Boxing

Boxing champ Jermell Charlo claims he and his crew were denied entry to a fancy NYC gym Thursday night because he's black ... and he captured the standoff with the front desk staffers on video.

Charlo (the light middleweight champion of the world) and 5 people hit up Life Time Athletic gym in Manhattan to see his brother Jermall Charlo (who's fighting at Barclays Center in Brooklyn this weekend).

Problem is ... Charlo claims he was stopped at the front desk because staffers claimed he "smelled like weed."

Charlo insists neither he nor anyone in his crew had smoked and the allegation was just a bogus excuse to keep a group of black guys out of the gym.

During the exchange, Charlo continued to challenge the front desk staff about why they're turning him away -- and at one point, a staffer tells the group she's calling 911.

Charlo eventually left -- but shot video of police cars in the parking lot. Sources tells us police were called and did respond to the gym, but no report was taken.

The beef between Adrien Broner and Tekashi69 keeps getting crazier ... with Broner now saying he'll take Tekashi's $300k bet on his fight this weekend.

And he's got the check to prove it.

Before he hopped on a plane for New York on Tuesday, Broner shared a photo of a signed check for "Daniel Hernandez" (Tekashi's legal name) ... that came with a serious message for the NYC rapper.

"Just heard (6ix9ine) wanna make a small bet for my fight April 21st... well look your check is made bro just have my money when I beat the sh*t out Jessie Vargas."

"See you soon I’m pulling up to New York right now."

It's the same threat Broner made on Monday -- after he says Tekashi called him a "clown" on IG. Tekashi immediately clapped back, saying he'd throw 300 racks on "this p***y ass n**ga" losing to Vargas.

FYI, Broner vs. Vargas is this Saturday on Showtime ... but we wouldn't be surprised if we saw these 2 duke it out first.

Adrien Broner did not back out of an NYC event to promote his fight over threats made by East Coast rapper Tekashi69 ... at least that's what Showtime tells TMZ Sports.

Broner was supposed to attend an open workout on Wednesday to drum up publicity for his fight with Jessie Vargas ... but those plans were abruptly scrapped earlier this week.

And since Broner and Tekashi have been at war on social media, some people wondered if Broner feared the feud was about to turn violent since Tekashi claims to be a well-connected Blood ... especially in NYC.

But a rep for Showtime Sports tells us that's simply not the case ... Broner didn't back out of anything -- instead, Showtime's team changed the publicity strategy and canceled the workout for other media events.

The shooter who ambushed Floyd Mayweather's entourage in Atlanta fired at least 12 shots -- with 8 bullets striking the car carrying Floyd's bodyguards ... and TMZ Sports has the pics.

As we previously reported, Floyd's bodyguard Greg La Rosa was struck in the leg -- but now we've learned there were 6 other people in the car ... and it's a miracle no one else was hit.

You can see the bullet holes all over the vehicle -- one on the hood and several along the side.

According to the police report obtained by TMZ Sports, police recovered 12 shell casings at the crime scene ... located right next to the hotel where Floyd was staying.

We're told Floyd was in another vehicle which had just entered the valet area of the hotel when the shots rang out.

So far, cops have made no arrests -- and wouldn't tell us if they have any leads.

As for Greg, we're told he's back home and recovering.

Tekashi69 ain't backin' down after Adrien Broner said he'd "pull up" on the rapper ... daring the boxing star to come see him when he touches down in Brooklyn.

Broner says 6ix9ine started the beef by calling him a "clown" over Instagram -- which set A.B. off.

"Ey 6ix9ine, don’t be commenting no f*ck sh*t under my pictures, boy. Talkin’ bout clown, n**ga ... I’m about to pull up on you, n**ga," Broner said.

"I ain’t one of these rap n**gas you be trollin’ with n**ga, quit playin’ with me, n**ga."

As soon as Tekashi got wind of his call-out, he clapped back -- calling A.B. a "P***Y" and saying he would bet AT LEAST $100K on him losing to Jessie Vargas this Saturday at the Barclays Center.

