Boxing

Multiple sources tell TMZ Sports ... Nike is preparing to cut ties with boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao after his latest round of anti-gay comments.

The two sides have had a relationship since at least 2006 -- but we're told Nike is particularly disturbed after Pacquiao said gay people are "worse than animals" ... and intend to drop the boxer for good.

We're told the move is not official yet -- but there have been multiple discussions and we're told it appears to be heading in that direction.

We reached out to Manny's rep -- so far, no comment.

By the way, it appears Nike has removed all traces of Manny from its online store.

Boxer Amir Khan says he was so serious about fighting Floyd Mayweather -- he offered to take the fight for FREE ... but Mayweather still ducked him because he's "afraid."

Khan was a in Pebble Beach for the Pro-Am -- when he dished about the failed negotiations to fight the legend ... and talked some smack at the same time.

Heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder says after he hangs up the gloves he might just pick up the collar ... and become the toughest preacher ever to walk the earth.

Wilder was at LAX when we asked about his pre-fight prayer ritual and whether or not he thinks it helps him successfully punish his opponents.

That's when the champ got all holy on us ... saying that not only does prayer work for him, but that he's gonna help it work for everyone else ... by being a preacher when he retires from the ring.

Ronda Rousey suddenly has more people wanting to train her than Anakin Skywalker ... first Chuck Liddell, and now boxer Andre Berto has offered his help to aid Ronda in bashing Holly Holm's face.

TMZ Sports spoke to Berto and he told us he agrees with Ronda's mom ... who blamed Ronda's current trainer for not having Rousey ready to throw hands with Holm. But Berto thinks he can change all that.

"Ronda isn't a pure boxer, Holly is. She needs to focus more on her boxing and cutting off the ring. I'd love to stop by her gym and give some pointers.”

It's obvious Ronda is on the comeback trail -- we saw her knocking the ring rust off with her trainer recently -- although it's unknown exactly when she'll make her return.

Andre can help Ronda no matter the opponent ... pointing out that his father and brother have both fought MMA so he knows his way around the octagon.

Jerry Jones is in the running to host a possible Gennady Golovkin vs. Canelo Alvarez fight at AT&T Stadium in Dallas ... Triple G's promoter tells TMZ Sports.

There are tentative plans for the two boxing superstars to fight in September (if contracts can be worked out) ... and GGG's promoter, Tom Loeffler, says one of the possible venues is Jerry's World.

"Jerry Jones has watched GGG's last few fights and he expressed a big interest in having the fight in Dallas at his stadium," Loeffler tells us.

"GGG will fight anywhere, but he's aware of Jerry Jones and the atmosphere in his stadium. Whenever Jerry Jones gets involved, he takes promotion to a new level."

"You hear 70,000 people screaming ... the huge video board... it's an amazing venue. And GGG understands the popularity of the Cowboys, the influence they have in the U.S. and around the world."

"I'd love to see that happen."

Loeffler says there are two other venues in the running -- the MGM Grand in Vegas and Madison Square Garden in NYC.

If the two fighters do manage to hammer out a contract, we're told the fight will go down on Sept. 17th. But first, GGG has to emerge victorious in his upcoming fight with Dominic Wade on April 23rd at the Forum in L.A.

Deontay Wilder is promising to give fellow heavyweight champ Tyson Fury a religious experience ... saying he's going to "baptize" the Irish brawler when they step in the ring together.

We got the bronze bomber leaving Super Bowl 50 and asked him what he has in store for Fury if Tyson can get past Wladimir Klitschko in their upcoming rematch.

Check out the clip -- Deontay seems confident he's going to beat the hell out of Fury if they ever step into the ring together ... saying he'd knock him out inside four rounds.

"You need to shave" -- Adrien Broner to stripper.

Some people would call it rude ... others might say he's considerate ... either way, the boxer was dishing out grooming advice to strippers at the booty club the other night and TMZ Sports has the footage.

Broner and his crew hit up Blue Flame in Atlanta where he threw out $10,000 in cash -- but everything came to a grinding halt when he noticed one of the ladies had a flashback to the '80s below the belt.

