Fights

The Andy Ruiz vs. Anthony Joshua rematch will have TONS of action -- but it will NOT have scantily clad women flashing giant cards between rounds.

TMZ Sports has confirmed ... promoters have decided NOT to include ring girls at the Dec. 7 event, out of respect for local culture in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has a strict dress code when it comes to women -- though the country is easing back on restrictions ... especially when it comes to foreigners.

But, the promoters for Ruiz vs. Joshua II aren't trying to push boundaries or ruffle feathers ... so they've decided to scrap the ring girls from the event to avoid controversy.

As we previously reported, WWE was faced with a similar decision when they held their "Crown Jewel" event in Riyadh earlier this year ... and ultimately decided their female wrestlers would wear more modest costumes instead of the usual revealing, sexy attire.

WWE honcho Stephanie McMahon explained it this way ... "We need to be respectful of the cultures in the countries we perform in."

The event went off without a hitch -- and the people behind Ruiz vs. Joshua II are hoping for the same result.

Floyd Mayweather's mixed up in another one-sided fight, but he wasn't the one throwing punches ... some guy in his crew delivered this beatdown.

The champion boxer was involved in an incident at a Las Vegas mall on Thanksgiving eve that resulted in a fan getting thumped by a presumed member of his security team ... as you can see on surveillance footage, obtained by TMZ Sports.

We're told Floyd was exiting the House of Hoops store with his girlfriend and his crew when an employee working at one of the kiosks nearby approached for a photo. The employee, Juan Calderon, tells TMZ ... he was trying to get a pic for a coworker who felt weird asking, but Floyd shot him down.

Calderon says Mayweather was rude about the rejection, so he let Floyd and his group know that he thought they were "acting like d**ks."

One of Floyd's boys allegedly confronted Calderon about the comments, and Juan tells us he told the guy Floyd should take photos with his fans. Juan says the guy tried to smooth things over and shake his hand ... but he refused.

That may have been a bad move because Calderon tells us another crew member noticed he was still looking Floyd's way ... so he then approached to confront Juan about his insults.

The apparent bodyguard can be seen in the mall footage wearing a TMT shirt walking next to Floyd and is later seen throwing at least a couple punches at Calderon. Juan says the guy unloaded on him, landing 3-5 blows before leaving.

Calderon says Floyd was right there when the attack went down. Juan tells us he went to the hospital for a CT scan afterward ... which fortunately revealed no brain injury.

He also says he filed a police report, and law enforcement confirms it responded to a call for a simple battery incident at the mall on Wednesday night around 9:30 PM.

Forget Black Friday -- the madness now begins when stores open up early on Thanksgiving night ... and a Pennsylvania mall's one of the first to have a fight break out as holiday shopping kicks off.

The chaos reportedly went down at the Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Thursday night after 9 PM ... when at least 5 men got involved in a brawl outside the Forever 21.

As you see in the video, it appears 2 men are involved in a fistfight when a third in a striped shirt jumps in to deliver a few blows. Security tries to separate it to no avail, and at least 2 more men join in on the ruckus.

It's unclear what ignited the fight, but a local report says it lasted about a minute before it was separated ... and it didn't appear anyone was arrested. We're working on more details.

As we've reported ... Black Friday's known as one of the most dangerous shopping days -- the craziness just started a bit early this year.

He's 44-years-old ... but Tito Ortiz says his fight game is BETTER than ever -- and he wants to prove it against Jon Jones.

"I think I could beat Jon Jones," Tito tells TMZ Sports ... "I think I got a good chance. I really do think I got a good chance."

Tito has been training his ass off for his Dec. 7 MMA clash with ex-WWE superstar Alberto Del Rio and says he finally feels healthy, clear-minded and strong.

Of course, Jones is only 32 and hasn't really lost a fight since turning pro -- he's widely considered one of the greatest UFC fighters ever!

