Boxing

Keith Thurman is back ... and if you don't like it, oh well -- 'cause One Time says he is what boxing has been missin' and doesn't give a damn what the haters have to say!

TMZ Sports spoke with the 30-1 welterweight fighter ahead of his March 30 bout against Tim Tszyu (24-0) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

It will be his 3rd fight in the last four years ... so you can understand why many don't believe Thurman will come back and be his old dominant self, but he doesn't care.

"My haters are my real motivators!" the 35-year-old said, "So keep hatin' baby and I'ma keep pushing."

"If you're not hated out here, you not doing nothing positive in life. Everyone who does something positive in life is gonna have haters. I'm a dreamer, I'm living the dream and the haters can hate all they want."

Thurman -- who fought big stars Manny Pacquaio, Danny Garcia, and Shawn Porter -- says his long absence is felt in boxing and plans to bring back awesomeness with his return.

"I believe boxing needs Keith Thurman. I really deliver some of the greatest entertainment on that world-class scene every time they put me in the ring," Thurman said.

Thurman also has a message for the critics who never stepped into the ring ... yet have so much to say about him and other boxers.

"We put our blood, sweat, and tears into that ring," Thurman said." We step into the fire where most people, they can sit here and they can type up and make all the comments -- they wouldn't last ONE MINUTE in the ring."

"They wouldn't last one minute. They're not about that life!"

Jake Paul and Mike Tyson may not be the only boxing stars fighting on July 20 ... legendary pugilist Antonio Tarver says he wants to settle the score with rival Bernard Hopkins at Jerry's World before Iron Mike and The Problem Child go to battle!

55-year-old Tarver -- a multiple-time world champion -- joined Babcock on the TMZ Sports TV show on Friday (airs nightly on FS1) where he threw out the challenge to The Executioner.

"If they want to put two other old guys on the undercard, I got a name in mind too, so we can all have fun with this," The Magic Man said.

Naturally, we asked ... who?!

"Everybody knows I got a bone to pick with Bernard Hopkins, ya know what I mean? He's a vegan, so he always stays in shape. So maybe we can support this big fight!"

Of course, Tarver and Hopkins famously fought in Atlantic City in June 2006 ... a fight Antonio was heavily favored to win.

But, that's not how it went inside the squared circle -- Bernard dominated the fight.

Antonio is looking for some revenge nearly two decades later.

FYI, Hopkins last fought professionally when he faced Joe Smith Jr. in December 2016. Tarver's last bout was in August 2015 against Steve Cunningham. Together the two legends have over 100 pro fights.

We also talked to Tarver about Jake and Mike ... and while many people have made the case that a near-60-year-old couldn't beat a guy in his mid-20s, that's certainly NOT how Antonio sees things.

Anthony Joshua dropped Francis Ngannou three times inside two rounds ... including a massive right hand that left The Predator out on the canvas!

The 34-year-old former 2x heavyweight champion was sharp from the very start of the bout ... putting 37-year-old Francis down in the first round with a hard straight right. Ngannou returned to his feet and even landed a hard punch towards the end of the round.

In the second, AJ again knocked Francis down ... but the former UFC champ beat the count, and the round continued.

But, just a short time later, Anthony uncorked a devastating right that landed flush to Francis' face, bending him backward (similar to the way Ngannou stopped Stipe Miocic), and immediately prompting the referee to stop the fight.

No count needed.

Ngannou, as doctors and medical professionals rushed in, remained down on the canvas for a couple of minutes ... and was even given oxygen.

Thankfully, Francis eventually got back on his feet, and appeared to be okay.

Despite less than 6 minutes of fighting, AJ encouraged Francis, who pushed Tyson Fury to the brink last year, to stick with boxing.

Promoter Eddie Hearn, who has worked with many of the biggest and best in the sport, called the KO punch one of the "most destructive knockouts" he'd ever seen.

