Roy Jones Jr. Canelo 'Still The Biggest Ticket In Boxing' ... Outside Of Heavyweights

Published | Updated

Roy Jones Jr. tells TMZ Sports he doesn't believe Canelo Alvarez's loss to Dmitry Bivol will affect his star power one bit ... saying the guy is "still the biggest ticket in boxing" outside of the heavyweights.

Canelo suffered just his second-ever loss on Saturday night after moving up in weight to fight Bivol ... dropping the contest via a unanimous decision.

Some believe the L could hurt Canelo going forward ... but, when we spoke to Jones Jr. about the result on Monday, he said he doesn't expect it to impact the 31-year-old at all.

In fact, Jones Jr. said the 57-2-1 fighter's elite legacy is still in-tact ... and no matter who he fights next, his name will still draw plenty of eyeballs.

"[He's] the biggest ticket in boxing outside of the heavyweight division right now," Jones Jr. said.

Jones Jr.'s advice for Canelo now is simple -- fight Gennady Golovkin for a third time, and then go from there.

"Fight Triple G first because that's one that people will pay big money to see," Jones Jr. said. "It's one that'll generate interest and you could do it as a middleweight."

No word yet on what Canelo's plans are next ... but when we spoke to Bivol on Monday, the boxer sure seemed like he wasn't in any race to give a rematch to Canelo.

050922-dmitry-bivol-kal
BELIEF IN MY ABILITY

Bivol told us his goal by fighting Canelo was to gain notoriety ... and then pursue more belts elsewhere.

Bivol, though, did give Canelo credit ... and praised him still as "the biggest name in boxing."

Mavs Ban 2 Fans For 'Unwanted Hugs' ... With Chris Paul's Fam

Published | Updated
050622-chris-paul-kal
ESCORTED OUT
UPDATE

2:46 PM PT -- The Dallas Mavericks have banned two "unruly" fans from the American Airlines Center after an investigation into the incident ... claiming the spectators "attempted to give unwanted hugs and have conversations" with Paul's family on the public concourse.

UPDATE

The ban will be lifted in 2023.

Chris Paul says a Mavericks fan had an extremely inappropriate interaction with his family during Sunday's playoff game in Texas ... claiming the Dallas supporter "put his hands on my mom."

The incident allegedly went down at some point during the Suns' loss to the Mavericks at American Airlines Center.

Paul's mother, wife and kids were in attendance at the game sitting near the Phoenix bench ... when, according to Paul, a fan physically contacted them.

"Wanna fine players for saying stuff to the fans but the fans can put they hands on our families," Paul said after the game, "f*** that!!"

According to ESPN, the fan allegedly put his hands on Paul's mom, and also pushed the NBA star's wife. The outlet reports Paul's kids saw it all happen.

Video shot by fans near the Suns' bench appears to show part of Paul's reaction to learning of the fan's alleged actions.

In the clip, you can see Paul was furious with a Mavericks fan, clearly telling the guy, "Hey! I'll see you later!"

In another video from the arena, Paul can be seen telling security guards, "He put his hands on my mom."

The Mavericks said in a statement after the game they were aware of the incident and the fan was removed from the stadium.

"The Dallas Mavericks are aware of an incident between a fan and the family of Chris Paul," the team said. "It was unacceptable behavior and will not be tolerated. The Mavericks, along with American Airlines Center, swiftly removed the fan from today's game."

Paul has yet to comment further on the situation.

New Era Cap CEO Christopher Koch Allegedly Tried To Run Over GF's Ex ... In Wild Dispute

Published | Updated

Christopher Koch -- New Era Cap's CEO -- is accused of trying to run over his girlfriend's ex-husband in a crazy dispute outside of a Buffalo restaurant on Saturday night.

Erie County District Attorney John Flynn spelled out the allegations against Koch on Monday ... saying the incident began after Koch's GF's ex got into a dispute with Koch in a parking lot.

According to Flynn, at one point during the argument, the man got out of his car ... while Koch remained inside his. A short time later, Flynn said the man alleged Koch then drove his car at him and attempted to hit him with it.

The D.A. says the man was able to jump out of the way, but still suffered a hand injury in the altercation. Flynn said Koch's car continued into the man's vehicle, causing damage to its passenger side.

Koch was charged with one count of first-degree reckless endangerment, a felony, and was arraigned in Buffalo City Court on Monday morning.

If he's convicted on the charge, Flynn said Koch could be facing up to seven years behind bars.

Koch is due back in court on May 25.

