Fights

Anthony Joshua dropped Francis Ngannou three times inside two rounds ... including a massive right hand that left The Predator out on the canvas!

The 34-year-old former 2x heavyweight champion was sharp from the very start of the bout ... putting 37-year-old Francis down in the first round with a hard straight right. Ngannou returned to his feet and even landed a hard punch towards the end of the round.

In the second, AJ again knocked Francis down ... but the former UFC champ beat the count, and the round continued.

But, just a short time later, Anthony uncorked a devastating right that landed flush to Francis' face, bending him backward (similar to the way Ngannou stopped Stipe Miocic), and immediately prompting the referee to stop the fight.

No count needed.

Ngannou, as doctors and medical professionals rushed in, remained down on the canvas for a couple of minutes ... and was even given oxygen.

Thankfully, Francis eventually got back on his feet, and appeared to be okay.

Despite less than 6 minutes of fighting, AJ encouraged Francis, who pushed Tyson Fury to the brink last year, to stick with boxing.

Promoter Eddie Hearn, who has worked with many of the biggest and best in the sport, called the KO punch one of the "most destructive knockouts" he'd ever seen.

57-year-old Mike Tyson will beat 27-year-old Jake Paul, according to future UFC Hall of Famer Tyron Woodley ... and the 30-year age difference doesn't mean squat!

If anyone knows anything about fighting Jake, it's T-Wood ... who twice boxed The Problem Child in August and December 2021. Tyron's also been around fighting at the highest level for well over a decade.

So, when co-host Evan Rosenblum asked Woodley on their "Real Shhh Right Quick" show who'd win the July 20th scrap, Tyron responded like this.

"I mean I've been in the ring twice with Jake, and I don't want to get in the ring once with f***ing Mike," Woodley said.

Tyson's no doubt one of the scariest men to ever step foot in a ring, but he's nearly 60 years old, while Jake's in his athletic prime ... but Tyron thinks experience trumps age in this circumstance.

"The age is not a factor. That's a wash. Experience level is obviously going to go to Mike Tyson."

And, Woodley's being consistent ... he says if Paul can defeat Iron Mike, he deserves a hell of a lot of credit.

"If Jake Paul beats Mike, I don't give a f*** if he's 70, you're gonna have to put at last an ounce of respect on his name," Tyron said.

"Mike Tyson right now off muscle memory alone could step on the wrong eggshell and let off a combination that could kill most people. He has a power and ability to shift organs in your body if he hits you with the right force. So I think he forgot more technique than Jake Paul has ever learned in his life."

FYI, Mike last fought in November 2020 ... an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. It was scored a draw. His last professional fight was in 2005. As for Jake, he last beat Ryan Bourland by TKO on March 2 ... a few months after knocking out Andre August. He's 9-1 as a pro.

Evan made the point ... it could be a bad look for Jake, who has aspirations of being a boxing champion, if he were to get beat by an older Tyson.

T-Wood didn't agree.

"If he gets knocked out by Mike Tyson at 58, 59, 60, 71, he would join the other 99% of the regular motherf***ers on Earth, that's what I say."

If Francis Ngannou pulls off the upset win over Anthony Joshua on Friday, perhaps nobody will be happier than Drake -- 'cause the rapper just bet a small fortune on the UFC fighter to get the dub!!

Drizzy showed off his betting slip on his Instagram page just hours before the match goes down ... revealing he put a whopping $615,000 on Ngannou to beat Joshua in a boxing match in Saudi Arabia.

If it hits, Drake stands to make a ton of cash -- $1,906,500 to be exact -- and based on his IG caption, he seems confident it will all actually happen.

"Betting on a scary man," Drake said.

The fight will be just the second pro boxing one of Ngannou's career -- but, given how the first one went against Tyson Fury back in October, many think he can actually win it.

You'll recall, Ngannou -- the former UFC heavyweight champ -- roughed up Fury for most of their bout ... but lost in a controversial split decision.

One loss aside, Ngannou's seemed super confident in the leadup to this next fight -- and Drake appears to be believing the bravado.