57-year-old Mike Tyson will beat 27-year-old Jake Paul, according to future UFC Hall of Famer Tyron Woodley ... and the 30-year age difference doesn't mean squat!

If anyone knows anything about fighting Jake, it's T-Wood ... who twice boxed The Problem Child in August and December 2021. Tyron's also been around fighting at the highest level for well over a decade.

So, when co-host Evan Rosenblum asked Woodley on their "Real Shhh Right Quick" show who'd win the July 20th scrap, Tyron responded like this.

"I mean I've been in the ring twice with Jake, and I don't want to get in the ring once with f***ing Mike," Woodley said.

Tyson's no doubt one of the scariest men to ever step foot in a ring, but he's nearly 60 years old, while Jake's in his athletic prime ... but Tyron thinks experience trumps age in this circumstance.

"The age is not a factor. That's a wash. Experience level is obviously going to go to Mike Tyson."

And, Woodley's being consistent ... he says if Paul can defeat Iron Mike, he deserves a hell of a lot of credit.

"If Jake Paul beats Mike, I don't give a f*** if he's 70, you're gonna have to put at last an ounce of respect on his name," Tyron said.

"Mike Tyson right now off muscle memory alone could step on the wrong eggshell and let off a combination that could kill most people. He has a power and ability to shift organs in your body if he hits you with the right force. So I think he forgot more technique than Jake Paul has ever learned in his life."

FYI, Mike last fought in November 2020 ... an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. It was scored a draw. His last professional fight was in 2005. As for Jake, he last beat Ryan Bourland by TKO on March 2 ... a few months after knocking out Andre August. He's 9-1 as a pro.

Evan made the point ... it could be a bad look for Jake, who has aspirations of being a boxing champion, if he were to get beat by an older Tyson.

T-Wood didn't agree.

"If he gets knocked out by Mike Tyson at 58, 59, 60, 71, he would join the other 99% of the regular motherf***ers on Earth, that's what I say."

Although Jake wanted no part of Mike in 2020 when we talked to him, Paul's opinion changed a couple of years later. In 2022, as The Problem Child was promoting his scrap with Anderson Silva, reporter Blake Beasley asked JP which legend he'd like to box ... his answer? Iron Mike!

Jake Paul has come a LONG way in the sport of boxing ... 'cause what he once considered impossible has just become his next challenge -- Mike Tyson.

TMZ Sports took a peek into our Problem Child interview archives after his fight against the legend was announced on Thursday ... and it's fascinating to see the dude's growth in just a short amount of time.

When we spoke with Jake back in 2020, we asked if he'd step foot in the ring with a boxing legend like Tyson or Evander Holyfield ... and his response was an emphatic rejection.

"Look, I'm confident, but I'm not stupid." Paul -- who had two fights under his belt at the time -- told us. "I would not go into the ring with them. Nah, no chance."

Remember, this was before Jake's viral knockouts of Nate Robinson, Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley and impressive wins over Nate Diaz and Anderson Silva ... when he was just a "silly YouTube kid" who wanted to handle his long list of celebrity enemies through boxing matches.

Now, he's one of the most famous fighters on the planet, a successful promoter and envisions becoming a world champion ... and will go head-to-head with Iron Mike in a massive event at AT&T Stadium in July.

He's accomplished way more than he ever expected ... 'cause in that same interview, he told us his goal in boxing was simply to prove that he's a "legitimate fighter" and to "earn people's respect."

On this episode of The TMZ podcast ...

Andy Cohen is firing back at Leah McSweeney after she claimed in a lawsuit that he encouraged cocaine use and created a toxic work environment on the "Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip" set.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer for the movie "Rust," was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the death of Halyna Hutchins.

Paula Abdul fired back at "American Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, bringing up receipts of text messages showing sexual harassment. This comes after Lythgoe's legal response included emails from Paula in which Nigel says gave off a friendly and loving vibe between the two.