But, Ortiz says Jones ruined his shot at being the G.O.A.T. -- "He tarnished his career so many times, so much stuff he did in and out of the cage. Bums me out because I love the guy, man."

As for the critics who say Tito's too old hang with a guy like Jones, Tito has a message for them too ...

"Come to my camp. Come train with me. Come wrestle with me. Come do Jiu-Jitsu with me. Watch me weight train, watch my biking ... I'm doing amazing, my mind's in the right place."

There's A LOT more in the raw video (see below) ... Tito talks about his issues with Dana White and why he's down to squash the beef with the UFC once and for all.

He also talks about his rivalry with Chuck Liddell, his upcoming movie with Bruce Willis ... and his dreams of becoming a WWE superstar down the road!

"George, Mike Tyson hits so hard!!"

That was the WARNING Muhammad Ali gave to George Foreman around 1987 ... when a 40-year-old Foreman was considering a boxing comeback after a 10-year hiatus.

"George, that Mike Tyson can hit! That's punching power there!"

Foreman tells the whole story to TMZ Sports ... explaining how Muhammad was like his "big brother" and tried to advise him to stay away from Tyson, who was DESTROYING people at the time.

"It was like a warning, 'Don't do that George!'"

Of course, Foreman DID make his comeback and went on a 23-FIGHT WIN STREAK ... crushing just about everyone until he faced Evander Holyfield in 1991.

In fact, 45-year-old George beat Michael Moorer for the WBA and IBF Heavyweight title in 1994 -- while Tyson was still in prison.

We asked George what would have happened if Tyson and Muhammad Ali ever squared off ... and ya gotta hear his answer to that too!!!

There's more ... Foreman also breaks down the upcoming Andy Ruiz vs. Anthony Joshua rematch and tells us why it would be very wise for Anthony Joshua to do some film study of Ali vs. Spinks II, the epic fight from 1978.

Worried about potential shopping brawls on Black Friday???

UFC stud Mike Perry's got ya covered ... 'cause he's shelling out advice on how to protect yourself in a fight over that marked down big screen TV!!!

"Stick and move, man," Perry tells TMZ Sports. "Throw objects. Use chairs. Keep your distance!"

Of course, the day after Thanksgiving is always mired in some kind of fighting over door-busting deals ... but Perry's got some rock-solid tips to help you survive.

And, if you are brave enough to scrap with the crowds ... Perry's the guy you wanna listen to -- 'cause he's been in a ton of these brawls throughout his life!!!

But, Perry's biggest piece of advice? Forget the whole day in general, stay at home with the fam and wait to shop online on Cyber Monday.

Canelo Alvarez thinks the Floyd Mayweather comeback is HILARIOUS -- saying there's no way Floyd would ever consider a rematch because he's too focused on MMA guys.

The boxing superstar was leaving Matsuhisa sushi in Hollywood in great spirits when we asked how he felt about 42-year-old Floyd wanting TWO fights in 2020.

"He's not gonna fight with me," a smirking Canelo told us ... "He's gonna take on MMA fighters!"

CA's entourage added a little more commentary -- with a female friend saying Floyd "couldn't handle" a fight with Canelo.

His male pal was blunter, saying, "Canelo will kill him!"

For his part, Floyd is still working on nailing down his two opponents -- a boxer and an MMA fighter -- and we're told he's got his sites set on Manny Pacquiao.

Meanwhile, Canelo's coming off a violent knockout victory over Sergey Kovalev as he fights his way through his 11 fight, 5-year, $365 MILLION contract.

Unclear what's next for Canelo -- but he's said in the past he would LOVE a rematch with Floyd, who has the ONLY victory over Alvarez in his pro boxing career.

The two fought back in 2013 -- when Canelo was only 23 -- and he lost by majority decision. After the fight, Canelo said he simply couldn't catch Mayweather.

The inmate who slashed Lauri Peterson's son during a bloody jailhouse fight ... is now facing even more time behind bars for the near-deadly ambush on Josh Waring.