Although Jake wanted no part of Mike in 2020 when we talked to him, Paul's opinion changed a couple of years later. In 2022, as The Problem Child was promoting his scrap with Anderson Silva, reporter Blake Beasley asked JP which legend he'd like to box ... his answer? Iron Mike!

Jake Paul has come a LONG way in the sport of boxing ... 'cause what he once considered impossible has just become his next challenge -- Mike Tyson.

TMZ Sports took a peek into our Problem Child interview archives after his fight against the legend was announced on Thursday ... and it's fascinating to see the dude's growth in just a short amount of time.

When we spoke with Jake back in 2020, we asked if he'd step foot in the ring with a boxing legend like Tyson or Evander Holyfield ... and his response was an emphatic rejection.

"Look, I'm confident, but I'm not stupid." Paul -- who had two fights under his belt at the time -- told us. "I would not go into the ring with them. Nah, no chance."

Remember, this was before Jake's viral knockouts of Nate Robinson, Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley and impressive wins over Nate Diaz and Anderson Silva ... when he was just a "silly YouTube kid" who wanted to handle his long list of celebrity enemies through boxing matches.

Now, he's one of the most famous fighters on the planet, a successful promoter and envisions becoming a world champion ... and will go head-to-head with Iron Mike in a massive event at AT&T Stadium in July.

He's accomplished way more than he ever expected ... 'cause in that same interview, he told us his goal in boxing was simply to prove that he's a "legitimate fighter" and to "earn people's respect."

The UFC just released one of the most kick-ass fight promos you'll ever see ... but it's not for Conor McGregor, Israel Adesanya or Jon Jones -- it's starring Jake Gyllenhaal!!

The Academy Award-nominated actor is portraying a former MMA fighter-turned-bouncer named Elwood Dalton in the upcoming reimagining of the cult classic, "Road House" ... and Dana White's organization is clearly going all-in on its involvement with the Prime Video project.

The promotion's social media accounts posted a 90-second clip on Thursday ... and it's all about Dalton's pursuit of a UFC championship against a dude named Jax "Jetway" Harris (played by former fighter Jay Hieron), who holds the belt at the time of the movie matchup.

It features all the great stuff any other fight promo would have -- highlights, voiceovers and training montages (shoutout to Jake's shredded bod).

Of course, the flick worked hard to make any fighting footage look legit ... even shooting scenes at a UFC event in 2023 to give it the full effect.

There are some pics out there that spoil the result of the Dalton vs. Harris fight ... but we won't do the same here so folks can enjoy it on March 21.

Jake Paul is taking on a true G.O.A.T. in his next boxing match ... 'cause the Problem Child is fighting Mike freakin' Tyson!!

The huge event was announced just minutes ago ... with the YouTuber-turned-fighter saying his bout against the 57-year-old former heavyweight champion will be the "biggest fight in history."

"It's crazy to think that in my second pro fight, I went viral for knocking out Nate Robinson on Mike Tyson's undercard," 27-year-old Jake said on Thursday. "Now, less than four years later, I'm stepping up to face Tyson myself to see if I have what it takes to beat one of boxing's most notorious fighters and biggest icons."

The fight will air on Netflix ... and will take place July 20 at AT&T Stadium -- the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Jake (9-1) is fresh off two first-round knockout victories ... most recently easily defeating Ryan Bourland in Puerto Rico this past weekend.

Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champ in history at just 20 years old, defeating Trevor Berbick in brutal fashion in 1986.

He's is widely regarded as one of the hardest-hitting and most-feared pugilists to ever put on a pair of gloves ... earning a 50-6 record. His last professional fight was in 2005 against Kevin McBride.

He's remained busy in recent years ... taking an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. in November 2020, a card that also featured Jake's fight against the ex-NBA star, which helped take his in-ring career to new heights.

Jake and Tyson have a bit of history -- they became friends over the years, and just two years ago, Mike said he would fight Paul for $1 billion.

Worth noting -- Jake weighed in at 199 pounds for the Bourland fight ... and Tyson is reportedly listed at 220.

