'Selling Sunset' Chelsea Lazkani Bre Tiesi Wants To Kill Me! Keeps Distance After Off-Camera Exposing

"Selling Sunset" star Chelsea Lazkani thinks she might've gone overboard when it came to talking smack about newcomer Bre Tiesi and her relationship with Nick Cannon -- claiming she's now keeping her distance to stay alive!

ICYMI, Bre -- who shares a kid with Nick -- joined the Oppenheim Group for the hit reality series' latest season ... and Chelsea took an off-camera moment of Bre's directly to the screen, telling the other agents Bre was surprised and upset after discovering via news alert that Nick welcomed baby #9 with model LaNisha Cole.

Chelsea's now wishing she bit her tongue during filming, telling Entertainment Tonight, "I think she wants to kill me, and I want to stay alive for a very long time. So, you know, I just think I’ll keep my distance from her."

The real estate agent says it wasn't until she took a step back that she realized the harm she put on Bre -- adding, "This is a person with true feelings and you could hurt that person, because the difference between the online trolls and myself is I'm right in front of your face."

BTW, Bre clapped back at Chelsea after making her private moment public ... saying her costar was simply digging for a storyline, and nothing more.

You'll recall, Bre recently said Nick didn't have to cough up child support cash because of the number of kids he's had -- although her lawyer later debunked his client's claims.

Kroy Biermann Kim's Got Gambling Problem ... She Needs Psych Exam!!!

Kroy Biermann says his estranged wife, Kim Zolciak, spends so much time gambling their money away online, she can't take care of their kids ... and now he's asking the judge to order a mental evaluation for her.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Kroy says Kim's been showing some "very troubling behavior" that's accelerated in the months leading up to their divorce.

Kroy claims Kim has admitted to him that she's spending a lot of time and money on online gambling and other games of chance, and he claims her "compulsion" has devastated the family financially.

What's more, Kroy claims Kim is so consumed with online gambling she's unable to properly care for the couple's four minor children ... and as a result, he says he's concerned for the kiddos' safety and well-being.

Kroy says it's in the best interest of their kids for Kim to sit for a psych exam ... he suspects her alleged gambling problem may be the result of underlying mental health issues like depression, anxiety, narcissistic personality disorder, bipolar disorder or ADHD.

TMZ broke the story ... Kim and Kroy are deep in the hole, owing more than $1 million to the IRS.

The divorce is getting uglier by the day ... Kroy's legal papers come on the heels of Kim asking a judge to step in and force Kroy to get a drug test.

As we first reported ... both Kim and Kroy filed separate divorce petitions earlier this month, and they are both seeking custody of the kids ... and the recent filings indicate things are getting nasty.

Kim and Kroy are still living under the same roof with their kids, in the same Georgia estate that went into foreclosure earlier this year ... so it's a safe bet tensions between the two are running high.

Cannes Director Thierry Frémaux Fights With Cop Outside Hotel ... Over Use Of His Bike!!!

Looks like the drama at this year's Cannes Film Festival isn't just on the silver screen ... because the head of the entire event got into a seriously heated spat with a cop over his bike riding outside a hotel.

The Friday night confrontation was caught on camera by French journalist Eric Morillot ... who says the argument quickly turned physical after Cannes Director Thierry Frémaux was zipping around outside the Carlton Hotel, where a good chunk of attendees is staying.

Morillot says the Cannes honcho asked the cop for his name after apparently denying him the spot ... getting more and more heated as the bickering went on -- even threatening to file a complaint.

Of course, all the shouting's happening in French, but tension like that is a universal language. The heat reportedly died down later, with the 2 shaking hands.

For what it's worth, Frémaux announced at the beginning of this festival he'd be riding around on his bike to reduce his carbon footprint ... but it's unclear if he'll be making the switch back to cars now.

