Boxing

Mike "The Bodysnatcher" McCallum -- a former professional boxer -- has died ... according to multiple reports.

The Jamaican athlete passed away Saturday while he was on his way to the gym in Las Vegas, according to the The Jamaica Observer. The outlet claims he fell ill and pulled over to the side of the road where he was eventually found by deceased by police.

His cause of death has not been reported ... and, we've reached out to Las Vegas Police for more information.

Jake Paul will step into the ring with former middleweight champ Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in less than a month ... and The Problem Child says he'll beat the former title holder so badly, it'll catapult him to a championship of his own!

28-year-old Paul joined Babcock on the TMZ Sports TV show (airs nightly on FS1) ... where the guys chopped it about the June 28th scrap in SoCal.

"Man, I'm feeling better than ever," Jake said. "This is going to be my breakout performance."

Manny Pacquiao is returning to the ring at 46 years old ... and while some folks are skeptical about the decision, boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard tells TMZ Sports he's firmly in his corner!!

Pacquiao is slated to face WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas -- his first fight since his loss against Yordenis Ugas in 2021.

Some folks are worried about Pac Man heading into this fight for two reasons -- the age gap (Barrios is 30, Pacquiao is 46) ... and his extended time away from the sport while serving as the Senator of the Philippines.

If bad blood is still brewing between Jordon Hudson and Linda Holliday following their 2024 Christmas party tiff ... a popular boxing promotion tells TMZ Sports it's down to let them settle their differences in one of its rings.

Damon Feldman, founder of Celebrity Boxing, said this week he'll pay Bill Belichick's former lover and his current one to duke it out ... if they decide that squashing their beef ultimately requires throwing fists.

No word what the monetary incentive would be for the two ... but given the juicy details that surrounded their spat at that now-infamous, December Nantucket bash -- we're sure Feldman would make it worth their while.

Papoose says his estranged wife Remy Ma crossed the line by mentioning his children in her explosive rant yesterday ... so he returned with some TNT of his own by telling the world his ex is capable of whorrible things!!!

We obtained Papoose's divorce filing court docs on Friday, which cite the usual irreconcilable differences and requests for equal dissolution ... but he put many more details on Instagram!!!

According to Pap, Remy cheated heavily throughout their marriage, even with a woman she was once imprisoned with, at one point.

Georgia O'Connor -- an undefeated British boxer -- has died at the age of 25 ... months after revealing her cancer diagnosis and just three weeks after getting married.

O'Connor's promoter -- Boxxer -- announced her passing in a statement on Thursday ... calling her a "True warrior inside and outside the ring."

"The boxing community has lost a talented, courageous and determined young woman far too soon."

12:24 PM PT -- Mayweather Fitness co-founder and CEO, James Williams, one of the people who the letter was sent to, tells TMZ Sports the following ... "My team and I have consistently operated Mayweather Fitness with integrity and in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, and we look forward to that being clearly reflected through current proceedings."

"I’ve always had a great relationship with Floyd, and want to make clear that the letter is correct in stating that I oversee and am responsible for all operational aspects of the business. Floyd is not involved in the day-to-day operations."

"My focus remains on leading the company, supporting our partners, and continuing to build the brand."

Floyd Mayweather is sending a salvo at the many fitness clubs bearing his name ... warning Mayweather Fitness to shape up or face the consequences!

TMZ Sports obtained a letter, sent last week by TBE's attorneys, demanding that the franchised health clubs fix a laundry list of alleged issues, or they'll find themselves in court opposite Floyd.

Among the 50-0 fighter's beefs, Floyd says Mayweather Fitness + Boxing, with over 50 locations in the U.S., has allegedly failed to pay their employees wages, and the legendary boxer, who says he has no control over day-to-day operations, is paying the price.

"Mr. Mayweather has not participated in the management, operations, or strategic oversight of [Mayweather Fitness]. Despite his limited involvement as a brand ambassador, your organizations have continually and improperly exploited his name, image, and likeness for financial gain while simultaneously embroiling him in lawsuits and negative press."

