video.

The rumors were perpetuated this week by boxer Jessie Vargas -- who says he heard from a trustworthy source that McGregor got put on the mat with 14 ounce gloves.

He says the boxing world is a small world and everyone knows everything about what's going on.

But Mayweather says he needs proof or it doesn't matter -- telling FightHype.com, "If I ain't seen no footage, I don't believe it."