Boxing

Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua are in real-deal negotiations to fight ... and AJ's longtime promoter, Eddie Hearn, says it could happen "early next year!"

The Matchroom Boxing boss -- who has worked alongside Joshua for over a decade -- joined Babcock on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs nightly on FS1) ... and Hearn left us shocked.

"I just thought to myself, this is Jake Paul creating headlines. He's not going to fight Anthony Joshua. And in every conversation I have with [Jake's partner] Nikisa and MVP, I'm like, 'Oh my God, they actually think they can beat him,'" Eddie said.

Piers Morgan is throwing in the white towel ... after calling Jake Paul's fights "boring, staged bulls***," and prompting "The Problem Child" to hire an attorney, the media personality has clarified his comment online.

"What I meant is that his fights have been predominantly against older, past-their-prime opponents, which may be lucrative for both sides, and may have entertainment value, but don’t reveal how he stacks up against currently ranked boxers and therefore are not a good look for the sport."

Morgan continued on X ... "I did not intend to suggest that the outcome was predetermined and certainly didn’t mean to suggest anything illegal."

Olympic boxer Omari Jones is taking the underdog in the Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez matchup ... telling TMZ Sports he's predicting Bud will pull off the upset.

Crawford (41-0) and Alvarez (63-2) will throw hands on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas ... and even though Terence is moving up several weight divisions to meet Canelo at 168 pounds, Jones still likes the boxing star's chances.

"It looks like he put it on the right way," Jones said of Crawford's weight gain. "The nutrition, the training -- Crawford, he trains hard."

Chiney Ogwumike has earned herself plenty of supporters over her career as a professional basketball player and sports analyst -- including her husband, Raphael Akpejiori.

The athlete's husband went through plenty of changes in his life before he met the former Los Angeles Sparks team member, whom he married in 2023.

We're going to take a look into the boxer's background and see how his love story with the basketball star played out.

Ogwumike's not the only one with experience on the court, as her husband -- who was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria -- played on the University of Miami basketball team.

Akpejiori served as a forward for the Hurricanes, and he spent a total of four seasons on the squad.

Oh, and in addition to his work on the court, the athlete spent a season as a tight end on the school football team ... and he was later added to the Miami Dolphins practice squad in 2015, according to the Miami Herald.

Akpejiori eventually earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Miami, and he landed a position in the school's Energy Department.

The athlete's boxing career began while he was at the University of Miami, where he began training after a friend decided to start going to a boxing gym.

Akpejiori, who told the Miami Herald his interest in boxing "started for me as a workout," eventually began competing as an amateur, and he won 13 out of his first 14 bouts.

He became a professional in 2018, and he trained with former world light-heavyweight champion Glen Johnson, who said Raphael was "very raw" when they began working together.

However, the former champ said seeing Akpejiori's skills as a boxer develop over the years was "very gratifying."

Ogwumike and her husband initially matched on a dating app, according to People, and their first date took place at a Burna Boy concert.

The former Los Angeles Sparks star and the boxer got engaged on Christmas Eve in 2022.

The happy couple subsequently the knot over a four-day wedding ceremony in Houston, Texas the following November.

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."