61-year-old Koch has been the CEO of New Era -- which makes official caps for the NFL, MLB and NBA -- since 2002.

Russell Wilson & Ciara We Got A Puppy!!! ... Fittingly Named 'Bronco'

Published

New city, new team ... new puppy?!?

Russell Wilson and Ciara just revealed they're welcoming a new doggo into the family following the quarterback's shocking trade to Denver ... and, fittingly, they named the pup "Bronco!"

The NFL star and the musician took to social media to announce the new addition to the Wilson household ... showing off the adorable, four-legged friend in an Instagram video.

"Meet.. BRONCO 🐶," Ciara said of the new dog. "The kids call her Bronco Love Brownie:)"

Ciara insinuated that Russ got her the pup as a Mother's Day gift ... writing on her social media page, "The sweetest surprise. I love you baby."

Wilson and Ciara were all smiles as the "Level Up" singer held Bronco in her arms.

Of course, the pup will now have a whole lot of room to roam in the Wilsons' house ... because, you'll recall, the signal-caller and his wife just copped a massive Denver mansion for $25 million after he was traded to the Broncos this offseason.

The Wilsons' new 20,060 square foot estate sits on 5.34 acres ... which means plenty of space for the new pup to explore.

Congrats!

MMA Fighter Joel Bauman Blames Loss On Herpes Outbreak ... Surprising Post-Fight Admission

Published

MMA light heavyweight Joel Bauman might be the most honest person on the planet -- the fighter made a jaw-dropping revelation in an interview this weekend ... blaming a recent loss on herpes and NFTs.

"King Bau" was inside the cage after a win at Fury FC 61 on Sunday ... when he opened up about a fight that didn't go his way earlier this year.

"Last fight I was tired, I was exhausted," he told the reporter.

Bauman said an NFT project he has been working on was to blame for the exhaustion ... and claimed he pulled 30 all-nighters before his fight against Josh Fremd, which he lost via submission.

But it's what Bauman said after that had people turning their heads.

"I had herpes before that fight, two outbreaks in the span of a week," Bauman said.

Worth noting -- Bauman seemed genuine with his words ... and it didn't come across like he was trying to be funny. Regardless of his intent, the clip of his interview quickly made rounds on social media.

Don't worry, though -- Bauman seemed fully recovered against Reese Forest at Bert Ogden Arena in Texas, winning via TKO.

"I'm here, I'm healthy, let's go, whatever," Bauman said. "It doesn’t matter. I fight."

Adreian Payne Former MSU Star Dead At 31 ... Shot And Killed In Florida

Published | Updated
UPDATE

11:05 AM PT -- TMZ Sports has obtained Dority's mug shot. Jail records show he's still in custody.

UPDATE
UPDATE

9:15 AM PT -- Police tell TMZ Sports ... Payne was shot and killed early Monday morning in Florida.

UPDATE

According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, officers responded to a report of a shooting at around 1:37 AM and discovered Payne suffering from a gunshot wound.

UPDATE

Cops say Payne was transported to a hospital, but later died there.

UPDATE

A spokesperson for the sheriff's office says 29-year-old Lawrence Dority was identified as the shooter ... and was ultimately arrested on a warrant for first-degree murder.

Former Michigan State men's basketball star Adreian Payne has died ... his former teammate announced on Monday. He was just 31 years old.

Details surrounding the death have not yet been revealed ... but Jared Sullinger -- the former Ohio State Buckeyes star who played with Payne at some point in their basketball careers -- announced the sad news via his Twitter page.

"Hate the news i received this morning…." Sullinger said in a tweet. "Rest Easy to my brother/Teammate @Adreian_Payne."

Payne became a massive star for the Spartans after arriving on the East Lansing campus in 2010 ... recording 16.4 points per game and 7.3 rebounds in his senior season in 2013. That year, Payne helped lead MSU to an Elite Eight appearance.

Adreian went on to be taken by the Atlanta Hawks with the #15 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He bounced around the Association for several years after that, before eventually moving overseas to play professionally.

Payne last played for Juventus Utena in Lithuania in the 2021-22 season.

Off the basketball court, Payne was perhaps best known for his relationship with 8-year-old cancer patient Lacey Holsworth. Adreian befriended her while at MSU, and the two grew so close, they referred to each other as brother and sister.

In fact, Holsworth -- who later passed away in 2014 -- joined Payne on his senior night at Michigan State.

