TMZ Sports - Page 4

It turns out the second time was not the charm for KSI and Dillon Danis to meet in the boxing ring -- their big fight slated for next week has been pushed back ... but surprisingly, it's not the latter's fault.

KSI broke the news to his fans Friday morning ... saying his body has given up on him as he deals with an illness.

"I'm coughing up greenish-yellow s*** all the time," he said. "My sinuses are hurting to the point where I need ibuprofen every day. The tension headaches that I'm getting are more painful than you can imagine."

Stephen A. Smith has a message for LeBron James after Bronny's 17-point performance ... saying he's not too proud to admit his initial assessment of the Lakers rookie could very well have been off the mark.

The ESPN talent didn't shy from his previous comments about the four-time champion's son on "First Take" Friday ... in fact, he reiterated how he initially thought the 20-year-old needed to spend a year in the G League in order to reach success with the big dogs -- but Thursday's outing has him reconsidering.

Smith said he was "very impressed" with Bronny's contribution in the Lakers' loss to the Bucks ... as he looked like someone who belonged.

The University of North Carolina can show people they belong in the NCAA Tournament on Friday by beating Ole Miss ... but it's gonna be a helluva tough game, according to Tar Heels legend Rashad McCants.

But, victory is attainable ... the former All-American told TMZ Sports, ahead of tip-off, going down Friday afternoon at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

"It's gonna be a very, very tough game," the 40-year-old former first-round draft pick said, continuing ... "I think traditionally we'll edge out, but I think if Ole Miss shows up to be who they are, they'll win."

Add Dirty Boxing Championship boss to Jon Jones' impeccable combat sports resume ... the MMA G.O.A.T. just signed a deal making him co-owner of the DBX promotion, TMZ Sports has learned!

"I was hooked from the first show. I believe this is going to be a powerhouse of combat sports. I'm proud to sign my name next to it," Jones, 37, said of the partnership.

Dirty Boxing was founded last year by a group that included "Platinum" Mike Perry and Abe and Malki Kawa, Jon's longtime managers, so the move makes sense for Jones.

Bronny James silenced some of his critics with his performance in the Lakers game on Thursday night ... 'cause the guard dropped 17 points in Crypto.com Arena -- a career-high for the rookie.

The 20-year-old got his opportunity to play for more than a few minutes against the Milwaukee Bucks ... thanks to several key players like LeBron, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and more out with injuries.

Despite the Lakers' 118-89 loss, Bronny had 17 points, his first career double-digit game and tying fellow rookie Dalton Knecht to lead the team in scoring. He also had five assists and three rebounds.

Arkansas head coach John Calipari's daughter was on an emotional rollercoaster during the Razorbacks' first-round upset in the NCAA tournament ... and even after the win was secured, she admitted she was "not okay."

Down three points with three minutes to go, cameras caught Megan struggling to keep her eyes on the court as her dad's team tried to claw its way back on top.

Hunching over in her seat, her mom, Ellen, was doing what any good mother would do ... comforting her and assuring her that everything would be okay.

The most famous Paul Skenes rookie card in existence just sold for a staggering $1.1 MILLION!!!

The piece -- which sparked a frenetic manhunt from hobbyists last year -- was bought out of the Fanatics Collect’s March Premier Auction on Wednesday night. No word yet on who ultimately came away with it.

The hefty price tag set multiple records -- it not only became the most expensive Skenes card ever publicly sold, but it also earned the mark for priciest debut patch.

Lakers fans hoping for a Dwight Howard reunion can uncross their fingers and let out their breath ... the former NBA superstar tells TMZ Sports there's simply no chance he re-signs with Los Angeles.

Many purple and gold backers, of course, have been urging L.A. to go after the big man following its Anthony Davis-for-Luka Doncic swap ... but when we got Howard out in the City of Angels this week, he said it just isn't going to happen.

