Boxing

George Foreman's death is still being felt in the boxing world ... and now the filmmaker behind the "Big George Foreman" biopic is opening up on the late-heavyweight champ's impact, especially amongst the Black community.

TMZ Sports recently spoke with George Tillman Jr., the man who not only directed but also co-wrote the film that was released in mid-2023 ... a movie most fans loved.

Tillman Jr. and Foreman came to know each other well ... and with the death of Big George, we asked about the legacy the larger-than-life figure leaves behind.

Claressa Shields is determined to prevent other boxers from experiencing the hell she went through with her recent false-positive drug test ... telling TMZ Sports she's working with boxing commissions to improve the entire process.

The undefeated boxing champ was suspended from competing in Michigan shortly after her fight with Danielle Perkins in February for allegedly testing positive for marijuana -- something she claims she's never put in her body.

The Michigan Commission later lifted the suspension "following receipt of additional evidence that a procedural error occurred during the collection of Respondent’s oral fluid specimen."

Atiana De La Hoya's got a lot of famous family members, but she's proving she attracts a ton of attention on her own -- especially with these hot shots!

The star turned 26 Saturday ... and, we've got all her hottest photos to celebrate -- featuring everything from her classy cocktail dresses to her barely-there bikinis.

Check out this pic of De La Hoya lying back on the beach ... covering up her eyes from the sun while getting catching some rays in the sand.

Jake Paul just got engaged to his speed skater girlfriend Jutta Leerdam ... and even though they might not see eye-to-eye at the moment, Canelo Alvarez has some valuable advice for the soon-to-be Problem Husband!!

Alvarez has been with Fernanda Gomez since 2016 ... and the two officially tied the knot in 2021.

They've been thriving together ever since ... so, when TMZ Sports mentioned Paul's proposal this week, the 62-2 boxer gave Paul some helpful tips on how they can go the distance, too!!

Jake Paul's fiancée Jutta Leerdam made a splash in more ways than one at an indoor water park on Friday -- turnin' heads with her surfin' skills ... and teeny bikini!

The couple seemingly took a break from filming their new reality show, "Paul American" (we see no TV cameras in sight) ... and hit up the DreamWorks Water Park in East Rutherford, NJ to catch some waves at Skudin Surf.

Leerdam -- an Olympic speed skater -- went solo, proudly filming his boo as she rode the waves, showcasing her incredible athleticism, and drop-dead gorgeous body!

LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith can end their feud once and for all with their FISTS ... 'cause TMZ Sports has learned a popular boxing promotion is drafting an offer to make a fight happen!!

King James and the ESPN talent have exchanged verbal blows ever since their infamous confrontation at the Lakers game earlier this month ... and on Wednesday, the argument turned to hypothetical violence -- with SAS claiming if LeBron put his hands on him, he would've retaliated with a punch.

After LeBron trolled the hell outta Smith by posting his old training vids, Celebrity Boxing founder Damon Feldman immediately got to work ... and started making calls to rich investors in hopes of putting together the funds needed to lock down a matchup of this caliber.

Michael Moorer -- one of the few men who stood toe-to-toe in a boxing ring with George Foreman -- tells TMZ Sports he's heartbroken over the boxing legend's death ... making it clear the pugilist will be sorely missed.

We sat down with Moorer on Monday -- just three days after Foreman's family revealed the ex-heavyweight champ passed away at 76 years old -- and it wasn't hard to tell he was crushed to learn of the news.

Moorer called Foreman "a gentle giant" ... and added that he'll always remember him as "a great person."

Imagine being taught to shoot by Steph Curry, or throw a football by Tom Brady ... well that's exactly what happened for a boxing fan (and Crypto whale), who just got a one-on-one private boxing lesson from Floyd Mayweather!!

TMZ Sports has learned the 50-0 boxing pugilist took time out of his busy schedule to link up with Thai businessman (and reported billionaire) Acme Worawat, who is a huge fan of Floyd's, at TBE's Mayweather Fitness in Tribeca, NYC.