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GRAND ENTRANCE
France Télévisions

As you know, Frémaux's been welcoming the likes of Harrison Ford and Johnny Depp to the festival this year -- with both actors getting standing ovations after their films were shown in front of esteemed audiences.

Martin Scorsese is the latest to touch down in France ... bringing "Killers of the Flower Moon" to the festival Saturday -- and the cast joined him, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Jesse Plemmons.

And FYI -- Tom Cruise isn't making his return to Cannes after last year's monumental "Top Gun: Maverick" screening ... but Paramount's been promoting his latest 'Mission: Impossible' movie by playing the trailer on a loop in front of the Carlton -- smart move.

Scheana Shay Still No Apology from Raquel After Restraining Order

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SOME HARD FEELINGS
Scheananigans with Scheana Shay

"Vanderpump Rules" star Scheana Shay hasn't gotten an apology from Raquel Leviss for all the restraining order drama earlier this year ... but thinks a convo about what went down will eventually become a reality.

Scheana told her side of the story on the latest episode of her podcast, "Scheananigans with Scheana Shay," claiming Raquel still hasn't reached out to apologize or even explain why she slapped her with the TRO.

She says she didn't block Raquel's number or social media accounts just to see if she reaches out to apologize ... it sounds like it ain't doing any good. Scheana's pretty sure their discussion will go down, but it'll have a very different vibe compared to the chats they used to have as pals.

Scheana also says Tom reached out to her after the paperwork was filed ... apparently putting the blame on Raquel's family who allegedly talked her into getting the restraining order. She says he made it feel like a Britney Spears situation -- no control and forced to file because her parents told her to.

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NOT OVER YET
TMZ.com

TMZ broke the story, Raquel was granted a temporary restraining order against Scheana in March -- claiming she punched her in the head, causing some injuries around her eye.

Scheana denied the whole thing, with her lawyer calling Raquel a "known liar and a cheat." As you know, Scheana won in the end -- with the whole thing eventually getting dismissed.

Scheana says she was ready to lay it all out on the table with Raquel when cameras went back up after Tom and Raquel's affair was made public.

Scheana claims when Ariana was in Canada filming a movie, Tom had Raquel over for a sleepover. She says the next day her and Raquel had their court hearing ... while Scheana was sitting in court, Raquel was allegedly in Tom's bed.

She also points out the time when Raquel's phone was off when the show started filming again -- saying Tom called her husband, Brock, asking if they spoke to her ... but she turned out to be just fine and was advised by her PR crew to power it down.

Tyson Fury to Joe Rogan Rips Him Over Jon Jones Comments ... 'Little P****'

UPDATE

3:12 PM PT -- Jon Jones got wind of Fury's rant ... and while he was super complimentary of the boxing champ, he made it clear the Gypsy King stands no chance in the Octagon.

UPDATE

"Hey Tyson, it seems like Joe may have struck a nerve," Jones said on Twitter. "I’ll admit there’s no one touching you in that ring right now, but let’s not let that confuse you with what would happen if you stepped foot in my cage."

UPDATE

The most interesting part -- Jones says if Tyson wants to mess around and find out -- all he has to do is hit up UFC honcho Dana White.

UPDATE

"If you ever want to put some of those questions you got going on to rest, give Dana a call. I’ll help you out."

Perhaps don't hold your breath for that second Tyson Fury appearance on 'JRE' ... 'cause the superstar heavyweight champ just eviscerated Joe Rogan, calling him a "p***y, little f***ing m****t, bald-headed m****t."

😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳

34-year-old Fury unloaded on 55-year-old Rogan, blasting Joe for comments he made during a recent podcast ... when he essentially said The Gypsy King would get his ass whupped by MMA G.O.A.T. Jon Jones.

“You want to talk about who’s the baddest man on the planet?" Rogan asked. "If Jon Jones and Tyson Fury are locked into a room, I’m pushing all of my chips on black."

