Boxing

50 Cent is pulling some serious favors to ensure Chris Brown comes out with a 'W' if he and Soulja Boy square up ... calling none other than Mike Tyson to train CB.

50 posted the vid claiming he's speaking with Iron Mike -- the two yak it up pretty heavy -- and one thing's apparent ... they're both in Chris' corner.

Check out the vid -- Mike's got a bold prediction on the fight's outcome -- but something tells us Soulja and Floyd Mayweather think otherwise.

64-year-old Mickey Rourke says his boxing career ain't over yet -- he wants TWO bouts in 2017 ... telling TMZ Sports he's definitely still in fighting shape.

Rourke hasn't fought since 2014 -- when the "Iron Man 2" actor beat Elliot Seymour in an exhibition fight in Russia. Seymour later claimed he threw the fight but Mickey had no knowledge of the fix.

Still, Rourke says his body is "like a piece of cold steel" -- and he's looking to close the deal with 2 more opponents so he can retire with a final record of 10-0-2.

Wonder if Lenny Dykstra's free?

Shocking statements from boxing great Ricky Hatton ... who revealed that he was suicidal after his fighting career came to an end ... saying, "I tried to kill myself several times."

Hatton was 45-3 as a pro -- and fought the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Paulie Malignaggi.

But in an interview with BBC Radio 4, Hatton says he battled depression after he retired.

"I used to go to the pub, come back, take the knife out and sit there in the dark crying hysterically."

"There were times when I hadn't had a drink for days and I'd still come home and if something went through my mind I'd start pondering something. It was the same outcome whether I was having a drink or wasn't having a drink."

"But in the end I thought I'll end up drinking myself to death because I was so miserable."

"I was coming off the rails with my drinking and that led to drugs. It was like a runaway train."

Hatton says he's in a better place now ... but says boxers need a better support system to deal with these kinds of issues.

50 Cent believes in tough love -- so he strapped on his boxing gloves and went toe-to-toe with the 11-year-old boy he's raising for a fighting lesson ... complete with some pretty stiff head shots.

The two threw hands in what appears to be 50's living room -- and the rapper connected with some shots that sent Davian flying back into the wall.

Boxing champ Andre Ward says he doesn't want to retire ... but he will if he isn't shown the proper respect ... aka given his fair cut of the cash for Ward-Kovalev II.

TMZ Sports ran into the undefeated boxer in L.A. Thursday night ... and asked about reports that Ward was considering hangin' up the gloves ... before the highly anticipated rematch.

FYI -- Ward defeated Kovalev on November 19th in Vegas.

Ward says he's the champ ... and needs to be paid like it ... or the fight everyone wants to see ain't happening.

But what if he doesn't get the figure he's looking for?

Floyd Mayweather just upped the ante in his beef with Conor McGregor ... calling him one of the most disrespectful words out there ... a "bitch."

Mayweather hit up Instagram Live ... and ripped into the UFC star, saying "Conor McGregor's a bitch."

Floyd didn't stop there ... he also posted video of C.M. getting choked out by Nate Diaz ... and offered 10 Gs to the person who comes up with the "best caption" for the video.

These latest shots come on the heels of Floyd saying he'd "slap the s***" out of McGregor.

Your move, Conor.

Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor's war of words just got realer than real ... with Mayweather vowing to "slap the s***" out of the UFC star the next time he sees him.

Mayweather made the threat while doing an Instagram live chat on a boat (in full Hawaiian shirt mode) ... saying he's tired of Conor mentioning his name and he's now willing to take violent action.

This comes just days after TMZ Sports got McGregor out in L.A. dissing Mayweather yet again ... saying that it's himself -- not Floyd -- who's the biggest combat sports star in all the world.

Floyd was smiling when he made the statement ... but we know The Notorious one doesn't take any threats lightly ... and has had near-brawls with other UFC stars based on Twitter beefs in the past.

It's starting to get good, folks.

Floyd Mayweather is no stranger to treating himself to some luxurious presents ... so it's only right that he spread some love to his favorite people this holiday season -- STRIPPERS!!

The champ showed up to V Live Detroit over the weekend with $40,000 in hundred dollar bills ... jumped onstage and made it rain for an hour straight. We're told Floyd was enjoying one dancer in particular -- LuvHonesty -- and personally handed her $20k.

Well, watch the vid, he didn't exactly HAND it to her ... but she's gonna need a bigger stocking.

Hard to tell what Conor McGregor's more fired up about right now -- getting his hands on Floyd Mayweather ... or on a juicy fried chicken breast.

Heavyweight Champ Deontay Wilder says there's only one UFC fighter he'd like to get in the boxing ring ... and it ain't Conor ... telling TMZ Sports he'd love to kick the hell out of Brock Lesnar.

We got the big man out at LAX and wanted to know which Octagon star he'd like to rumble with ... since boxing vs. UFC is all the rage these days.

He totally disses McGregor ... saying he's too small and not skilled at all ... but definitely had a guy in mind ... and although it's the biggest, baddest monster in MMA ... Wilder says he'd roll him.

Floyd Mayweather was gonna make $35,000 for 90 minutes of work at a Vegas nightclub ... but blew it off because he didn't feel like leaving Europe ... this according to a new lawsuit.

Mayweather's being sued by the SLS Hotel in Vegas -- which says they had a deal with Mayweather to host his 39th birthday party at their Foxtail Nightclub on February 20.

All Floyd had to do was show up ... host the party and do the red carpet -- and bam, easy $35,000.

The SLS says he even got half the money in advance.

Problem is ... Floyd allegedly bailed at the last minute so he could "stay in Europe for his birthday."

Obviously, the club was pissed ... and demanded the advance back, which Floyd has allegedly refused to fork over.

The SLS is suing for the money back -- plus additional damages.

Add another boxer to the list of people calling out Conor McGregor ...

This time, it's "Sugar" Shane Mosley saying the UFC star wouldn't have a scintilla of a chance if the two stepped inside of a boxing ring.

Oscar De La Hoya has proclaimed himself single -- which apparently means his longtime marriage to pop singer Millie Corretjer is down for the count.

Conor McGregor believes he's got all the advantages in a fight with Floyd Mayweather -- power, reach and youth ... saying, "Age waits for no man!"

McGregor talked about his possible boxing career during an event in Northern Ireland on Friday -- when, of course, the topic of Mayweather came up.

"If I focus with the work ethic I have solely on the sport of boxing, there’s no telling what I could do,” McGregor said.

"I would not go in there just to show up, I’d go in there to knock [Floyd] out. That’s it. He can be hit, he’s been hit before. Age waits for no man."

"I know the size is on my side, I know the reach is on my side, I know the youth is on my side."

He continued, "There’s a lot to lose for them, so that’s why they're scrambling ... but that’s okay, I’ll leave them scrambling. I’ve got some other boxing opportunities and potential opponents in mind. Some previous Floyd opponents. They can bring in anyone in the game. We’ll see what happens."

Someone brought up boxing champ Paul Malignaggi -- who called McGregor out on social media.

Conor's response? WHO THE F**K IS THAT GUY?!!

You know who would beat Conor McGregor's ass?? Canelo Alvarez ... this according to boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya.

The Golden Boy was leaving 1 OAK on the Sunset Strip when we asked for his thoughts on Conor getting a boxing license in California. He pulled no punches.

Good news and bad news for Conor McGregor ...

GOOD NEWS: Northern Irish boxing superstar Carl Frampton -- the reigning WBA featherweight champ -- says he loves Conor and would be down to train with the guy if he's serious about boxing.