Our sources say the men are doing business together ... and the guys decided they wanted to get a workout in, so they hit up Mayweather's gym.

Jake Paul took a break from the boxing ring ... to put a ring on his girlfriend Jutta Leerdam!

The YouTuber-turned-boxer and his speedskating world champion boo announced their engagement Saturday on social media ... sharing a stunning photo of Jake down on one knee on a balcony overlooking the water.

He went all out for the special moment ... decorating the balcony with white petals, flowers and pillar candles -- popping the question with a massive oval diamond with two smaller stones on either side.

It turns out the second time was not the charm for KSI and Dillon Danis to meet in the boxing ring -- their big fight slated for next week has been pushed back ... but surprisingly, it's not the latter's fault.

KSI broke the news to his fans Friday morning ... saying his body has given up on him as he deals with an illness.

"I'm coughing up greenish-yellow s*** all the time," he said. "My sinuses are hurting to the point where I need ibuprofen every day. The tension headaches that I'm getting are more painful than you can imagine."

Add Dirty Boxing Championship boss to Jon Jones' impeccable combat sports resume ... the MMA G.O.A.T. just signed a deal making him co-owner of the DBX promotion, TMZ Sports has learned!

"I was hooked from the first show. I believe this is going to be a powerhouse of combat sports. I'm proud to sign my name next to it," Jones, 37, said of the partnership.

Dirty Boxing was founded last year by a group that included "Platinum" Mike Perry and Abe and Malki Kawa, Jon's longtime managers, so the move makes sense for Jones.

Chris Eubank Jr. and Connor Benn's fight is still a few weeks away ... but, their feud is far from over -- 'cause the two boxers couldn't even get through an interview without nearly beating each other up.

The two boxers stopped by "Piers Morgan Uncensored" to talk about their upcoming fight ... and to discuss the viral moment a few weeks ago when Eubank slapped Benn with an egg.

ICYMI ... the two men faced-off at a promotional event in Manchester at the end of last month -- when Chris whipped out an egg and smashed it against the side of Connor's face.

Jaron "Boots" Ennis is on a quest to prove he's the best fighter in the world ... and it all starts by delivering an ass whoopin' to Eimantas Stanionis on April 12th.

Boots (33-0) and Stanionis (15-0) -- the top two welterweights -- are slated to duke it out in a massive showdown with the IBF, WBA and Ring Magazine world titles on the line.

The blockbuster unification fight will go down at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey ... and Ennis tells TMZ Sports he's ready to throw hands.

Le'Veon Bell just went on a livestream to address his rape allegations head-on ... vowing to do everything in his power to clear his name.

The former Pittsburgh Steelers superstar sat in front of the camera for more than an hour to discuss the TMZ Sports story posted on Tuesday ... and the main takeaway is that he's vehemently denying he ever forced himself on anyone in his life -- let alone his cousin.

Bell said he was completely unaware of the March 2024 lawsuit until we reached out to him last week for comment ... and believes the signature indicating he was served was actually forged.

Le'Veon Bell is vehemently denying a woman's claims he raped her for years when she was an adolescent ... with his attorney telling TMZ Sports the default judgment in the alleged victim's favor is completely "bogus."

Jada Bell said in a lawsuit filed in Franklin County, Ohio last year that she's Le'Veon's cousin ... and when she was just six or seven years old, Le'Veon began having nonconsensual, incestual relations with her.

According to the suit, Le'Veon -- who Jada says is eight years older than her -- would use "slang terms" to direct her when she was just a minor, which incestual acts he wished for her to perform upon him."

The next full moon isn't slated to occur until March 14 ... but John Fury couldn't wait a few days -- flashing his bare rear to the cameras while out for a stroll across the pond on Monday!!

John, Tyson, Tommy and Shane Fury were spotted leaving a café in the UK ... with the 59-year-old deciding the best pose for the cameras was to drop trou'.

The former world heavyweight champion didn't seem to be amused by his father's actions -- opting to keep it casual with the cameras.