Paul added ... "Whether you’re tuning in on Netflix or showing out in person, whether you're team Paul or team Tyson, or whether you’re a lifelong boxing fan or watching your first fight, you're not going to want to miss this event."

No word on whether this is a pro or exhibition bout ... but either way, they're promising fireworks.

Teresa Giudice's marriage to Luis Ruelas is doing just fine -- this despite the fact that a new trailer for an upcoming season of her show suggests otherwise ... TMZ has learned.

A source close to the couple tells TMZ that fans of 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' shouldn't be concerned for Tre and Louie -- as they've never been better as a couple. In fact ... we're told fans should be praying for the other ladies on the show -- hinting at serious drama to come (for them).

There's no shortage of intrigue in what Bravo teased in the trailer for Season 14 of 'RHONJ.' Like in previous seasons, Teresa's personal life is at the center of the new footage ... with costar Danielle Cabral alleging that the longtime reality star is "distraught" amid supposed trouble at home.

While the sneak peek does not get into many specifics -- they want you to watch, after all -- they do show a glimpse of Teresa and Louie bickering at one point. Another costar, Margaret Josephs, claims in a phone call that Louie has "pissed [Teresa's] money away."

Of course, we can't speak to the validity of this claim ... we reached out to Teresa’s attorney, James Leonard, but no word back just yet.

Still, this topic is likely a sensitive subject for Teresa. Remember, she served 11 months behind bars after pleading guilty to fraud charges back in 2014.

Her ex-husband, Joe Giudice, also pled guilty to the charges and served three years in prison before being released ... and subsequently deported. Since leaving Joe -- she's moved on and married Louie ... and on the surface, there's been no signs of trouble between 'em.

Ryan García prometió que no va a seguir con sus extraños post en redes sociales y que desde ahora no hablará de nada más que no sea boxeo porque estará muy concentrado en su pelea con Devin Haney.

TMZ Sports obtuvo otra declaración de video de King Ryan el miércoles, y aunque dice que ha recuperado el acceso a su cuenta de Instagram, dice que dejará de compartir contenidos que no tengan que ver con "boxeo, deportes y su pelea".

El clip llega poco después de que García hiciera comentarios preocupantes en X, en los que afirmó exponer numerosos secretos sobre la sociedad, entre otros temas controvertidos.

García reconoce que ha compartido "algunas cosas bastante intensas" en sus redes y aunque entiende por qué lo ha hecho, dice que de ahora en adelante solo hablará estrictamente sobre su carrera, o al menos, hasta después de la pelea.

"Eso es lo único de lo que voy a hablar y estoy entrenando para esta pelea", añadió.

García agregó que tiene "muchos guerreros", incluyendo al empresario y podcaster Patrick Bet-David, quien lo está ayudando y que estará listo para el 20 de abril.

Ryan Garcia is promising to put an end to his bizarre social media activity ... claiming he's no longer going to talk about any topics outside of boxing -- 'cause he's laser-focused on his fight with Devin Haney.

TMZ Sports obtained another video statement from King Ryan on Wednesday ... and this time around, he says he's regained access to his Instagram account, but will hold off on posting any content outside of "boxing, sports and my fight."

The clip comes shortly after Garcia made concerning comments on X ... in which he claimed to expose numerous secrets about society, among other controversial topics.

Garcia acknowledges he's shared "some pretty intense things" on his pages, and while he understands the true meaning behind it all ... he will strictly talk about his career -- at least, it seems, until after the fight.

"That's the only thing I'm gonna be talking about and I'm training for this fight," he added.

Garcia added he has "many warriors" -- including entrepreneur and podcast host Patrick Bet-David -- helping him out during camp ... and he'll be ready to go April 20.

Chrisean Rock has no plans to turn herself in over a warrant out for her arrest in Oklahoma -- saying she's got no time for jail ... as she has a son to raise.

In a new IG Live session with her fans, Chrisean addressed the open bench warrant from the Oklahoma Dept. of Corrections ... which says she's wanted in connection to an incident from 2022 there, including drug and traffic charges.

