Boxing

CBS honcho Les Moonves says he's "hoping" Floyd Mayweather signs the contract to fight Manny Pacquiao ... telling TMZ Sports it would make "a lot of money for everybody."

Of course, CBS owns Showtime -- and Moonves has reportedly been working hard with both Manny's camp and Floyd's camp to lock up a deal for the network.

FYI -- experts predict the fight would CRUSH every financial record in the history of the sport ... including the all-time pay-per-view record of $150 million, which was set during the Mayweather-Alvarez fight in 2013.

Moonves also shot down rumors that he threatened to fire the head of Showtime Sports if the fight doesn't come to fruition.

Manny Pacquiao took over the famous TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood Tuesday night for the premiere of his new documentary "Manny" ... with some help from big stars and hot models.

Jeremy Piven (who's featured in the movie) hit the red carpet to support the boxer ... along with Christina Milian, Chuck Liddell and Sugar Ray Leonard.

But the eye candy was also in full effect ... thanks to models like Abigail Ratchford, Chantel Zales and Arianny Celeste.

Boxing superstar Jermain Taylor -- the WBC middleweight champ -- released a disturbing new video in which he essentially apologizes for firing a gun during a MLK parade in Arkansas.

The footage is shot while Taylor is taking a bath -- and he addresses the incident in which he was charged with 5 counts of assault for allegedly squeezing out two shots during an altercation with a man and his son.

"I know y'all disappointed in me ... I'm sorry if I let anybody down or hurt anybody."

But here's where things get even more puzzling -- the 36-year-old says he had a beef with parade organizers that day because none of the kids at the event had any candy.

"Y'all need to get it together," Taylor said to event organizers ... "Had my little girl out there. Nobody had no candy."

Taylor then suggests he could be in jail for next year's parade -- and says he won't try to duck serving time by claiming he has drug issues.

"If I gotta go to jail, I'm gonna sit my ass in there ... but I'm not gonna say I have no problems with no drugs to get out of jail ... I worked too hard for my life to put that in it. So you can kiss my ass."

Former UFC champ BJ Penn was arrested in Hawaii this weekend ... after reportedly beating a man so bad in a bar parking lot, the guy was hospitalized for a broken eye socket.

Penn had been boozing at a bar in Maui with a friend when he allegedly began to get aggressive with other bar patrons ... and Penn's buddy tried to step in between and calm the fighter down.

But according to HawaiiNewsNow.com, Penn turned on his pal -- punching him in the face and kneeing him in the forehead.

Penn's friend was so badly injured, he was reportedly taken to a nearby hospital where he was treated for a fractured left eye socket.

According to officials, Penn left the scene ... but was taken into custody at a nearby hotel. He was arrested for 2nd degree assault.

Story developing ...

Boxing superstar "Sugar" Shane Mosley says Trey Songz DID in fact bang his ex-girlfriend -- but not while they were together ... which is why he's got NO beef with the singer.

Mosley just issued a statement about reports that Songz was nailin' a stripper named Bella behind Sugar Shane's back ... saying it just ain't true -- but if it was "he would be knocked out like most anyone else who ever stepped to me."

Mosley explained, "Yeah she was a stripper, yeah I was stupid to date her, but she was single when she was f**king with Trey. We didn't live together so she can do what she wants."

Shane says he DOES have a problem with his ex-wife Jin -- who now stars on the Bravo reality show "Friends to Lovers" -- insinuating that SHE leaked the story to the media to humiliate him.

Leon Spinks has ALMOST conquered the chicken bone that nearly killed him -- because he's finally out of the hospital and recovering at a rehab center ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We broke the story ... the boxing legend underwent several major surgeries after a piece of a chicken bone (which he ingested during a chicken wing eating session) got stuck in his intestine and wreaked havoc on his body.

But good news!!! We spoke with Leon's wife Brenda who tells us the former heavyweight was finally released from the hospital around Christmas ... and has been in a rehab center ever since working on getting his strength back.