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PUTTING JOE ON BLAST

Rogan, who has always been complimentary of Fury, also said Tyson "doesn't have a f***ing chance in hell of making it out of that room" unless he immediately catches Jones with a knockout punch.

Fury, the best heavyweight boxer in the world, and one of the greatest pugilists of all time, didn't take too kindly to the remarks, and he made that abundantly clear.

“I heard Joe Rogan say something about me," Fury fumed, "and I’ve been off all the social media and didn’t reply to that little p***y, little f***ing m****t, bald-headed m****t."

“I heard him say that Jon Jones could f*** me up if we were in the room together. I don’t think so. Not a man born from a mother could f*** me up, in a room, on our own."

Fury added ... "Whatever happens in that room, I’d be walking out. Not a f****** problem.”

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NO CONTEST
Joe Rogan/Spotify

Before this week's drama, Tyson and Joe seemed to have a good relationship ... and even sat down together for hours on an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience in 2018.

As for what would happen if they were to fight ... it's impossible to know for sure. Tyson has a huge edge in striking with his hands, but Jon is an incredible grappler/wrestler who is also extremely proficient with his hands, legs, and knees.

Cross-promotion events are common these days ... here's hoping we'll get to settle this debate one day once and for all!

Originally Published -- 2:45 PM PT

Ariana Madix Tom & Raquel Breakup Story is BS ... It's All for Show!!!

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NOT BUYIN' THE BREAKUP
Bravo

Ariana Madix isn't buying the whole idea her ex-boyfriend Tom Sandoval and their costar Raquel Leviss called it quits ... insisting it's all part of a PR stunt.

Ariana opened up during Wednesday's episode of "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen”, shortly after the explosive finale of "Vanderpump Rules" aired ... and following news reports Tom and Ariana pulled the plug on their relationship.

Ariana tells Andy, "I don’t buy that at all. She was sending letters to my house like four days ago.” When asked if the letters were sent from Raquel's "treatment facility" AM responded, "I guess. I don’t know."

AM, who still lives with her ex, insists she never opened the letters because, after all, that would be illegal, but she's certain they are Raquel's handwriting.

The 'Scandoval' played out on-and-off screen during Wednesday's final episode ... and some think not coincidentally, reports surfaced that very same day Tom and Raquel broke up.

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THE END OF A GOOD THING
Bravo

Ariana makes it really clear she and Tom are not communicating, but sees RL's letters to Tom as a clear sign the two are still together.

There's still a 3-part reunion in the can to unpack all the drama ... as far as if Tom and Raquel are really dunzo, only time will tell.

Tiger Woods Scores Big Win In Court Over Ex ... Case Ordered To Arbitration

Tiger Woods has just notched a big victory in court over his ex ... a judge has ruled Erica Herman's gripes with the golfing legend must go to a behind-closed-doors arbitrator -- something Woods has been wanting for months.

Herman initially sued Woods back in early March ... alleging he wrongly kicked her out of their Florida home following their split in 2022. She argued at the time her disputes should play out in public court -- not private arbitration -- claiming an NDA that he made her sign in 2017 should be nullified on the grounds that Woods allegedly conditioned her job and right to live their home on their romantic relationship -- which she says constitutes "sexual harassment" under Florida law.

Woods countered that she couldn't bring him to court, saying the NDA required any qualms between the two to be meted out in arbitration. He added that he had never been sexually inappropriate with her.

Martin County, Fla. judge Elizabeth A. Metzger ruled in Woods' favor late Wednesday, saying Herman must abide by the NDA's arbitration provision.

She also said in her ruling Herman's sexual harassment claims were "vague and threadbare" and "implausibly pled" ... writing, "Herman has had the opportunity [to] provide factual specificity for any claim relating to sexual assault or sexual harassment, however, she has not done so."

It's unclear if Herman has plans to appeal.

Woods and Herman began dating around six years ago, shortly after she had been hired to work at his Florida restaurant. She alleged in court filings that once they became romantic, he "forced her to sign an NDA ... or else be fired from her job."