Famed college basketball head coach Archie Miller mourned Payne's death on Twitter on Monday ... writing, "Sad to hear the passing of Adreian Payne this morning."

"Started watching him while he was in 10th grade, remember his grandmother on his visit. Loved seeing him develop at Michigan St. and become an NBA player. [Prayers] for his loved ones, Spartans, and Dayton, OH. #RipAP"

RIP.

Originally Published -- 8:11 AM PT

Browns' Nick Chubb Squats 675 Pounds ... Epic Rep Caught On Video

Published

Nick Chubb is at it again -- the running back for the Cleveland Browns just squatted 675 pounds ... and video of the feat is damn impressive!!

Nick's brother, Zach, posted footage of the crazy rep Monday morning ... showing the former Georgia standout going ass-to-grass with nearly 700 pounds on his back.

In the short clip, you can see Nick unload the bar -- with 7 plates (!!!) on each side -- then bend down with good form, and complete one full rep.

Nick had a spotter standing behind him, but there was no need for the guy, as the 3-time 1,000-yard rusher seemed to handle the weight seamlessly.

030122-nick-chubb-kal
SQUAT KING

This isn't the first time NC has demonstrated what he can do in the weight room. The 26-year-old previously squatted 500 pounds with ease back in March, and was stoked about it.

The Browns drafted Nick with the 35th overall pick in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft ... and, since then, the Georgia native has become one of the premier backs in the league -- and clearly one of the strongest.

Olivia Culpo Celebrates 30th B-Day ... Sexy Pole Dance!!!

Published
050922_olivia_culpo_kal_2
SPINNIN' INTO THIRTY

Olivia Culpo is starting off her 30th birthday celebration by picking up a new talent -- pole dancing!!

The model, her fam and her NFL superstar boyfriend, Christian McCaffrey, hit up Miami for a weekend full of fun ... from fancy dinners to clubbing, to hitting up the Formula 1 Grand Prix.

But the most attention-grabbing moment of the party is when the birthday girl -- wearing a tiny silver dress -- decided to take advantage of a pole inside a party bus ... by hopping up on it and going for a spin!!

The whole bus cheered for Olivia as she did her thing ... and her sister, Sophia, even looked shocked.

OC shared a recap of the festivities on Instagram ... saying, "30th birthday! This milestone scared me but I have to say I feel so incredibly grateful for the people in my life, and for all of you."

"Thank you for following my crazy journey through life and giving me an outlet to be myself. I don’t want this to be too long but I love you guys and thank you so so much for the bday wishes !!!!"

No word on what CMC got his lady for her big day -- but we're sure it was special.

Tennis Star Denis Shapovalov Snaps On Fans At Italian Open ... 'Shut The F*** Up'

Published

Denis Shapovalov just went scorched earth at the Italian Open -- the Canadian tennis star told fans in the stands to "shut the f*** up" in a fit of rage ... and the moment was captured on video.

The incident went down during Shapovalov's match against Lorenzo Sonego in the tourney's round of 64 ... when Denis got into an argument with the umpire on the sideline.

Denis was upset over a point penalty he received after crossing the net to show the ump a mark on the court ... and when he approached the guy on the sideline, fans in attendance at the Grand Stand Arena let him hear it with a loud chorus of boos.

In the short clip, Shapovalov turns to the crowd and yells, "Shut the f*** up," before going back to plead his case in front of the supervisor.

The 23-year-old later apologized for his outburst ... saying he understands the ump was just doing his job.

Shapovalov was able to calm down and win his match against Sonego ... and will now face off against Nikoloz Basilashvili.

Canelo Alvarez Sings His Heart Out At Vegas Club ... After Dmitry Bivol Loss

Published | Updated
050922-canelo-alvarez-kal1 5/7/22
BELTING IT OUT

Canelo Alvarez didn't let a hard-fought battle in the ring keep him from singing his heart out at the club on Saturday -- the boxing superstar hit up a Vegas club for some amazing karaoke after losing to Dmitry Bivol ... and TMZ Sports has the vid!!

Alvarez was in great spirits just hours after going up against the undefeated Russian boxer at his his official Hennessey afterparty at Resorts World's Zouk nightclub ... singing along to Mexican hits like his go-to song, "Eso y Más" by Joan Sebastian.

This is pretty much a tradition at this point -- Canelo serenaded his wife, Fernanda Gómez, at the same club after he beat Caleb Plant back in November ... wowing the crowd with his pipes.

Waiting for your permission to load TikTok Post.