"He's doing much better but it's a slow process," Brenda says. "He was in bed for two months. It takes a lot out of you."

We're told the doctors let Leon spend the holidays at home so he could be with his family and friends ... and then moved him back into the rehab center where he's been recovering ever since.

So when will Leon finally get to go home for good?

Jay Z's Roc Nation Sports is trying to change the game of professional boxing ... courting three of the biggest stars in the sweet science to join RNS' exploding roster, TMZ Sports has learned.

Of course, Jay recently inked boxing superstar Andre Ward and made a serious push to sign former world champ Adrien Broner ... but AB rejected the 5-year $40 million offer.

Now, we've spoken with three other major fighters who have also been contacted by Roc Nation ... more evidence that Jay is dead serious about making a splash in the boxing world.

The fighters -- who wished not to be named -- tell us that just like Broner's courting, Jay Z never personally reached out ... sending his people to make contact instead and we're told it rubbed the fighters the wrong way.

All three fighters we spoke with tell us they ultimately turned down the Roc Nation offers ... but aren't closing the door on a possible relationship with RNS in the future.

Meantime, Roc Nation Sports is still growing like crazy ... and recently signed Georgia running back Todd Gurley who's expected to be one of the first running backs selected in the NFL Draft.

Manny Pacquiao has a message for Floyd Mayweather ... FIGHT ME ALREADY!

The PacMan was out in NYC with his crew this morning when we asked if there was anything he could say to Floyd ... what would it be?

His answer -- "Sign the contract."

Pacquiao and his team have already agreed to terms for a May 2nd fight with Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Vegas ... though Floyd has yet to sign off on his end of the deal.

Mayweather has not issued an official comment on where they stand -- but his lawyers have indicated there are still issues with the deal.

FYI -- if the two do strike a deal ... it's expected to be the highest grossing fight in the history of the sport ... with experts saying it could make more than $150 MILLION in pay-per-view revenue alone.

Three-time world boxing champ Adrien Broner fiercely attacked Jay Z for what he says is a highly insulting offer to join Roc Nation Sports.

Adrien just appeared on "TMZ Hollywood Sports" and skewered the hop-hop mogul/sports titan for offering him a paltry $40 mil for 5 years. Adrien reaffirmed his directive that Jay could "suck my ****."

Going after Jay Z takes balls, but he got even ballsier when he went after another Roc Nation client, Rihanna, whom he says could go f herself, adding the only thing she's good for is p****.

Adrien has a lot more where that came from. Check it out tonight on TMZ Hollywood Sports at 6 PM ET, 3 PM PT on Reelz Channel.

Baseball? Check. Football? Check. Basketball? Check ... and now Jay Z can add boxing to the list of sports in his Roc Nation sports empire -- inking super middleweight champ Andre Ward.

Ward -- who's 27-0 and recognized as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world -- announced this morning, "It's official!! #NextChapter Happy to be a part of the @rocnation family."

It seems like a good union for both parties ... Jay's reportedly been trying to get into the boxing game for a while but was holding out for a fighter with real star-power.

As for Ward -- he hasn't fought in nearly two years due to business disputes with his former promoter ... but it's clear he feels Jay can get him back on track.

Plus, anything that brings you closer to Rihanna has got to be a positive.

Most people can't afford one Bugatti supercar, worth around $2 million -- Floyd Mayweather has THREE.

The boxing champ just showed off his insane car collection -- comprised of some of the most rare and expensive cars in the world.

Here's the checklist with approximate market values ...

Bugatti Veyron -- $2 millionBugatti Veyron -- $2 million Bugatti Grand Sport -- $2 million Ferrari 458 Spider -- $250kFerrari 458 Spider -- $250k Lamborghini Aventador -- $400k Porsche 911 Turbo S $180k Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano -- $300k

Grand total ... $7.3 MILLION.