Plus ... Jake Paul is set to fight boxing legend Mike Tyson in a match that will air on Netflix in July! Paul, 27, says the boxing match with Tyson, 57, will be the "biggest fight in history."

Jake Paul is taking on a true G.O.A.T. in his next boxing match ... 'cause the Problem Child is fighting Mike freakin' Tyson!!

The huge event was announced just minutes ago ... with the YouTuber-turned-fighter saying his bout against the 57-year-old former heavyweight champion will be the "biggest fight in history."

"It's crazy to think that in my second pro fight, I went viral for knocking out Nate Robinson on Mike Tyson's undercard," 27-year-old Jake said on Thursday. "Now, less than four years later, I'm stepping up to face Tyson myself to see if I have what it takes to beat one of boxing's most notorious fighters and biggest icons."

The fight will air on Netflix ... and will take place July 20 at AT&T Stadium -- the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Jake (9-1) is fresh off two first-round knockout victories ... most recently easily defeating Ryan Bourland in Puerto Rico this past weekend.

Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champ in history at just 20 years old, defeating Trevor Berbick in brutal fashion in 1986.

He's is widely regarded as one of the hardest-hitting and most-feared pugilists to ever put on a pair of gloves ... earning a 50-6 record. His last professional fight was in 2005 against Kevin McBride.

He's remained busy in recent years ... taking an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. in November 2020, a card that also featured Jake's fight against the ex-NBA star, which helped take his in-ring career to new heights.

Jake and Tyson have a bit of history -- they became friends over the years, and just two years ago, Mike said he would fight Paul for $1 billion.

Worth noting -- Jake weighed in at 199 pounds for the Bourland fight ... and Tyson is reportedly listed at 220.

Paul added ... "Whether you’re tuning in on Netflix or showing out in person, whether you're team Paul or team Tyson, or whether you’re a lifelong boxing fan or watching your first fight, you're not going to want to miss this event."

No word on whether this is a pro or exhibition bout ... but either way, they're promising fireworks.

Ryan García prometió que no va a seguir con sus extraños post en redes sociales y que desde ahora no hablará de nada más que no sea boxeo porque estará muy concentrado en su pelea con Devin Haney.

TMZ Sports obtuvo otra declaración de video de King Ryan el miércoles, y aunque dice que ha recuperado el acceso a su cuenta de Instagram, dice que dejará de compartir contenidos que no tengan que ver con "boxeo, deportes y su pelea".

El clip llega poco después de que García hiciera comentarios preocupantes en X, en los que afirmó exponer numerosos secretos sobre la sociedad, entre otros temas controvertidos.

García reconoce que ha compartido "algunas cosas bastante intensas" en sus redes y aunque entiende por qué lo ha hecho, dice que de ahora en adelante solo hablará estrictamente sobre su carrera, o al menos, hasta después de la pelea.

"Eso es lo único de lo que voy a hablar y estoy entrenando para esta pelea", añadió.

García agregó que tiene "muchos guerreros", incluyendo al empresario y podcaster Patrick Bet-David, quien lo está ayudando y que estará listo para el 20 de abril.

Ryan Garcia is promising to put an end to his bizarre social media activity ... claiming he's no longer going to talk about any topics outside of boxing -- 'cause he's laser-focused on his fight with Devin Haney.

TMZ Sports obtained another video statement from King Ryan on Wednesday ... and this time around, he says he's regained access to his Instagram account, but will hold off on posting any content outside of "boxing, sports and my fight."

The clip comes shortly after Garcia made concerning comments on X ... in which he claimed to expose numerous secrets about society, among other controversial topics.

Garcia acknowledges he's shared "some pretty intense things" on his pages, and while he understands the true meaning behind it all ... he will strictly talk about his career -- at least, it seems, until after the fight.

"That's the only thing I'm gonna be talking about and I'm training for this fight," he added.

Garcia added he has "many warriors" -- including entrepreneur and podcast host Patrick Bet-David -- helping him out during camp ... and he'll be ready to go April 20.

