Boxing

If you like smokin' hot women in bikinis, here's some good news, bad news about the Mayweather vs. McGregor fight ...

Bad news ... the UFC's legendary Octagon girls will NOT be working the event.

Good news ... we're told the Corona Girls will handle ring card duties instead -- and they ain't no slouches!

Here's the deal ... Corona won the bid to become the official beer of the fight -- which means they get prime in-ring promotion, which includes the beautiful women holding the ring cards.

So, what will the Octagon girls be doing on August 26? Hustlin' baby!

We spoke with Arianny Celeste, who says she'll be hosting a fight party in Miami ... and, shocker, she's rooting for Conor.

The Floyd Mayweather/Conor McGregor fight will be riddled with celebrities ... and TMZ Sports knows some who will be front and center.

Here's a partial list:

-- Angelina Jolie

-- Drake

-- Elon Musk

-- Diddy

-- Mark Wahlberg

-- Denzel Washington

-- Charlize Theron

-- LL Cool J

-- Jamie Foxx

-- LeBron James

-- Bob Kraft

-- Rick Ross

-- Adam Levine

-- Michael Bay

-- Avicii

-- Jeff Beacher

He's 64 years old ... but if a white supremacist steps to Floyd Mayweather Sr., the boxing veteran says he won't hesitate to beat that ass.

Floyd Sr. was flying back to Vegas after a whirlwind trip to L.A. when we asked if he was worried about his own safety with the rise of white supremacist rallies all over the country.

"I'm telling you right now ... if it comes to the point, where I gotta take care of my business, I'm gonna take care of my business," Floyd said.

"Believe me, I'm gonna clean it up good."

Floyd was 28-6-1 as a pro fighter back in the day -- and helps train his son on a daily basis out in Vegas.

Floyd Mayweather Sr. is coming out swingin' at Justin Bieber -- saying the pop star doesn't know a DAMN THING about boxing if he thinks Conor's gonna go the distance.

Remember, Bieber -- Floyd Jr.'s longtime friend -- recently shot down the idea that Mayweather would K.O. McGregor ... and that ain't sittin' too well with Floyd Sr.

"Justin Bieber ... he don't even know boxing," Floyd's dad told us at LAX ... "He knows Floyd. But he don't know Floyd like I know Floyd."

Floyd Sr. also went in on Vegas gamblers putting their money on Conor -- saying they're crazy ... and a bet on Floyd is like taking free money!

Floyd Mayweather says he's putting business before pleasure -- and won't have sex before he fights Conor McGregor.

It's an old superstition that's been around the boxing game for years. You remember Mick from the 'Rocky' movies famously said, "Women weaken legs."

Floyd seems to agree. Conor McGregor has a different strategy.

"That is most certainly a superstition that I do not abide by," Conor told Conan O'Brien back in 2015 ... "I definitely have as much sex as possible."

So, to bang or not to bang? That is the question ...

They thought they were slick ... dozens of websites aiming to livestream the Mayweather vs. McGregor fight for free.

But Showtime is preemptively striking the potential pirates with a big, fat lawsuit ... mateys.

The network is ripping a page from the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao playbook -- where they scouted out a bunch of potential illegal streaming sites and hit 'em with a legal blow before the fight.

There's obviously a TON of cash on the line -- some say the fight could bring in more than $500 MILLION ... so, they ain't lookin to let anyone skim from their pockets.

In the suit, filed in federal court, Showtime is asking a judge to issue an injunction to block the sites from streaming the August 26 fight -- and they'll probably get it.

Jon Jones says he's a fool for passing up a chance to hang with Muhammad Ali ... and tells TMZ Sports the regret's still eatin' him up.

In a few words -- "That really sucked."

Jones has met a who's who of legendary fighters in his life ... but told us he backed out of a dinner with The Greatest cause he was afraid to see one of his heroes in such a bad way.

Ali battled Parkinson's for years and one of his friends advised him not to meet with his hero because Ali was a shell of his former self and "it won't be everything that you thought it would."

Sinead O'Connor is getting support from a huge star -- British boxing champ Tyson Fury -- who says he also suffers from mental illness and wants to help the singer through the darkness.

"I recently watched one of your heartbreaking videos where you talked about mental health problems," the former heavyweight champ said.

"Being alone, and feeling like you wasn’t a role model – and it wasn’t your fault – and no one was there."

Sinead posted a video last week saying she's suicidal and living in a motel in New Jersey.

Fury, who stepped away from boxing last year to get help for substance abuse issues, says he's also been suffering from mental illness and wants Sinead to know "you're not alone."

"There’s a lot of people out there who go through this same thing ... millions of people around the world suffer with this."

"Mental health problems is one of the worst things that anyone could ever have, no matter how successful or rich you become. Mental health will always bring you down. And it always gives someone a right to write you off, for whatever reason."

"But I’m here if you need me. Tyson Fury – get someone to contact me. I’d like to speak to you."

He might work for the UFC, but Snoop Dogg is a BIG fan of Floyd Mayweather -- and bro'd down with the boxer at his private gym in Vegas this week.

Snoop was blown away by Floyd's gym -- and said he LOVED the fact Floyd's an owner, not a renter.