And unlike Justin Bieber, Mayweather has his own private jet ... and they don't exactly come cheap.

FYI -- Mayweather has reportedly made more than $400 MILLION in his career ... and clearly, he ain't afraid to spend it.

In what seems like a scouting trip for a possible Solange Knowles career change, Jay Z and Beyonce took in a Muay Thai fight during their vacation in Thailand.

It all went down at Patong Boxing Stadium in Phuket. There were kicks. There were punches. There was Beyonce sitting ringside while the violence unfolded ... all in a space that was roughly the size of an NYC elevator.

FYI -- Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand ... where fighters are allowed to use their knees, elbows, feet, shins and hands to strike their opponents.

High heels are strictly prohibited.

Justin Bieber just got CALLED OUT by former two-time boxing champ Fernando Vargas -- who says his teenage son Fernando Jr. would KICK THE CRAP out of the Biebs ... and wants his chance to do so.

The Vargas' were doing an interview with BBoxingnews.com when the elder Fernando was asked if he'd let Jr. -- an undefeated amateur-- spar Justin since he's been training with Floyd Mayweather.

"Bring him down, we'll meet him anywhere, I'd love to do a fight with Justin Bieber and my son."

The younger Vargas weighed in too, saying he's seen Justin training with Floyd on social media and says he definitely wants to test his pretty Canadian chin.

"He's alright, he's cool. If he's trying to do [Mayweather's famous shoulder roll technique], I don't see it happening for him."

Check out the video -- Both Fernandos seem incredibly serious about the prospect of fighting Bieber and based on what we see of Jr. working the mitts we have a suggestion.

Back away slowly Justin ...

The man who "boxed" Mickey Rourke in Russia is PISSED -- telling TMZ Sports the actor's people are STIFFING him out of $5,000 he was promised for the fight.

We spoke with 29-year-old Elliot Seymour who says he was supposed to be paid $15k to step in the ring with the 62-year-old actor ... but only got $10k.

Seymour says the whole situation was sketchy -- but insists he was NOT paid to take a dive.

"People can say whatever they want ... if you've never been in a fight before in your life, you have no idea what it feels like to get hit."

Despite the financial dispute, Seymour says he's down to fight Mickey again -- if Mickey wants a rematch.

Rourke's boxing manager tells TMZ ... Seymour only got $10,000 because that's the most he can carry through customs. He says Seymour will get the other $5,000 next week, saying, "I think the poor kid is just enjoying the attention a little too much and is beginning to talk to the press about anything just to get more attention."

Boxing champ Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin is making his silver screen debut next year -- as none other than the original Black Mamba himself Roger Mayweather ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Quillin tells us he auditioned, and landed the small role in an upcoming flick entitled "Bleed For This" -- a true-life story centered around the life of world champion boxer Vinny Pazienza, played by "Divergent" actor Miles Teller.

"Only Roger Mayweather can be Roger Mayweather," Quillin says ... "What I tried to do is bring a fighter's mentality to his character."

The 31-year-old champ says the hardest part of the job was nailing down the fight choreography -- since he's not used to scripting out his moves in the ring -- but says there's one part of the gig that came naturally.

"I remembered all of my lines. I didn't f**k up."

Boxer Jermain Taylor has finally been hit with charges for SHOOTING his cousin at his Arkansas mansion back in August -- and if convicted, could face up to 26 years behind bars.

Taylor's wife called 911 immediately following the August 26th shooting ... and Jermain can be heard on tape admitting he shot a man. He also warns police, "Better come get him before I kill him."

At the time, Taylor claimed the man was an intruder and he was protecting his property -- but prosecutors are calling BS ... telling us they're not buying Taylor's self-defense story.

Now, he's been charged with battery and making terrorist threats -- both felonies. If convicted on both counts, he could face a maximum of 26 years in prison.

As for the victim, we're told he survived the shooting. No word on his current condition.