It's been known for a while that Chrisean has this little situation outstanding there halfway across the country -- remember, she's living in L.A. right now while Blueface is in jail -- and now ... she's addressing it on camera ... saying she's working on getting it resolved.

In terms of why she says she doesn't wanna just surrender and do her time ... well, Chrisean says she's got a baby now -- and she simply doesn't wanna be away from him/behind bars.

Sounds like she's not really sweating it either ... Chrisean says it's worked out for her so far.

BTW ... this isn't the only legal woe of Chrisean's -- remember, she's being sued for allegedly assaulting a dancer for Tamar Braxton here in L.A. ... who claim she battered him backstage.

Unas prostitutas tailandesas de Bangkok se enzarzaron en una pelea en el Barrio Rojo por una supuesta "guerra territorial" que involucró a la policía, ¡y las imágenes de la riña son absolutamente salvajes!

Echa un vistazo a este video que captura algunos momentos de la pelea del lunes, cuando se informó que un puñado de trabajadores sexuales de Filipinas estaba utilizando un popular hotel en la calle Sukhumvit, y al parecer, otras prostitutas querían proteger su territorio.

Los policías llegaron a la escena por una disputa con algunas de las trabajadoras filipinas, quienes fueron aparentemente acusadas de robarle clientes a las prostitutas tailandesas de la zona y cuando los policías las escoltaron fuera del edificio y hacia la calle, había una gran multitud esperando por ellas.

Ahí fue cuando empezó el alboroto: las prostitutas y los policías se enfrentaron y se lanzaron puñetazos unos con otros. Francamente, es difícil saber quién es quién aquí, pero en cualquier caso, un montón de personas recibieron golpes.

Honestamente, esto parece salido de una película. Fue un caos total.

Al final, los oficiales fueron capaces de llevar a las trabajadoras sexuales que estaban allí a la estación de policía, pero parece que todas estaban bastante maltratadas cuando entraron.

Thai prostitutes in Bangkok got into an all-out brawl in the Red Light District over a reported turf war that roped cops into the melee ... and the footage of all this is absolutely wild!

Check out this video that captures some of the highlights from Monday, where a handful of sex workers from the Philippines are reported to have been using a popular hotel on the busy Sukhumvit Road ... and, apparently, other prostitutes felt protective of their territory.

Officers were called over a dispute between some of the Filipino sex workers -- reportedly accused of stealing customers from a Thai prostitute in the area -- and as the cops escorted them out of the building and into the street ... there was a huge crowd waiting for them.

That's when the bruhaha started ... with prostitutes and cops clashing, and fists being thrown. Frankly, it's hard to tell who's who here -- but in any case, a lot of ass was kicked.

This honestly looks like something out of a movie scene ... it was that nuts and chaotic.

In the end ... the officers were able to bring the sex workers they were originally there for to the police station -- but it looks like they were all fairly roughed up as they went inside.

Sounds like Isaiah Stewart's got a mean right hand ... at least according to Drew Eubanks, who told cops his Valentine's Day fight with the Detroit player left him with bloody gums and loose teeth.

According to a Phoenix Police Department incident report, obtained by TMZ Sports, Eubanks made the complaint roughly five hours after he and Stewart were involved in an altercation at the Footprint Center just prior to the Pistons vs. Suns Feb. 14 matchup.

Eubanks, cops wrote in the report, said Stewart confronted him while he was entering the arena due to interactions the two had previously had while playing in a game three months prior.

"He got off the bus and he started, um, just talking s***," Eubanks told cops. "He said something along the lines of, 'You wanna run it back? We're right here. We can do it right now.'"

Cops say Eubanks told them he tried to walk away from the situation, but Stewart kept advancing toward him ... until they were face-to-face inside of a tunnel in the arena.

Eubanks told cops, according to the report, Isaiah then said, "We can do this s*** right now" ... before he threw "a sucker punch."

Eubanks stated the blow landed in the center of his mouth, causing his gums to bleed. He added, the report states, "My teeth definitely are like looser and they hurt."

When pressed more about why he believed Stewart was so upset, Eubanks stated nothing out of the ordinary happened between the two in their previous matchup.