Orange County jail inmate Jose Jesus Guzman is set to be arraigned next month on multiple new charges related to the attack -- assault with a deadly weapon, infliction of great bodily injury, possession of a deadly weapon by a prisoner and destroying/concealing evidence.

This, of course, comes after he was caught on camera jumping out from behind a flight of stairs last month to attack Josh. Guzman ended up cutting Waring's face and chest before guards rushed in to break it up.

Josh and his mom claim the OC jail correctional officers are out to get him, and possibly even set up the attack ... something the jail denies. However, the guards have said it was a mistake for Guzman to be out of his cell at the time of the attack.

Remember, one of the officers who responded to the fight wrote in a report afterward that Josh had told him he didn't want to pursue charges against the slasher, and he knew the guards hadn't let that happen on purpose. Josh's attorney called BS on that.

As we reported, Josh has also filed a federal lawsuit against Orange County and the Sheriff's Dept. Since the attack, Josh has been transferred to a new jail after making the request to a judge.

BTW, if the assault with a deadly weapon charge against Guzman sticks -- it is all captured on video -- he'll likely serve several more years than what he's already doing time for ... another assault with a deadly weapon case, among several other violent charges.

MLB is investigating pitcher Sam Dyson over allegations he got violent with his ex-girlfriend ... AND their cat.

Dyson's ex, Alexis Blackburn, is accusing the former Minnesota Twins pitcher of flying into a rage and smashing up their cat's play box while the cat was still inside.

Blackburn posted a message on social media -- written in the voice of her cat -- saying, "Someone I trusted with my safety, protection, and love did the unthinkable while I was inside the box."

Blackburn says she moved the cat out of their home -- and says (in her cat's voice), "I don’t have to worry about getting hurt because of anger or control."

"I don’t have to be scared of yelling and things being hurled at mom and me. I don’t have to be scared anymore."

In ANOTHER cryptic post -- using her own voice -- Blackburn alludes to an abusive situation with an unnamed person ... and says, "I am broken."

"I’ve allowed my physical health, my emotional health, and my mental health to diminish to nothing."

A source close to the situation confirmed to The Athletic ... both social media posts were written about Dyson.

An MLB spokesperson tells TMZ Sports, "We are aware of the matter and looking into it."

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal says MLB is calling the matter a "domestic violence investigation."

So far, no comment from Dyson's camp.

31-year-old Dyson is currently a free agent after spending last season with the San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins.

"I am the hardest-hitting puncher in boxing history, period."

Deontay Wilder says his right hand is the most devastating weapon in the history of combat sports -- more dangerous than Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, you name it.

... And to everyone who disagrees, Wilder has a simple message -- "Let [the past] go!"

The Bronze Bomber is coming off a ferocious 7th round knockout of Luis Ortiz -- where he cracked LO with a right cross that knocked him into next week.

But, Wilder says it's not the hardest shot he's landed ... he thought he KILLED a guy in a 2016 fight.

"Man, I think the [Artur Szpilka] fight still tops it. Just the way that he landed and I really didn't see him breathing ... at all. I didn't see him start breathing until his GF came over and he finally woke up."

"It was like something in the movies and I actually had to witness it with my own eyes and it was amazing to see that. That one, I really felt it. Ortiz, I didn't feel the punch."

Next up for Wilder is the rematch with Tyson Fury, who just said he has the "Kryptonite" for Deontay's right hand.

"I mean, if him getting up off his back is the 'Kryptonite' than Lord have mercy! Have mercy upon him the 2nd time because he won't get up. Because I'm gonna get him again."

Wilder continued, "These fighters have to be perfect for me for 12 rounds and that's 36 minutes! 36 minutes you gotta be perfect!"

As for George Foreman, who told TMZ Sports he thinks Mike Tyson hits harder than Deontay ... Wilder says his critics need to stop living in the past!