So, why is Broner so anti-fuzz? Might have something to do with a story he told back in 2013.

Boxing superstar Amir Khan has a message for Floyd Mayweather -- STOP BEING A CHICKEN AND FIGHT ME!!!

Khan -- who was in L.A. to see the Danny Garcia fight -- tells TMZ Sports Floyd's been ducking him like a chump ... and it's all because Mayweather's afraid of taking his first L.

"It seems to me that Mayweather's afraid and he might just not ever want to fight me," Khan said.

"People need to know that he's avoiding Amir Khan."

Amir says he's hoping to fight Garcia next ... and plans to deliver such an epic beatdown, that Floyd would have no choice but to come out of retirement and prove his mettle.

President Manny Pacquiao??

It's possible ... because the boxer appeared on "TMZ Sports" (airing Thursday at 9PM PT on FS1) and said he isn't ruling out a presidential run in the Philippines when he retires from boxing.

PacMan told us he plans to run for a seat in the senate after his fight with Timothy Bradley in April -- and when we asked if he eventually plans to run for the highest office in the land, he didn't exactly say no.

Manny's promoter Bob Arum has been saying for months that Pacquiao will run in the 2022 election ... after he serves in the senate.

Hail to the future Chief.

Check out "TMZ Sports" weeknights on FS1.

Jeremy Renner's had tons of kickass roles in Hollywood -- from 'Avengers' to 'Mission Impossible' and the 'Bourne Legacy' -- but he still won't step in a boxing ring ... with Usher.

Renner's next role is playing a boxer in a Marciano biopic, but he's got a completely different idea for the leg work than Usher's two-a-days to play Sugar Ray Leonard.

Think ... Popeye.

At 46 years old, Roy Jones Jr. is finally taking some time away from the ring -- telling TMZ Sports he's going to focus on training other fighters -- but refusing to say he's 100% retired from the sport.

Jones has been taking it easy ever since he got knocked out by Enzo Maccarinelli in Russia last month -- leading many to believe Jones would never fight again.

So, we reached out and asked Roy specifically if he was retired ... and this is what he told us:

"Just training fighters for now."

David Spade won't be going to the newsstand for Ronda Rousey's Sports Illustrated spread ... because there are easier ways to look at hot chicks.

Our photog got David Friday at Craig's in West Hollywood ... and the he made it clear he's over magazines.

Floyd Mayweather says UFC champ Conor McGregor can be as brash and arrogant as he wants without catching any heat ... because of the color of his skin.

Mayweather did an interview with the guys over at FightHype.com last week, and when the subject of the flamboyant McGregor came up ... Mayweather went off.

"He talks a lot trash and people praise him for it, but when I did it, they say I'm cocky and arrogant. So biased."

He goes on to say ... "I ain't racist at all, but I'm telling you racism still exists."

Floyd then brings Ronda Rousey and Laila Ali into it ... questioning why Laila didn't get the endorsement and movie love Ronda does ... even though he feels Ali accomplished more.

What do you get for a Christmas gift when your boss is the highest paid athlete in the world?

That's what we asked Floyd Mayweather's bodyguard Big Church at LAX Tuesday ... and his answer didn't disappoint.

Big Church -- part of the "The Great Wall" security squad that protects Floyd -- says every day is like Xmas with Floyd (since they travel all over the world together) ... but there's one gift that stands out.

BTW, this year alone ... Big Church has been to Rome, Dubai, Moscow, Milan, Saint-Tropez, Monaco, Turkey, London, L.A., NYC, Vegas, Miami, Havana and more.

... and all while traveling in private jets.

Meek Mill will get the crap beaten out of him if he goes to prison for his probation violation ... the only thing that can save him is a shiny piece ... so warns boxing superstar Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin.

KC went on TMZ Sports TV and scoffed at Meek's feeble and reckless boxing moves.

If you're big into self-defense you should watch closely on what NOT to do.

Here's Meek Mill hitting the heavy bag and doing a little mitt work ... and not exactly looking like Mike Tyson (or even Mike Myers).

The Philly MC has reason to sharpen his hand game ... he's awaiting a February sentencing date for a probation violation that might send him to jail.