Michael Carter-Williams has traded in jump shots and chest passes for jabs and body blows -- he's a boxer now -- and he tells TMZ Sports he's gunning for a knockout in his first time on the mat later this month!!

The ex-NBA star -- the 11th overall pick in the 2013 draft -- has formally made the transition to the fight game since the end of his hooping career ... and his first official match will go down at the Broad Street Brawl on May 29 at the Leman Ballroom in New York.

His opponent is Sam Khatib -- an amateur boxer who's 36 -- and it will be a three-round affair with proceeds from the tilt going to a good cause.

Caleb Plant is down to be Jake Paul's next opponent after El Gallo gets done with Julio César Chávez Jr. -- telling TMZ Sports he'd love to get in the ring soon with the former YouTuber and mix it up.

The 23-2 fighter had nothing but kind things to say about Paul while out at The Mayan in downtown Los Angeles earlier this month ... but he said if Jake really wants to throw hands and make some cash in the near future, he's all for it.

"I mean, if he wants to get in there and rumble," Plant said, "we can do that."

Holly Holm says she'd love to take on her UFC nemesis Ronda Rousey in the boxing ring ... but tells TMZ Sports there's a snowball's chance in hell of that ever happening.

We caught up with the first woman to ever hand Rousey an L in the UFC Octagon out at the Jake Paul vs. Julio César Chávez Jr. press conference this week ... and as a new member of the Most Valuable Promotions family, we had to ask how she felt about the idea of going head-to-head with her rival again.

"Of course," she said. "I think that's just maybe hypothetical. I don't think that would ever happen, but of course I would."

Jake Paul and Julio César Chávez Jr. are a little over a month away from trading blows in California ... but El Gallo already has wheels in motion on his next potential fight -- telling TMZ Sports he would love to go up against Badou Jack!!

We caught up with one-half of the June 28th main event following Wednesday's press conference in L.A. ... and asked about Badou saying he would give Paul a shot at his WBC cruiserweight title.

"I'm super interested," Paul said. "I had Nakisa [Bidarian] contact his team behind the scenes, so those discussions are happening."

Verbal jabs were thrown during the Jake Paul vs Julio César Chávez Jr. press conference ... but it wasn't between the two combatants -- but rather Paul and and his opponent's dad.

The two jawed at each other after event moderator Chris Mannix asked the 62-year-old how he believes the bout will go down between his son and El Gallo.

"He's never faced a fighter like my son," the boxing great said. "With all due respect, fighting Mike Tyson, I think I would have given him a better fight. He didn't throw one punch all fight."

If you found yourself daydreaming of a Jermall Charlo vs. Jake Paul fight, it might be time to think of another reality ... 'cause The Hitman tells TMZ Sports even though he's down for the bout -- he's pretty sure Paul wouldn't want the smoke.

We caught up with Charlo this week ahead of his May 31 fight against Thomas LaManna ... and he told us his body feels good as he's looking to keep his undefeated record intact.

He also talked about a potential throwdown with Paul -- and while he said he was "for sure" into it ... he admitted there are some big roadblocks.

Rolly Romero's making it clear it's totally fine for men to cry ... and he tells TMZ Sports anyone who's making fun of Ryan Garcia for his emotional outburst after their fight last week can go pound sand.

The star boxer -- who upset Garcia in Times Square on May 2 -- passionately defended his opponent while out in L.A. on Wednesday ... explaining he, too, had a big cry following their tilt.

"It's OK for men to cry, bruh," Romero said ... adding, "It just shows we're human."

Rolly Romero's next fight almost certainly won't be against Devin Haney ... the boxing superstar just ripped his rival during a chat with TMZ Sports -- calling him "shattered" and "a track star."

After triumphantly beating Ryan Garcia in Times Square last week, Romero said Tuesday he's on the hunt for a "big name" for his next bout ... but, he made it clear it likely won't be Haney.

Romero implied the 26-year-old -- who won a controversial tilt against José Ramírez minutes before his Garcia showdown in NYC -- is just too boring to attract mass amounts of Pay-Per-View buys.