Wilder also says he knows Iron Mike has been praising him in private, but he's ready for Mike to shower him with compliments in public!

"I had some people sitting by Mike (at my fight). Mike gave me some praises, which I wish he would have said in public. Behind closed doors is cute and s**t but out in public?! Just express yourself!"

"I don't know what the deal is with the old generation, new generation. Like, the old is the past, bro -- let it go!"

There's more ... Wilder also gave us the lowdown on his AMAZING ring-walk costume ... telling us it cost a fortune, but it was worth every penny!

"We wanted to go into a modern-day king, like knight ... It was like the outfit represented the old and the new. The old me turning into the new me. The past is the past, welcome to the future."

So, price?

"The outfit was like $16k ... but its a write-off."

Wilder says he's already working on his NEXT costume ... and he wants it to be even more impressive!

Nothing could stop Josh Gad from getting into the Christmas spirit a little early this year ... not even his irritated wife.

We got Olaf from the 'Frozen' movies outside BUILD NYC Tuesday, and along with celebrating the sequel becoming the biggest animated movie opening ever in November ... he's celebrating the holiday season.

Josh tells us he's already got the Christmas tree up at this house, so he's not one to judge those who can't wait until Thanksgiving's over to bust out the decorations.

Sounds like his wife is, though -- Gad says she's "really pissed off" he couldn't show some restraint with his yuletide joy. Sorry, Mrs. Gad, but a $360 million worldwide box office debut will do that for ya.

And, if she's in a Scrooge mood now, it probably won't help when Josh doesn't take the tree down until the Super Bowl.

We gotta ask, whose side are you on with this one -- Josh or his wife?

George Foreman is a fan of Deontay Wilder -- but tells TMZ Sports when it comes to pure knockout power, he's just not Mike Tyson.

The 70-year-old boxing legend is still a hardcore fan of the sport -- and while he's super impressed with Wilder's run, he's simply not ready to put Deontay in the pantheon with the all-time greats.

"He’s good but he hasn’t approached Joe Louis, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson. No, he hasn’t approached that kind of recognition yet. No way," Foreman says.

Despite big wins over guys like Luis Ortiz and Dominic Breazeale, Foreman says Wilder still needs a signature win over a top-tier opponent to get the respect he craves.

"For me, he has to have a performance like Mike Tyson did over Trevor Berbick. Boy, when I saw that, I was down visiting Vegas, and I thought, ‘This guy is a nightmare!'"

In case you need a refresher, Tyson's 1986 victory over Berbick is one of the most violent EVER -- he dominated the WBC heavyweight champ for 2 rounds before finally putting him down.

Foreman says Wilder definitely has all-time great potential ... but he's "gotta fight more title defenses and especially no rematches. Rematches don’t count. Unless they’ve beaten you or something, ya know. Rematches don’t count!"

There is one exception ... Tyson Fury. George can't wait for that rematch!

MMA legend Rampage Jackson says he's VERY interested in taking a PRO BOXING match before he retires ... and he'll fight anyone -- except Deontay Wilder!

In fact, the 41-year-old former UFC heavyweight champ tells us, "I asked Dana White a long time ago, way before Conor McGregor even was around, let me do some boxing!"

Rampage -- who parted ways with UFC in 2013 -- says he was told back in the day there just wasn't anyone for him to box, so the idea was shut down.

But, he insists, "I still wanna fight a boxing match before I retire."

Rampage's stand-up game is legendary -- he famously KO'd Chuck Liddell in 2007 and Wanderlei Silva in 2008 ... and several other guys along the way.

And, with Floyd Mayweather gunning for a UFC crossover, we asked Rampage if he had a particular opponent in mind.

"I'd fight anybody but Deontay Wilder," Rampage says ... "He's too tall!"

Rampage says there's one way he'd make an exception -- "Unless they give me $100 mil. Then I'll fight him! I'm not gonna lie, I keep it real!"