Of course, Canelo went up a weight class to take on the hardest challenge he could realistically fight ... and while it didn't go his way, he gave it everything he had for 12 rounds.

We're told Canelo and his crew rolled in around 2 AM and enjoyed bottle service for a few hours ... with the boxer singing for all to hear for about 30 minutes -- with a special appearance by actor Diego Boneta!!

Alvarez is known to be humble in both victory and defeat ... and this video further proves it.

Dwayne Haskins Wife Gets Sleeve Of Tats Honoring QB ... After His Death

Published

Dwayne Haskins' wife, Kalabrya, is continuing to honor her late husband in the aftermath of his tragic death by getting several tattoos -- including one of the former NFL player's face -- on her arms.

Kalabrya, who married Dwayne in 2021, showed off the new ink over the weekend ... revealing she got a picture of Haskins, his autograph, and several of his handwritten notes inked on her shoulder and forearm areas.

The tats take up most of Kalabrya's limbs ... with Dwayne's face covering the top of one of her shoulders.

The handwritten notes, meanwhile, went on her forearms and wrists. The messages featured loving words that Haskins had appeared to write her while the two were dating.

"Wearing my heart on my sleeve..." Kalabrya said in a caption of the pictures on her social media page.

Kalabrya has continuously honored Dwayne since he tragically died on April 9. She's posted messages to him on her social media pages and also released a dove at his memorial service in Pittsburgh in late April.

In fact, on Sunday ... Kalabrya shared past videos of Dwayne wishing her a happy Mother's Day with the couple's dogs.

Dwayne was just 24 years old when he died.

#RIP

Nas Performs at Carbone in Miami ... Packed with Celebs

Published
050922_nas_kal_1
THIS IS NAS' NIGHT

Nas went from a King of New York to an Emperor in Miami this weekend -- the guy headlined a banger of a show to round out the Formula 1 event in town ... and killed it.

The rapper took the stage Sunday at Carbone Beach, where the whole joint went on a trip down memory lane to some of his early hits in the '90s ... including a ton of 'Illmatic' tracks that the crowd was vibing to in what appears to have been a pretty intimate setting.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

Speaking of that audience ... it was about as star-studded as they come. Some of the A-listers in attendance -- DJ Khaled, Venus Williams, Jamie Foxx, Hailee Steinfeld, Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz, Busta Rhymes, Lindsey Vonn, Kevin Love, LeBron James, Rich Paul, Maverick Carter, Meek Mill, Timbaland, and Karrueche Tran ... among others.

Nas himself played to the spectators throughout his set, all while holding some sort of beverage in his hand. Looks like it was a boozy affair -- just about everyone seemed to have a cocktail to themselves.

Definitely a great way to end the week, and Nas's performance is right up there with Travis Scott's show from Saturday night ... where the guy rocked the mic in full capacity, the first since he's done a show like that since Astroworld.

If there was any question about it before, it's answered now ... Miami was the place to be.

Tristan Thompson Send Ex's Mom, Kris Jenner, A Bouquet Of Roses ... Happy Mother's Day!!!

Published | Updated

Seems like Tristan Thompson is cleverly trying to win back his ex, Khloe Kardashian, by nuzzling up to the person in the seat of power -- Kris Jenner.

Kris shared a photo of the pink and white roses she received for Mom's Day, thanking Tristan for the bouquet and saying she loved him. Of course, this comes 5 months after TT and Maralee Nichols welcomed a child together ... super problematic for his relationship with Khloe.

It's interesting ... TT didn't post any tribute to Khloe, with whom he shares a child, as he has in recent years. It's also unclear if Khloe got a Mother's Day gift from him.

Meanwhile, Travis Scott went all out on the Mother's Day celebration for Kylie Jenner. Kylie posted a photo with their daughter, Stormi ... surrounded by all-white décor and a sea of white flowers, sitting poolside.

050922_kylie_jenner_kal
TREATED LIKE A QUEEN

Kylie, who welcomed their second child in February, seemed to be impressed by Travis' effort. She shared details of the decorations all over her IG, calling it the sweetest Mother's Day.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

Kim Kardashian posted a bunch of photos ... photos of North, Kris and grandma Mary Jo 'MJ' Shannon.

Kendrick Lamar Becomes O.J., Will, Ye & Jussie ... In New Music Video

Published | Updated

Kendrick Lamar is a man of many faces, including some very famous ones he features in his new music video ... addressing the most infamous moments of the past few years.