"Just basketball stuff," the Phoenix center said. "It was, you know, lowering your shoulder. Trying to hit, hit somebody for a box out. Being physical. Talking on the court. That's all it was."

At the time, Eubanks told cops he wished to prosecute ... and Stewart was issued a citation.

However, the report states that on Feb. 17 -- three days after the encounter -- Eubanks called cops and said he no longer wished to press charges.

On Feb. 19, cops say Eubanks told them "he had been thinking about the incident for a couple days and at the time, he was upset, but had time to think about it."

Stewart was still suspended by the NBA for three games. After serving the ban, he apologized to his team during a meeting with media members.

Ryan Garcia wants his family and fans to know he is alive and "okay" ... but his current situation is far from pleasant -- claiming he has been stripped of access to his phone, Instagram and finances.

TMZ Sports has obtained a video statement from King Ryan himself ... where he explains he has no idea what is happening, but he believes he's being exploited.

"Hey guys, it's Ryan," the 24-1 boxing superstar says in the clip. "I'm coming on here to explain what's going on. I'm not in possession of my phone, I can't get access to my Instagram. My cards are locked. I'm being really taking advantage [of]."

"I would personally want to just send out a video to the people that love me and my fans, family that's concerned that I'm okay. I'm not dead, I believe in Jesus, all those [rumors] are lies."

Ryan goes on to state an unidentified party is trying to put him in jail ... and when he's reached out to people for help, he's been met with radio silence.

"I don't know what's going on but just know I'm okay," he continued.

The video comes following genuine concern from fans who have grown worrisome over Garcia's recent odd social media activity -- including a video that claimed something bad had happened to Ryan.

Sting was the man of the hour at AEW's Revolution, but Darby Allin at least momentarily stole the show, executing one of the craziest moves you'll see inside the squared circle, front flipping off a 12-foot ladder, before crashing through a glass panel way below on the floor!

It was probably a 13-foot drop from where he stood ... to the glass. Truly insane!

31-year-old Allin got up, back and arm bloodied, body bruised ... but you already know that wasn't going to stop Darby, who is known for his gravity-defying stunts, both inside and outside of the ring.

Darby continued to wrestle ... while occasionally receiving medical attention on the fly.

After the match, DA assured fans he was okay.

"I wanted to come here to let people know I was still alive," Darby said post-match.

"I was in the middle of getting stitched up but I wanted to show everybody that the doctors are on top of it. I'm still breathing," Darby added, "It was crazy because I flipped through it, [the doctors] are like, 'Are you going to be able to continue?' F*** yeah, dude.'"

Back to the ring, despite being banged up, Darby and 64-year-old Sting defeated The Young Bucks and retained their AEW tag team title ... closing out one of the greatest careers in the history of professional wrestling.

And, it's no surprise Allin carried on for Sting ... we talked to Darby last week and he made it clear he was willing to do anything to allow Sting to go out on a high note.

Mission accomplished.

Ryan Garcia's recent social media activity has fans worried for his mental well-being ... but according to his dad, Henry, the boxing star is doing just fine -- claiming it's all the result of some bad trolling.

Garcia's seemingly been living on Instagram lately ... posting over 20 times in the past week alone, with a handful so bizarre in nature, it's led to many followers wondering if he's going through something behind the scenes.

In fact, King Ryan raised eyebrows after he shared a puzzling video that featured the caption, "We got him boys. RYAN GARCIA RIP BITCH" ... and fighters like Mike Perry and Dillon Danis hit the comment section to voice their concern.

Some folks also wondered if Garcia had been hacked ... but the video is still live on his page, so it didn't seem likely.

Henry -- who also coaches Ryan -- adamantly denied there are any issues going on ... saying the 24-1 fighter is just looking to get people talking.

"Yes Ryan is ok," Henry said in response to a fan's question, "he's just trolling the wrong way."

Garcia is slated to fight Devin Haney on April 20, but he shifted his focus to Jake Paul on Saturday ... taking blame for the Problem Child's boxing career and promising to put an end to it.

He's also professed his love for multiple women ... hinting he wants to give marriage another shot after his recent divorce.