"CHECK IN WHEN YOU GET TO BROOKLYN TOO. KING OF MY CITY," he added.

Can't say we're too surprised 6ix9ine's steppin' to a trained killer ... remember his crazy brawl at LAX?!

In a superfight between the Rocky Balboa and Dr. J statues in Philly, it's a KNOCKOUT win for the doc -- so says Julius Erving himself.

You might've heard ... Erving just got a 2nd statue in The City of Brotherly Love decades after his 1st one was unveiled -- a slam-dunkin' sculpture on the 76ers' Legends Walk.

So when we saw doc at LAX, we had to ask who's effigy gets more love -- his, or Sylvester Stallone's?

Julius told TMZ Sports he gets the nod 'cause he's got 2 ... and 'cause his are "a real person, engaged in real battles."

DOWN GOES ROCKY!!!

An American pro boxer literally wore Trump's border wall on his shorts for a fight -- then got the LIVING CRAP BEAT OUTTA HIM by his Mexican opponent!!

Rod Salka was trying to make a political statement Thursday night vs. Francisco Vargas during Golden Boy's ESPN event in Indio, California ... steppin' into the ring with brick-patterned trunks in red, white and blue, with his waistband reading -- "America 1st."

Yeah ... Francisco wasn't having that. "El Bandido" BATTERED the 35-year-old Pennsylvanian over the next 6 rounds -- leaving him bloody and bruised before Salka's corner threw in the towel between rounds.

Guessing POTUS ain't too happy about his wall getting torn down on national TV.

Floyd Mayweather is ready to go out in public again ... sitting courtside at the Miami Heat game on Wednesday -- the first time we've seen him since the shooting in Atlanta.

As we previously reported, Mayweather's longtime bodyguard, Greg La Rosa, was shot during an ambush on Floyd's 3-vehicle entourage early Monday morning. Cops believe the entourage was specifically targeted.

Cops are still trying to figure out why someone would want to kill Floyd or someone on his team -- but in the meantime, Mayweather picked up and went to Miami.

Floyd Mayweather had a heavy security presence at a Waffle House in Atlanta hours before someone opened fire on his entourage ... and TMZ Sports has the video.

Witnesses tell us ... Floyd hit up the Waffle House around 10 PM on Sunday -- before hosting a party at a nearby nightclub. It was on his way back from the club when someone ambushed Floyd's 3-car caravan and opened fire, striking one of his bodyguards.

But it was all gravy at the Waffle House -- with Floyd turning up at the jukebox inside the restaurant while his security team kept an eye out for danger.

In fact, as Floyd dances away ... you can see bodyguard Greg La Rosa keeping Floyd's area safe.

Cops are still looking for the shooter and a motive as to why someone would want to attack Floyd's crew.

Cops believe whoever shot Floyd Mayweather's bodyguard in Atlanta early Monday morning was specifically targeting Floyd's entourage.

The Atlanta PD has now identified the victim as Greg La Rosa -- a longtime member of Floyd's TMT bodyguard crew.

La Rosa was a passenger in the lead vehicle of Floyd's 3-car entourage -- which cops say was leaving a Waffle House after Floyd had hosted a party at Medusa nightclub.

Cops say the actions of the shooter suggest Floyd's crew was specifically targeted -- though it's unclear if the shooter was trying to kill Floyd.

As for La Rosa, he was shot in the leg -- and was discharged from the hospital around 5:30 AM. Cops say he's doing well.

Cops say the driver of the lead car tried to speed away from the shooter -- but the shooter's car gave chase.

Eventually, the driver was able to shake the shooter's car and took Greg to the hospital.

Mayweather was NOT injured in the attack -- but cops say they desperately want to speak with him as soon as possible.

Floyd Mayweather didn't appear to have a care in the world in the hours before someone opened fire on his entourage ... partying in an ATL nightclub.

The boxer was the special VIP host at Medusa nightclub on Sunday night -- where he partied with a ton of people, including rapper YFN Lucci.

Sources in the club tell us Floyd had a great time there and didn't appear to have any drama with anyone -- let alone an issue that would spark a shooting.