Despite appearing to express some interest in re-joining the squad on X after the big trade went down, he told us at LAX he's now four years removed from an NBA roster ... and is currently content spending his time at home with his children.

A member of the McNeese State University basketball team has caught the eyes of sports fans with March Madness underway ... but we aren't talking about an athlete -- but rather their student manager!!

Senior Amir "Aura" Khan has taken the college basketball world by storm this season ... and while he isn't allowed on the bench during tournament games -- he got the team hyped as it took the court against number No. 5-ranked Clemson.

Despite the restriction, he was busy in the stands taking pictures with fans. Even the cheerleaders were in on the craze, rocking socks that featured his mug!!

Detroit Pistons hooper Malik Beasley is moving on after his split from Montana Yao ... 'cause he just hard-launched his new girl after Wednesday night's win.

Instagram model Natalia Garibotto shared a pic of the two walking out of the Kaseya Center after his 116-113 victory over the Heat in Miami -- which the 28-year-old reposted on his own Story.

She also showed Beasley running over to her after the final buzzer.

Conor McGregor is going full send with his political ambitions ... announcing on social media he's running for president in Ireland.

The UFC superstar explained his reasoning behind the run on Thursday ... saying he wants to give the people of his country a proper voice in its future.

The biggest issue?? The proposed EU Migration Pact ... which shouldn't come as a surprise, considering McGregor used his recent visit with President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss his problems with immigration.

Matt Weiss -- a former assistant coach for the University of Michigan football team -- is now facing multiple criminal charges ... over allegations he downloaded intimate photos from hundreds of athletes' internet accounts after illegally hacking into them.

Federal prosecutors made the allegations in an indictment filed in Michigan on Thursday. They alleged Weiss gained access to over 3,300 accounts -- most belonging to female college athletes -- with the goal of obtaining "private photographs and videos never intended to be shared beyond intimate partners."

The feds wrote in the court filing that Weiss began committing the crimes around 2015 -- when he was an assistant on John Harbaugh's Baltimore Ravens staff -- and continued them all the way until 2023, when he was working at UM for John's brother, Jim Harbaugh.

The NCAA tournament has officially tipped off ... but before the madness began, there was a touching tribute to legendary host Greg Gumbel, who passed away in December.

Ernie Johnson and co. opened the CBS coverage show by reflecting on the 78-year-old's impact on the sports media industry and those he worked alongside throughout his career.

"It's sad and surreal he's not in that chair and won't ever be in that chair again," Clark Kellogg said. "He was so good at what he did, and he was so good to the people he did it with and for. You, the viewers."

Two weeks after getting smacked in the head with a baton by an opponent during a meet, causing a brain injury ... sprinter Kaelen Tucker is set to make her return to the track at an upcoming meet!

Tucker's father, Keith Tucker, tells TMZ Sports that doctors have cleared his daughter to run again ... following a concussion she suffered during the VHSL Class 3 State Indoor Championships in Virginia on March 4.

The injury occurred during the 4x200 relay race ... as Tucker, a junior track star, and senior Alaila Everett rounded the corner ... when Everett swung the baton, hitting Kaelen's head.

Nate Diaz is off the hook in his nightclub battery case ... according to his attorney, the misdemeanor charge the fighter had been facing was dismissed this week.

The MMA star's lawyer, Ross Goodman, tells TMZ Sports ... after Diaz completed an impulse control class online, prosecutors dropped the battery count against him ahead of Thursday's scheduled trial.

The case, of course, stemmed from a run-in Diaz had with a Las Vegas nightclub employee back in August 2024.

It's clearly been nothing but smooth sailing for Gisele Bündchen and Joaquim Valente since having their first baby ... check out photos of the two from their recent boat day in Florida -- they can't keep their hands off each other!

The hot couple hit the waters in Miami over the weekend ... and the vessel's engine wasn't the only thing producing some steam.

Take a look, Gisele -- who was stunning in a black one-piece -- planted a few kisses on her shirtless man ... as he navigated the ship.