Ryan Garcia wants his family and fans to know he is alive and "okay" ... but his current situation is far from pleasant -- claiming he has been stripped of access to his phone, Instagram and finances.

TMZ Sports has obtained a video statement from King Ryan himself ... where he explains he has no idea what is happening, but he believes he's being exploited.

"Hey guys, it's Ryan," the 24-1 boxing superstar says in the clip. "I'm coming on here to explain what's going on. I'm not in possession of my phone, I can't get access to my Instagram. My cards are locked. I'm being really taking advantage [of]."

"I would personally want to just send out a video to the people that love me and my fans, family that's concerned that I'm okay. I'm not dead, I believe in Jesus, all those [rumors] are lies."

Ryan goes on to state an unidentified party is trying to put him in jail ... and when he's reached out to people for help, he's been met with radio silence.

"I don't know what's going on but just know I'm okay," he continued.

The video comes following genuine concern from fans who have grown worrisome over Garcia's recent odd social media activity -- including a video that claimed something bad had happened to Ryan.

Ryan Garcia's recent social media activity has fans worried for his mental well-being ... but according to his dad, Henry, the boxing star is doing just fine -- claiming it's all the result of some bad trolling.

Garcia's seemingly been living on Instagram lately ... posting over 20 times in the past week alone, with a handful so bizarre in nature, it's led to many followers wondering if he's going through something behind the scenes.

In fact, King Ryan raised eyebrows after he shared a puzzling video that featured the caption, "We got him boys. RYAN GARCIA RIP BITCH" ... and fighters like Mike Perry and Dillon Danis hit the comment section to voice their concern.

Some folks also wondered if Garcia had been hacked ... but the video is still live on his page, so it didn't seem likely.

Henry -- who also coaches Ryan -- adamantly denied there are any issues going on ... saying the 24-1 fighter is just looking to get people talking.

"Yes Ryan is ok," Henry said in response to a fan's question, "he's just trolling the wrong way."

Garcia is slated to fight Devin Haney on April 20, but he shifted his focus to Jake Paul on Saturday ... taking blame for the Problem Child's boxing career and promising to put an end to it.

He's also professed his love for multiple women ... hinting he wants to give marriage another shot after his recent divorce.

Terence "Bud" Crawford is showing just how much he appreciates his team for holding him down throughout his boxing career ... gifting each member iced-out pendants of his signature logo!!

TMZ Sports is told the 40-0 welterweight fighter hit up celeb jeweler and friend Mazza NYC -- whose client list ranges from Jadakiss to Dak Prescott -- with hopes to create something as a "thank you" for their devotion.

Crawford felt his TBC symbol would be the perfect image to make into a keepsake ... and Mazza agreed.

In fact, he took it one step further ... by turning the outline of Crawford's body (the T in the TBC logo) into an actual figure of the undefeated pugilist.

We're told Crawford copped five total pendants, including one for himself ... each decked out in VS E diamonds and 14k rose gold.

Crawford's piece also came with a 21-inch diamond ball chain with VS E diamonds.

"It was created with his team in mind, so they could receive something special for all their commitment and hard work," Mazza told us.

The team certainly deserves it -- they helped Crawford become the best pound-for-pound in boxing following his TKO win against rival Errol Spence.

DJ Akademiks is accusing Meek Mill of being a snitch after cops allegedly showed up to his house -- and if he wants to fight the rapper ... they now have the opportunity to do so!

There's a lucrative 7-figure offer on the table to sweeten the deal between these 2 foes ... and it comes courtesy of Celebrity Boxing czar Damon Feldman.

He tells TMZ Hip Hop ... he's got a cool $1 million purse locked and loaded for Ak and Meek -- in addition to other amenities, if they wanna take him up on this. Damon also says he has a venue in Atlanta booked for May 18, adamant he wants both guys to give it their best.