The couple dated until the fall of '22 ... when Herman claimed Woods concocted a scheme involving false promises of a spontaneous vacation to throw her out of their home. She argued it all violated an oral agreement they had -- and she sued his trust for $30 mil.

Woods denied ever making the pact with Herman ... calling her "a jilted ex-girlfriend."

'Vanderpump Rules' Season Finale Ariana Gets Into Epic Battle With Tom ... 'I Regret Ever Loving You'

tom ariana
THE END OF A GOOD THING
Bravo

The season finale of "Vanderpump Rules" delivered the long-awaited showdown between Tom Sandoval and his ex Ariana Madix over Tom's affair with Raquel Leviss ... and the scene was every bit as dramatic as everyone predicted -- and then some!!!

Wednesday's epic show was actually filmed back in March after news broke in the press about Tom and Raquel's romance, blowing up Tom's 9-year relationship with Ariana.

Ariana confronted Tom about the media reports and the two got into a tense -- and at times nasty -- back and forth while sitting across from one another in their L.A. apartment.

Gazing at Tom, Ariana remarked, "Still haven't said sorry for what you actually did." Tom responded, "Every time I tried to apologize to you, it just makes you more angry."

Ariana snapped, "Good! Let me be angry. You should still f***ing apologize."

At that moment, Tom apologized, saying he didn't mean to hurt Ariana. But, Ariana wasn't buying it, pointing out that Tom continued to sleep with Raquel over and over again.

Not true, says Tom, insisting that he hadn't been cheating with Raquel "for a while."

Of course, Ariana didn't believe Tom and blamed Raquel for becoming enamored with him. She then accused Raquel of looking to "f*** one of her best friend's life partners," i.e. Tom.

Tom explained that he and Raquel became "really good friends" before admitting that he was "seeking something that I wasn't getting here." He added, "And that's selfish. That's really selfish."

Suddenly, Ariana hit the roof, screaming, "I don't give a f*** about f***ing Raquel! Your friendship is f***ing bulls***!"

The conversation only got worse as Tom and Ariana drilled down on their deteriorating relationship before the affair. Tom admitted, "We had no sex life. I lost all my mojo."

Ariana mocked Tom, saying, "So f*** my friend then, get your mojo back." Tom answered, "Once I turned 40, I was like, 'This can't be the rest of my life.'"

More angry words were exchanged between the two before the discussion came to a close with all their emotions pouring out.

Ariana said, "I regret every moment that I stood up for you, defended you, supported you. You're worth nothing. And I want you to feel that deep in your soul."

She continued, "I want you to hear those words coming from the mouth of the woman that f***ing stood by you and loved you and was ready to build the rest of my life around you. Hear my words and know that that's how I feel about you. I regret ever loving you."

Defeated, with tears in his eyes, Tom could barely bring himself to say, "I never thought this would happen. I thought we'd be together forever."

Ariana, also crying, ended with this..."I would have followed you anywhere. I would have changed any part of whatever you weren't happy with. I was 100% committed to you as of literally two days ago."

All that was just the opening for the show. The rest of the episode dealt with the fallout from Tom and Ariana's break up with the other cast members getting involved and gossiping about it.

But, you'll have to sit down and watch it for yourself. Bring the popcorn.

Francis Ngannou Still Wants Jon Jones Fight ... UFC/PFL Cross Promotion

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JUST SAY THE WORD
TMZSports.com

Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones may be on life support, but it's not dead ... and if the UFC is ever down to cross-promote an event with the PFL, "The Predator" says he only needs a couple of months for a scrap with the man most believe is the greatest ever!

"I'd be ready in two or three months from that moment I agree with that," 36-year-old Ngannou told TMZ Sports late Monday.

Francis reiterated ... he wants Jon, and always has.