KL dropped a song Sunday called 'The Heart Part 5,' where he talks about the culture at lightning-quick speed, hopscotching through different scenarios and employing the monikers of celebs to make his point -- including Will Smith, Kanye West and Jussie Smollett.

It's true ... the video shows Kendrick's face change to all of these men at different points in the song, using some fancy technology that we suppose you could equate to a deep fake.

He also features O.J. Simpson briefly while bringing up a "bulletproof Rover," seemingly referencing the Ford Bronco from way back when. Then, he transitions to Ye's face while mentioning "friends bipolar," and finally to Jussie as he says "the streets got me f***ed up."

Eventually, his face becomes Will's as he raps this ... "In the land where hurt people hurt more people // F*** callin' it culture." Of course, he's addressing the Oscars slap there.

There are two other stars he morphs into ... the late Kobe Bryant and Nipsey Hussle. In both instances, he's referring to death and reflecting on the legacy he leaves behind ... praying it's a worthy one.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

The Nipsey line is especially telling ... Kendrick raps, "To my brother, to my kids, I'm in Heaven // To my mother, to my sis, I'm in Heaven// To my father, to my wife, I am serious, this is Heaven" ... going on to say he forgives the killer who sped up his demise.

In this instance, he appears to be rapping as Nipsey ... and addressing Nipsey's alleged murderer, Eric Holder. Lots of food for thought in this one -- K.Dot's new album drops Friday.

Dikembe Mutombo Super Teams Don't Exist In NBA ... It's About Mental Toughness

Published | Updated
050522_dikembe_mutombo_kal
NOT ABOUT STAR POWER

Dikembe Mutombo is calling cap on anyone who believes the Brooklyn Nets are a super team ... because he tells TMZ Sports no such thing exists!!

We spoke with the legendary big man out at LAX this week ... and when we brought up the fact a lot of stacked rosters like the Brooklyn Nets are out of the playoffs, the Hall of Famer said he isn't on board with calling them -- or anyone else, for that matter -- a "super team."

"What is a super team?? Who told you that was a super team??" Mutombo asked our camera guy. "Everybody plays in the NBA. They play on the same team. I work for the league. There is no super team."

Mutombo goes on to explain no matter how much talent is on a team, what really matters is what's between the ears.

"If you are not ready to play, you lose," added Mutombo, who won the DPOY award 4 times. "It's like a boxing match. If you not ready, somebody gon' knock you out."

Some fans will vehemently disagree with Dikembe's take ... especially since the Nets have a roster that boasts two of the game's best scorers -- Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving -- and an elite defender in Ben Simmons when healthy.

"If you mentally ... not tough, you can be beaten," Mutombo said. "If you not mentally tough, somebody gon' dunk on you."

The quote echoes what some talking heads have said about Simmons, who was called out for not playing through a back injury. The criticism, however, may have been too harsh ... as the hooper needed back surgery to help the issue.

On paper, the Nets have one of the scariest rosters ... but based on Mutombo's comments, he's not feeding into the hype of KD, KI, and Ben as a trio until they prove they're tough enough upstairs.

Martin Brundle Confuses Paolo Banchero ... For Pat Mahomes at Grand Prix 😅

Published | Updated

Paolo Banchero is NOT Patrick Mahomes -- a fairly obvious fact that Martin Brundle had to learn the hard way ... live on the air, no less. Whoops!

The former race car driver-turned-broadcaster was in the middle of his coverage of Sunday's Grand Prix down in Miami for Sky Sports ... where he was flagging people down for interviews on the speedway grid like he usually does each year.

Unfortunately, he manifested a case of mistaken identity ... doing a stop-and-chat with the star Duke basketball player -- who towered over everyone at an impressive 6'10" -- whom he apparently thought was the Kansas City Chiefs star QB. It was funny ... and kinda cringe.

Check it out -- you see Brundle spot who he thinks is PM, and shouts out his name ... only to be ignored by Paolo. When he finally catches up to him though ... he gets his interview.

After a few seconds, MB realizes Paolo isn't Pat ... and sorta apologizes as Paolo goes on his way. Doesn't seem he was sweating the mix-up either, dropping a "whatever" afterward.

At one point, Brundle came across a rando that he seems to have thought might've been famous -- but rather than make the leap he did with Paolo/Patrick, he politely asked ... who the heck are ya??? This interview didn't go so great either, though ... but made for good TV.

It seems awkward exchanges are Martin's M.O. at F1 events -- remember that time he tried to talk to Megan Thee Stallion??? Yeah, more of the same from this loveable bloke. 😂