Meek already has a boxing trainer in his corner, but Damon says he's willing to provide Akademiks with one of his top guys -- if he's inclined to train ahead of the fight.

Ak told Adin Ross this week that he considers Meek a straight-up bully -- while going on to call him cowardly, accusing him of hiding behind his goons ... and he seems eager to take him with his fists.

They've had beef for years, of course, but the latest episode spilled into the e-streets over this wild Diddy lawsuit filed this week by his ex-producer ... who floated salacious claims.

Meek took the bait and went down a wild social media rabbit hole ... responding to Ak but all the posts have since run their course with fans.

Jake Paul is keeping his enemies closer -- the Problem Child has signed Indian boxer Neeraj Goyat to Most Valuable Promotions ... this after the two came face-to-face in a heated "confrontation" earlier this week.

32-year-old Goyat -- a three-time WBC Asia title holder -- has been calling out Paul for months ... and it all came to a head when he pulled up on the YouTube superstar in Puerto Rico ahead of his fight against Ryan Bourland.

The whole thing (which was obviously staged) showed both guys getting into a shoving match before being separated.

It turns out the clip was seemingly meant to hype up the big addition to the company -- its first international signee -- and on Friday, the news was made official.

Neeraj -- who's also an actor -- spoke about joining Paul's company ... saying, "I'm truly honored to be the newest member of the Most Valuable Promotions family. MVP has been making waves in the boxing world, particularly with its commitment to showcasing and uplifting women in the sport since 2021."

"In just 2.5 years, MVP has organized some of the world's most significant boxing events, and I'm excited to work with MVP to elevate the status of professional boxing in India and bring attention to boxers from India globally."

Joining MVP makes sense -- Goyat has been pro for more than a decade ... and also boasts a large social media following.

Ryan Garcia is taking this Devin Haney fight so personally that he can barely put his emotions into words ... finding himself nearly speechless when talking to TMZ Sports about his upcoming megafight!

The star boxer has been trollin' the hell out of Haney as the men promote the April 20 scrap at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Ryan and Devin even got into a scuffle at Super Bowl LVIII.

So, we had to ask Garcia if this was personal or just business ... and Ry's whole demeanor switched up real quick.

"To me, it is personal in a way," Garcia said, "I don't know, something's just in me and just ... I don't even feel like answering these questions bro, I'm sorry."

Not only did that trigger Garcia, but so did the fact that many consider Haney (31-0) as the best boxer in their weight division ... something Ryan clearly doesn't cosign.

"I don't give a f*** about his boxing skills," the 25-year-old said. "I'mma beat his ass, that's it!"

"I'm not a boxing analyst. Forget that dude! He's gonna get it, 4/20, that's it!"

Haney, on the other hand, doesn't care whether Garcia is offended ... nor is he phased by the trash talk, implying Ryan's more bark than bite.

"Blah, blah, blah, we heard this story before," Haney told us.

"We heard this against Tank where he said he was gon' do this, he gon' do that. Then he got stopped and then he made every excuse up in the book."

Forget Tom Cruise -- Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou are the newest big action stars on the scene ... 'cause the two boxing superstars just dropped a Hollywood-esque trailer for their upcoming fight!!

DAZN released the high-budget promo for the March 8 bout on Tuesday ... and it could easily pass as a teaser for any major entertainment studio.

The clip is titled "Knockout Chaos" ... and kicks off with Ngannou learning the news of his matchup with AJ being finalized and saying he'll take him on "anytime, anywhere."

As luck would have it, the two fighters bump into each other in the street right after ... and a crowd forms around them in anticipation of an impromptu showdown.

The trailer then channels the classic "Street Fighter" series ... and the two start duking it out, bouncing between real world and video game.

AJ and Ngannou trade vicious blows -- even getting knocked into outer space before crashing back down to earth.

The vid ends with both guys knocking each other out in the ring ... officially putting a stop to the madness after more than a minute of violence.