"I'd be on board. Listen, first of all, I always claim for this Jon Jones fight, I always wanted Jon Jones fight and then it seem like they didn't want to make this Jon Jones fight happen."

Of course, despite months of negotiations, a deal never came together between Francis, Jon, and the UFC.

Ngannou believes UFC was using the Jones fight as bait to get him to sign with the promotion.

"Until they wanna use Jon Jones as leverage to play me and that wasn't something that was going to happen. The Jon Jones fight wasn't just coming as a fight," Francis said, adding ... "He came with strings attached. That's what I would say. Jon Jones fight was coming with strings attached which was the thing that I couldn't take it just like that."

Despite the fact Ngannou is now with PFL and it's likely hell would freeze over before the companies worked together, that hasn't stopped the two MMA stars from continuing to talk about each other.

In fact, Bones tweeted on Tuesday ... "Calling yourself the baddest man on the planet from across the street, who does that? Lol"

Francis then responded ... "Then cross the street"

Please let Jon cross the street. Please. 🙏

Rolly Romero Gets 20 Carat Diamond Mini Me ... For Barroso Fight

rolly bling
ROMERO BLING
Instagram / @gs.and.co

Rolly Romero pulled out all the stops before fighting Ismael Barroso on Saturday ... rockin' a 20-carat diamond pendant of HIMSELF, and it's awesome!

The lightweight boxer earned a (controversial) 9th-round TKO against Barroso at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on May 13th ... bringing his record to 15-1.

But, before the fight (and the much-debated stoppage by veteran official Tony Weeks), Romero pulled up in style, rocking an iced-out pendant of himself in a fur coat and no shirt ... an outfit that may look familiar to boxing fans.

It's the exact fit Romero wore during his viral press conference with Gervonta 'Tank' Davis last year ... before their fight on May 2022 scrap.

TMZ Sports has learned Rolly hit up GS & Co. and commissioned the piece ... and he picked the Tank presser outfit because he believes it's one of the most iconic moments of his career.

We're told the piece is loaded with 20 carats of round VVS diamonds and 120 grams of 14k yellow gold ... and the retail value is around $30K.

As we previously reported, Romero also wore "Channel Orange" custom boxing shoes -- in tribute to musician Frank Ocean.

Now, Rolly has his sights set on a rematch with Tank or a fight with Ryan Garcia, who he called out after his win on Saturday.

Vontaze Burfict Rejects Le'Veon Bell Boxing Match ... Let's Golf Instead!!!

Bad news for anyone hoping to see two ex-NFL stars settle their longstanding beef in the ring ... 'cause Vontaze Burfict is slamming the door on a boxing match with Le'Veon Bell -- saying he wants to golf instead!!

In case you missed it, Bell was talking about potential future opponents on the "Misfits Boxing" podcast recently ... and said he wanted to get revenge for what he felt was a dirty play during a game in 2015.

It's pretty obvious who he was referring to, considering Bell suffered a knee injury in Week 8 against the Bengals that season ... after Burfict and another Cincinnati defender made a tackle on the running back.

"It's someone from football," Bell said. "They had purposely injured me. I don’t think I want to say the name, but people who watched my career when I hurt my knee, people know. Yeah, people know. I would love to put my hands on him in a ring."

Vontaze got wind of Le'Veon's comments, and instead of accepting the offer the ex-Steelers running back laid down, Burfict suggested they do a charity golf event instead.

“[Le’Veon Bell] why we lookin to fight?" Burfict wrote on Instagram. "Why not show everyone WE can change the narrative. Let’s show the world WE can squash beef in other ways than boxing. Let’s meet and compete on the golf course."

He continued ... "Get some charities involved so WE can help people in need and show kids that we resolved our differences to make the world a better place.”

Le'Veon didn't seem too thrilled with Burfict's idea ... writing, "lol sure bro."

But that didn't stop him from clapping back at Burfict's former teammate, Adam "Pacman" Jones, who said he'd bet $100k that VB beats Bell in a fight.