Floyd's used to VIP's in his training center -- he's hosted everyone from 50 Cent to Rick Ross and DeMar DeRozan.

The two seemed to get along -- Floyd even complimented Snoop's cologne.

Snoop is currently a commentator on "Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series" -- but seems interested in a boxing gig as well ... telling the people at Showtime to holla at him.

Paulie Malignaggi says he wasn't even close to being in full boxing shape when he beat Conor McGregor's ass in training camp ... and says Conor knows the beatings were only gonna get worse.

Look, by now you already know Paulie bailed as Conor's sparring partner -- claiming he's been unfairly (and wrongly) portrayed as some bum who got wrecked by McGregor in the ring.

Paulie says he's sick of talking and wants to fight Conor in a REAL boxing match -- and promises to "beat his ass like he stole something."

"He knows it. More importantly than me knowing it, he knows it. That's the best part."

Legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum took out his metaphorical newspaper, unbuckled his metaphorical pants ... and took a big steamy metaphorical crap all over the Mayweather, McGregor fight.

"It's not a fight for Christ's sake," Arum told TMZ Sports ... "There's not even a chance McGregor wins."

Arum says he's not shocked at reports saying tickets to the fight haven't sold out yet -- telling us, "There's a limited number of suckers."

If you thought Shannon Briggs was gonna sit on his ass during his ban from boxing, you were DEAD WRONG, 'cause the champ is making use of his time by starting his own sports agency.

Briggs got slapped with a 6-month suspension last month after testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone, a violation under world anti-doping standards.

We talked to Shannon, and he told TMZ Sports he deeply regrets disappointing all his fans, but that doesn't mean he's gonna wait for the world to pass him by.

"I just did a huge deal with an entertainment fund, and now we're gonna have Let's Go Champ Sports & Entertainment."

Shannon says he's gonna sign all types of athletes: boxing, basketball, football, even cricket, and says he has $200 mil dollars worth to back the venture.

7:40 AM PT -- Joshua JUUUST responded in the most hilarious way ... posting the classic Shaggy video, "It wasn't me," and saying he likes his women BBW (a little thicker).

Amir Khan just went nuclear on his wife, accusing her of banging heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua ... after telling the world he's divorcing her.

Khan has been married to model Faryal Makhdoom since 2013, but took to Twitter minutes ago to announce the marriage is OVER.

"So me and the wife Faryal have agreed to split. I'm currently in Dubai. Wish her all the best."

He didn't leave it there, telling the whole world he thinks Faryal is rebounding with Joshua.

"Faryal moved on quick. Always mentioned to me how much she wanted to be with another guy, from all people another boxer @anthonyfjoshua"

Faryal isn't taking the whole thing lying down (lol), and fired off a series of Tweets of her own saying Khan is just a washed up crybaby looking for attention, and the real cheater in the relationship.

"Accusing other boxers just because your boxing career is finished. Man up amir."

"I'm not the one who's been in the papers every month with my pants down 😂 Cheater!"

It's a rematch more than 30 years in the making ... Rocky Balboa vs. Ivan Drago -- and it's GOING DOWN in "Creed 2," so says Sylvester Stallone.

Sly teased that Drago's coming back to the big screen for the "Creed" sequel -- but no one's really sure what the storyline will be.

Now, another clue ... with Stallone telling TMZ Sports things are definitely going to get violent between Rocky and Drago -- "You know I gotta hit Drago once."

Of course, Drago -- played by Dolph Lundgren -- killed Apollo Creed in "Rocky IV." And the rumblings are that Adonis Creed will fight Drago's kid to get revenge.

BONUS -- Stallone also weighed in on Floyd Mayweather's projected $300 MILLION payday for the McGregor fight.

Sly's shocked ... that he's not making MORE!

Shannon Briggs says he's heartbroken Wladimir Klitschko hung up his gloves ... 'cause he never got the chance to KICK THE LIVING HELL OUT OF HIM.

Briggs famously tormented Klitschko for years ... popping up on him in public places and trying to get Wlad to meet him in the ring (the paddle boarding ambush is still classic).

Klitschko just announced he's retiring, and when TMZ Sports talked with Briggs he told us he wishes the all-time great well -- that doesn't change the fact that he would've KNOCKED HIM OUT.

"I would've knocked him out cold! I'm sad, I'm sad he's gone, champ!"

Some things never change.

Conor McGregor put in some violent work Tuesday night -- going "12 hard rounds" with boxing champ Paulie Malignaggi ... and left some marks in the process.

The two got in the ring in Vegas for a full speed workout session to prep for the August 26 superfight with Floyd Mayweather -- and the former WBA welterweight champ tells TMZ Sports, "We both gave each other really good work."

Malignaggi says McGregor been making steady improvements in the ring since the last time they fought 12 days before ... and says he's landing real shots. You can tell by Paulie's face.

As for Conor's power, Paulie says it's time for a reality check.

"Conor doesn't have bad power. It's not 'Oh my god' power ... but it is respectable power."

"Every time I say this people get offended. It's like they want you to lie. It's like they want you to say he has this incredible power like I've never felt anything like it before."

"It is power to where if it hits you, it's gonna get your attention and it may even put you down if you're wearing those smaller fight gloves."