The world-famous "Rocky III" statue just got a major upgrade courtesy of the city of Philadelphia ... and the real-life Rocky wasn't about to miss the ceremony!!

Sylvester Stallone, who's in town filming "Creed 2," says he stopped by the bronzen Balboa earlier today to help unveil a plaque made for the statue 12 YEARS ago ... but got "misplaced" somehow (we blame Drago).

Joining Sly at the ceremony was Philly Mayor Jim Kenney ... and a pack of screaming "Rocky" fans!!

"I want to thank the Mayor Jim (Kenney) and his staff, the Philadelphia Police Department and of course the loyal fans that braved the cold. Keep punching, Philly," Stallone said on social media.

Remember, there were only TWO versions of the famous Rocky statue made for "Rocky III" -- and Sly has the other one back at his L.A. home ... which he's been showing off to some of his famous friends.

The robe Muhammad Ali wore on the night of his world-famous "phantom punch" 1965 fight against Sonny Liston is about to hit the auction block -- but it ain't gonna come cheap!

Goldin Auctions is putting the historic ringwear up for grabs with a starting bid of $75k ... but we're told the terry cloth robe with "Muhammad Ali" stitched on the back should fetch a quarter mil, at least!!

It ain't hard to see why -- Ali's rematch vs. Liston was one of the biggest fights in The Greatest's career. It was also his first bout after becoming a Black Muslim ... and recognizing himself as Muhammad Ali instead of Cassius Clay.

"The historical significance of this robe is tremendous, not just for its link to one of the greatest fights in boxing history, but also for the cultural impact Ali’s religious beliefs made," G.A. tells TMZ Sports.

The fight also spawned one of the most iconic images in sports history -- Ali standing over Liston after KO'ing him with the "phantom punch."

FYI, if you're worried about authenticity, the robe comes with a notarized letter of provenance from the guy who got the threads straight from Ali's trainer, Angelo Dundee.

If Conor McGregor can fight Floyd Mayweather ... why not Brian Ortega vs. Gennady Golovkin?!

The UFC rising star tells TMZ Sports he's all the way down to take Canelo Alvarez's place in the May 5 boxing match ... now that Canelo has withdrawn from the fight.

"I'm down. I'm down. I'm down," Ortega said while out in NYC to promote UFC 223 ... "I want Triple G."

Look, Ortega -- and his boxing coach James Luhrsen -- know it ain't exactly an even fight ... but Ortega says he's down for the challenge and would work his ass off for a shot at one of the best boxers in the world.

"Triple G, I'm a fan ... If you want to fight an MMA fighter and you're looking for a fight, let's do it, man!"

The Canelo Alvarez vs. GGG rematch has gotten the axe -- with Canelo formally announcing he's withdrawing from the fight at an L.A. news conference in the wake of a positive PED test.

Canelo and Gennady Golovkin were scheduled to have their rematch on May 5 after a controversial first fight, but Alvarez got popped for a banned substance on March 5.

At the conference, Canelo said he still blames the failed drug test on tainted Mexican beef -- claiming he ate steak that was pumped full of Clenbuterol. He also vowed to prove that he is not a drug cheat.

Alvarez was issued a temporary suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission a couple weeks ago ... and his official hearing with the NAC is scheduled for April 10.

More bad news for Adrien Broner ... the troubled boxer is now being sued for sexual battery by the woman who claims he groped her genitals at a Georgia mall, TMZ Sports has learned.

The woman behind the suit is Kaila Crews ... who claims she was walking around the Lenox Square shopping center back in February when Broner approached her and "swiped his hand across [her] private parts."

"At no point had Plaintiff given [Broner] permission to touch any part of her body," Crews' lawsuit states.

Part of the incident was captured on video -- including the moment Broner was handcuffed by police and arrested for misdemeanor sexual battery.

Crews claims she suffered emotional distress from the incident and says Broner needs to pay up for any injuries she experienced, along with pain and suffering.

As for the criminal case, investigators are still collecting evidence.

Meanwhile, Broner has a fight scheduled for April 21 -- where he's due to face off against Jessie Vargas at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.