"I throw hands, I don't wrestle .. tell em step in the squared circle tho & i’ll beat the dog s*** out of him … & you can put whatever you want on dude, it’s yo money to lose," Bell tweeted at Jones.

Le'Veon is 1-1 in his boxing career, but it's pretty safe to say he'll have to look elsewhere for his next fight.

Priscilla Presley Settles Dispute Over Lisa Marie's Trust ... Gets Millions From Estate

Priscilla Presley is no longer beefing with her granddaughter Riley Keough ... they just settled their dispute over Lisa Marie's trust, and we're told Priscilla's walking away with fatter pockets.

Priscilla and Riley's legal teams were in court Tuesday, where they reached a settlement over who controls Lisa's trust, which reportedly includes the Graceland mansion and a stake in the lucrative Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Sources connected tell TMZ ... Lisa Marie's estate paid an undisclosed sum of money to Priscilla to settle the dispute. Our sources say it's in the millions.

TMZ broke the story ... a trust battle broke out in the wake of Lisa Marie's death back in January, with her mom Priscilla challenging an amendment to Lisa Marie's trust, which eliminated both Priscilla and Lisa's former business manager, Barry Siegel, as trustees and left Riley as the sole trustee.

Priscilla questioned the validity of the amendment. She claimed it was never delivered to her, the document misspelled her name, the date on the document was suspicious, and Lisa Marie's signature appeared "inconsistent with her usual and customary signature."

There was a ton of money on the line ... and now it looks like Priscilla's getting a chunk of change.

Priscilla's attorney announced the settlement outside the courtroom after the hearing, saying ... "The families are happy. Everybody is happy and excited for the future."

Britney Spears Kevin Federline Plans to Move Kids to Hawaii ... Britney Unlikely to Object

Britney Spears' two sons want nothing to do with Los Angeles anymore and plan to move to the Aloha State for a more private life, away from the attention swirling around their mother ... according to sources with direct knowledge.

Our sources say Kevin Federline, Britney's ex-husband, had his attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, fire off a letter to Britney's lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, asking if she'd be open to letting Jayden James and Sean Preston relocate to Hawaii full-time with their dad and stepmom, Victoria Prince.

Our sources say they want a response from Britney by week's end. If Britney objects, Kaplan will go to court and ask permission from the judge ... and given Britney hasn't seen the kids in more than a year and the kids want to leave town, it's likely the judge will allow the move.

We're told it's unlikely the case will end up in court and Britney will acquiesce to the move.

Our sources say Victoria has a job offer at a university in Hawaii, Kevin has DJ opportunities there as well, and the kids are eager to make the move. We're told they plan to leave L.A. for Hawaii sometime in July.

16-year-old Jayden will continue taking classes remotely, and 17-year-old Sean Preston will have graduated high school by the time they move, though his plans are unclear.

The kids have been with Kevin and Victoria 100% for a long time, so the move would not be disruptive.

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BRITNEY'S ANGRY RESPONSE

As we reported, Jayden and Sean weren't at Britney's wedding last year ... and months later, she addressed the difficulties in her relationship with the kids by scoffing at Jayden's wish that she gets better.

KSI Joe Fournier Appealing Loss After Controversial KO

Joe Fournier is officially appealing his loss to KSI ... just two days after the YouTube star scored an (albeit controversial) knockout victory over the English businessman/boxer, the Professional Boxing Association announced Monday.

The PBA confirmed it received a request from Fournier to review/appeal Saturday night's decision at London's Wembley Arena ... a fight he lost by second-round knockout. However, Fournier says he was put down by an illegal strike, an elbow, not a punch ... and therefore he shouldn't have lost the fight.

Now, representatives for Fournier and KSI will have an opportunity to go before the PBA and state their cases as to why the result should or should not be changed after the fact.