We get it ... Wilder just destroyed Luis Ortiz and widely considered one of the greatest knockout artists in boxing history!

"I'll fight him if they give me $100 mil and we do one boxing match and then one MMA match."

But, don't count on it going down any time soon -- as Rampage explains, "I don't like fighting them long, tall dudes. I gotta take them down!"

Boxing superstar Deontay Wilder says there's a damn good reason he rocks that HUMONGOUS gold chain before a fight ... it's so heavy, it beefs up his neck muscles!

... And, yeah, he's DEAD SERIOUS!

"It's so heavy on my neck, it's like training," Wilder tells TMZ Sports ... "It's almost like wearing a weighted vest."

Wilder says the chain is worth more than $100,000 -- and since he's gearing up to fight Luis Ortiz on Saturday night, he decided to break out the big boy jewelry to get his neck right.

"Even when I'm laying down, it's training! It's so heavy!"

There's more ... the undefeated heavyweight champ also says he's dropped tens of thousands of dollars on his fight costume for the ring walk.

In the past, Wilder has busted out expensive, ornate masks ... and says he's spending the money to it BIGGER THAN EVER for Saturday's fight on FOX Sports Pay-Per-View.

"If you're gonna pay your money, I want it to be a whole event!"

Of course, the fight's gonna be pretty good too if it's anything like the first time Wilder and Ortiz fought back in 2018 ... when they beat the living hell out of each other for 10 straight rounds before Wilder finished Luis.

Lennox Lewis ain't been the heavyweight champ in 16 years ... but the boxing legend tells TMZ Sports he could step into a ring right now and beat up some the best fighters in the world.

We were talking to the 3x heavyweight champion and boxing Hall of Famer about Deontay Wilder (Lewis' calling DW's fight vs. Luis Ortiz Saturday night) ... when the British star hit us with a doozy, saying his 54-year-old body could STILL whoop-ass in the ring.

"Even right now, I'd give a lot of guys a run for their money right now," Lewis says.

"I've still got that heavyweight focus, heavyweight mind. I dissect fights. I know what is needed of the other person to be successful, so I know what I'd have to do to be successful against these guys."

Lennox -- whose last bout was a win against Vitali Klitschko in June 2003 -- knows fighting current day heavyweight stars wouldn't be a cakewalk.

"It wouldn't be easy. I'll tell you that right now. These guys are bigger, stronger, but as far as boxing talent, they're still learning. even for me, when I retired, I was still learning. You never stop learning as a champion."

We also asked ... how would prime Lennox Lewis fight current day Deontay Wilder? (They've got 72 KO's combined — so both guys have crazyyy power.)

"Make sure I don't get hit and hit him before he hits me," Lennox tells us.

"We knock out people. So, anytime we launch our right hands, it ain't coming back. So, if we hit each other at the same time we both go."

#DoubleKO

'RHOA' star Eva Marcille's baby daddy just revealed a key piece of evidence from his latest arrest -- video of his scuffle with a cop down an escalator.

Kevin McCall posted the courthouse surveillance footage on his Instagram, which is of him talking to the officer ... then cuts to a shot of the cop chasing McCall down an escalator in an effort to detain him.

The officer then appears to bodyslam McCall before another cop jumps in to help.

We broke the story ... Kevin says he was injured in the scuffle and plans to sue, and believes he was targeted simply because he's black. According to his latest post, he believes the video supports his theory. He captioned it ... "Hands Up...Don't shoot #thetruthuntold"

McCall's own Instagram Live video from before the altercation shows what led up to the tussle -- the courthouse officer tells him he needs to stop recording video on his phone ... but he refuses, calls him a b*tch and challenges him to fight.

You may recall ... Kevin was in court to challenge Eva for custody of their 5-year-old daughter, Marley Rae. Instead, he ended up in jail and booked on 5 charges -- 4 misdemeanors and one felony count of criminal damage to property in the 2nd degree.