Boxing

Jake Paul wasn't kidding when he said he'd sue the hell outta anyone who claimed his fights are staged -- he's teamed up with powerhouse attorney Alex Spiro to pursue legal action against the people spewing lies about his boxing career.

TMZ Sports has learned ... the YouTuber-turned-boxer retained one of the biggest lawyers in the biz to be in his corner -- as the allegations his bouts are scripted have done some serious damage to 28-year-old Paul, his partners and the entire sport's reputation as a whole.

Spiro tells us ... "I've been retained by Mr. Paul to pursue legal redress for the damages he suffered. If someone uses their public soapbox to harm him and the sport with lies, there will be consequences."

Muhammad Ali's younger brother, Rahaman Ali, has died.

The Muhammad Ali Center announced Rahaman's death on Saturday ... saying Rahaman passed away the day prior.

A cause of death was not immediately revealed, and the center said funeral arrangements will be announced at a later time.

Tommy Brooks -- who trained boxing legends Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson -- passed away this week at 71 years old.

Boxing promoter Lou DiBella announced the sad news on social media, revealing Brooks died Tuesday night following a battle with a "very aggressive" form of cancer.

"Too young," DiBella said when sharing the details. "Great boxing man and even better person, he was just a solid dude."

As many as three NFL legends could be throwing hands on the upcoming Adrian Peterson fight card ... as Le'Veon Bell just told TMZ Sports he's got interest in boxing Frank Gore at the event.

We caught up with the former Pittsburgh Steelers tailback out at LAX this week ... and given he once knocked out Peterson in the squared circle, we had to ask about the upcoming tilt between A.P. and his poker rival, Joe "Baby Joe" Castaneda.

Bell said he believes his ex-NFL colleague will win ... before he informed us he'd actually be down to mix it up in a bout just prior to the Peterson vs. Castaneda main event.

Adrian Peterson's begun training for his celebrity boxing match with his poker rival ... and while his hands could certainly use some more sharpening, it's clear he's in great shape.

Check out some videos TMZ Sports has obtained of the Minnesota Vikings legend as he kicked off his preparation for his big matchup with Joe "Baby Joe" Castaneda ... he looked like he could still pick up a few first downs for an NFL team.

Rockin' a maroon tee, grey shorts and black shoes ... the 40-year-old showed off a svelte frame as he hit the mitts in a Houston gym.

Have beef with Akon and want to mix it up in a ring with the musician? Good news -- the "Smack That" crooner says he desperately wants to take a celebrity boxing match!!

The 52-year-old made the revelation during a recent sitdown with "THE UNTOLD" ... explaining on the show he'd absolutely accept a fight if a good offer was put in front of him.

"In my sleep," he said. "Please invite me in the ring!"

Terence Crawford's an underdog vs. Canelo Álvarez for the first time in over a decade ... but he's not sweating the unfamiliar label, telling TMZ Sports betting odds won't be the ones fighting him in the ring.

The thrilling boxing showdown between Bud and his rival is set to take place on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas ... and somewhat surprisingly, 41-0 Crawford is not the favorite.

It marks the first time since his 2013 bout against Breidis Prescott that gamblers are siding elsewhere ... but when we talked to him about that this week, he shrugged it off.

Boxers tend to be big draws on fight nights ... and they're even bigger draws when their fans see them in public!

We caught this world-champion pugilist back in 2007, when one of his supporters ran into him at a gas station, and he even got her to tell his girlfriend about what a knockout he is!

A Claressa Shields and Laila Ali superfight just got a whole lot more real ... 'cause just days after the retired boxing legend made it clear she wouldn't even consider fighting without at least $15 million on the table, the "GWOAT" has a message -- we got the dough!

"Laila, I'm here with my team. I got some great news for you. We got the $15 million!" Shields said in video sent to TMZ Sports.

The undefeated champ continued ... "Let's make a fight between me and you. The best versus the best. The greats versus the greats. The GWOAT versus Muhammad Ali's daughter, Laila Ali. Let's make it happen."

Joe Castaneda has already put hands on Adrian Peterson, but "Baby Joe" isn't taking the NFL legend lightly ahead of their Celebrity Boxing match ... he's started working out with a trainer, and TMZ Sports has the video!

We're told Castaneda -- a professional poker player by trade -- hired combat sports coach Teddy Concepcion at the Oasis gym in Las Vegas ... and Joe is already on the ground, going through a bunch of different drills, including hitting mitts.

It should come as no surprise that he's taking the fight seriously. Earlier this month, Castaneda told us this was the plan, saying he wanted to sharpen "up these hands to put on a show!"

Despite the World Boxing Association reconsidering Jake Paul's ranking, Bryce Hall feels it got it right the first time ... telling TMZ Sports El Gallo deserves the recognition since he's fighting legends.

We spoke with the TikTok star, actor and fighter at Sweet Butter Kitchen in Los Angeles this week ... after the WBA announced its No. 14 ranking for Paul following his win against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

The rank is currently under review following backlash ... including fellow cruiserweight Craig Parker, who told us, "it was just like a slap in the face."

Ben Askren says he let the medical challenges he's faced over the last month affect him ... admitting he's felt sorry for himself -- but, now, that's all over.

The MMA standout posted a video from a hospital bed Saturday morning ... giving fans another update on his condition and putting into context just how quickly his health has deteriorated.

Askren shared a journal entry written by a friend of the family who wrote on Father's Day that doctors planned to examine him for a potential lung transplant ... that was less than a month ago, and now BA has two new lungs.

Pro boxer Gervonta "Tank" Davis has bonded out of jail following his arrest for domestic violence -- and his unusual release is turning heads.

Check it out ... local outlet WPLG caught him exiting Florida's Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center just before 6 PM Friday with 3 Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department officers escorting him out.

Davis had no interest in speaking to local reporters who were kept at a distance thanks to his escort team ... and even tried keeping himself covered by pulling his white collared shirt over his head.

Boxing superstar Gervonta "Tank" Davis was arrested for domestic violence ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.

The 30-year-old fighter was booked early Friday morning ... and his mug shot shows him wearing a white polo and giving a bit of a blank stare on his face.

According to reporter Andy Slater, an alleged altercation between Davis and his ex-girlfriend happened a few weeks ago ... and Tank was wanted by police ever since the incident.

The last time Katie Taylor shared the ring with Amanda Serrano, the fight was so awesome that it somehow overshadowed Mike Tyson and Jake Paul ... and now the star pugilists will once again come face-to-face to settle the score!!

TMZ Sports spoke with 39-year-old super lightweight champion leading up to the July 11 scrap at the World's Most Famous Arena, MSG, about the importance of the all-female event that'll also be streaming on Netflix ... and Katie hardly believes it's real.

"It's amazing. I think the fights are just getting bigger and bigger, to be honest," Taylor said.