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ONE HIT ELBOW
DAZN

Moments before KSI's elbow came into play, he landed a looping right on Fournier's ear, a punch that appeared to wobble JF. Then, just seconds later, 29-year-old KSI sent Joe crashing to the floor.

Question is, was the strike legal? Fournier believes no.

After the fight, KSI tweeted that the outcome was inevitable, but he did acknowledge there was "unintentional contact made with his forearm" during the contest.

Fournier's appeal doesn't come as a surprise. We won't have to wait long for a decision ... the PBA said it expects to rule by Friday.

Floyd Mayweather Gets Special Juneteenth Belt ... For John Gotti III Fight

A one-of-a-kind belt will be presented when Floyd Mayweather and John Gotti's grandson meet in the ring next month ... with the World Boxing Council designing a special Juneteenth-themed keepsake for the exhibition.

TBE and John Gotti III are slated to fight on June 11 in Florida ... which falls just over a week before the federal holiday.

Given the historic significance of Juneteenth, we're told the WBC wanted to commemorate the day as part of the weekend's festivities by presenting the unique belts to Floyd, as well as Robert Smith, James McNair, and Deon Taylor for their contributions to society.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán spoke with TMZ Sports on the move ... saying "Juneteenth is a national holiday and Floyd Mayweather is the best representative for success and glory through hard work and dedication."

"The WBC will thank and support these four great men who make life better for all every single day."

The belt features broken chains and hands shaking ... as well as the usual "WBC World Champion" etched on the front with "Juneteenth" underneath.

The whole boxing match, put together by Floyd's friend Jona Rechnitz, will be a celebration ... with Ozuna and Lunay set to bring the vibes.

Of course, there won't be an actual winner declared ... so Floyd's going home with the belt regardless.

Anthony Smith Win Over Johnny Walker Sets Up Fight W/ Alex Pereira

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ATTRACTING NEW VIEWERS
TMZSports.com

Anthony Smith, the 5th ranked UFC light heavyweight, is fighting 7th ranked Johnny Walker this Saturday ... and while he doesn't think a win will earn him an immediate title shot, "Lionheart" believes it'll put him on a collision course with Alex Pereira, and set him up for a crack at the elusive belt!

"Two months ago I would've told you the winner gets a title shot. Alex Pereira really throws a wrench in that for all of us. I'd like to be able to tell you a win here gets me a title shot, but it probably earns me a fight with Alex Pereira."

Of course, 35-year-old Pereira, the former middleweight champion, recently lost his UFC rematch to Israel Adesanya ... and announced shortly after he'd move up to the 205 lb. division, where making weight will be significantly easier.

Pereira has not yet been added to the UFC's light heavyweight rankings (he's still #1 at middleweight) ... but it's clear Smith believes Alex is going to be fast-tracked to the front of the line.

For Anthony (who's won 3 of his last 4) to be the one to get the Alex fight, and presumably secure an opportunity to earn a title fight by beating him, Smith must defeat the 6'6" Walker, who is coming off two straight wins (Ion Cutelaba in 2022, Paul Craig in 2023).

Smith believes he's got the clear skills advantage over Walker, who at one time was considered a lock to be champ, but Anthony says that doesn't always equate to a win in the Octagon (check out the clip -- Anthony previews the matchup).

Lionheart also joked ... "Only in the UFC is your reward for beating Johnny Walker a tougher fight with Alex Pereira."

Despite Pereira's incredible power and kickboxing, Anthony is pumped for the would-be fight.

"I like it. I like Alex. I'm a fan. I think he has obvious holes in his game and I think that those are going to be exposed a little more at 205. But looking at it from the outside, I'm a fan of that guy. I love the style. I love his aura. He's got this serial killer aura."

First things first ... Smith vs. Walker goes down Saturday afternoon on ABC! 👊

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PROVING MYSELF
TMZSports.com

There's more -- we also chatted with Jairzinho Rozenstruik ... who is headlining the card against Jailton Almeida.