Stephen A. Smith has been missing in action from one of ESPN’s primetime shows, “First Take”. The illustrious and famed journalist and media personality has not appeared on the show for over a month due to a recent shoulder surgery. He announced the surgery and resulting hiatus on Twitter last month.
Appreciate the love I’ve been receiving from everyone who’s missed me on @FirstTake. I’m out because I’m rehabbing from shoulder surgery. Partial tear — rotator cuff AND Bicep, along with frayed Labrum, plus a Bone Spur. Aging sucks, but it is what it is. Back next month.#AllLove
Fans and viewers are beginning to get anxious about the return of the coveted host. According to his response to one fan, Smith will be back in action two weeks from the 1st of the month, on Monday, August 15.
Since his hiatus, a number of analyst and personalities have stepped in to fill Stephen A’s seat for the time being. While no one can replace the potent precess of Smith, the analyst have done their best to hold down the fort alongside host, Molly Qerim.
Smith also took to Twitter yesterday to honor the life and legacy of the late, great humanitarian and champion, Bill Russell.
My deepest condolences to the family, loved ones and the @NBA community on the loss of the greatest champion we’ve ever known: BILL RUSSELL. An activist, a pioneer, a humanitarian. He made the world better for us all.#RIPCHAMPION
Undefeated lightweight boxing sensation Frank “The Ghost” Martin(15-0-11KOs) sent shock waves throughout boxing in January 2022 with a highlight knockout victory against Romero Duno — making him a fight-to-watch of 2022 in a division that includes recognizable boxing superstars Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia.
The Ghost is the latest boxing star in Derrick James’s stable, already home to two undisputed champions in Errol Spence Jr and Jermell Charlo. Ahead of his upcoming fight this Saturday (July 9) in San Antonio, the 27-year-old southpaw spoke with The Source’s Bryson “Boom” Paul about a variety of topics, including training with Errol Spence Jr, the pros and cons of knockouts, mental health, rankings, if he is the “scariest” fighter in the lightweight division and so much more. Watch the full interview above.
Martin is scheduled to fight Jackson Martinez on the Magsayo vs Vargas undercard at the Alamode in San Antonio, Texas, and airing on Showtime Championship Boxing-Premier Boxing Champions. Martin was originally slated to fight Ricardo Nunez before the last-minute replacement in Martinez. Martin vs. Martinez will open this weekend’s Showtime/PBC event.
Martinez is coming off a loss and marks Martin’s third TV appearance. “I’m looking to establish myself and this will be the third time on TV and I think people are getting to know who I am,” Martin told Ring Magazine. “I wanted to fight when I was young, but my mom (Erica) wouldn’t let me, so I played football and wrestled. When I first told my mom I wanted to box, I was 11 or 12 and she wasn’t for it. There was no pestering my mom about it, but I was always fighting as a kid outside of boxing. My mom wanted me to do something else, because I was at that age when I was fighting in the streets.”
WBC featherweight titlist Mark Magsayo’s first defense against unbeaten Rey Vargas on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9PM ET/6PM PT) from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
It has been seven years since the last time iconic MMA fighter Ronda Rousey (12-2-0) stepped into the octagon. When asked about a possible return to MMA during the Kurt Angle Show last Sunday (June 12), Rousey revealed there’s only one fight she’d be interested in returning to competition for — Gina Carano.
“There’s only one person … there’s only one person I would come back for,” Rousey told Kurt Angle. “I mean, I’ve said it a million times. It’s not like it’s something new. (I’d come back) for Gina, man – Gina Carano. She’s the reason why I got into fighting. She’s the reason why I knew it was a possibility. I will always be forever grateful. If she ever was like, ‘Ronda, I want to fight you tomorrow at 205 pounds’ – like, whatever the hell she’d want. I’m not saying she’s 205 pounds; she’s very svelte.”
Rousey continued: “If she wanted to come into my backyard and do the ‘Rocky’ thing, you know, ‘Ding-ding,’ and we just do it in the backyard, I don’t care. I will fight Gina wherever she wants. And if she doesn’t want to, forever, I will leave that offer there. It’s a respect thing, not like a, ‘F*ck you, I’m coming to get you.’ It’s just like, ‘Hey, if you ever want to pull that card out, it’s there.’ I love her. Thank you, Gina, for everything you’ve done.”
Gina Carano, 40, retired from MMA in 2009 after her first loss against current Bellator MMA champ Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg in August 2009. Transitioning to acting shortly after defeat, Carano is recognized as the pioneer of women’s MMA.
Rousey has had no interest in returning to MMA for a “final” bout since her loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016. In her prime, Rousey was the face of the women’s UFC division. A reigning champion from 2013 to 2015, she headlined five UFC events with her first against Liz Carmouche at UFC 157 in February 2013.
In 2019, Carano shared with ESPN that a potential “super fight” with Rousey was presented to her — a fight Rousey always wanted — with a million-dollar offer to fight a then-undefeated Rousey; however, didn’t materialize because of Dana White — according to Carano.
Carano told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani: “When Ronda Rousey became popular, I remember they (Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta) had finally called for a meeting, and I walked in this restaurant, and they looked like these two big muscly guys at the table in like the middle of Hollywood. I remember thinking, ‘What took you guys so long? I’ve been … what took you so long?’ So they were like, ‘OK, we’d love to offer you a million dollars. We’d love to have that fight.’ And I was like, ‘Well, that sounds great, but I’m going to need you to do me a favor, then, because I’ve been acting, I’m not active in any gym. So it’s going to take me, you know, you’re going to have to give me some time to build a team or join a team.”
It’s no secret that the idea of Rousey versus Carano would easily be one of the biggest fights in MMA history and draw record-breaking Pay-Per-Views buy. Unfortunately in combat sports, super fights often fall through due to a variety of reasons, ranging from money to politics to proper preparation.
“And it’s not an easy thing, as I’m sure all the fighters know,” Carano continued. “You have to find a team or build one that’s going to be into what you’re doing, and if you haven’t actively been a part of anything, you can walk in as Gina Carano or whoever, but you’re still going to have to find the people who are really going to be there for you, and that takes time. So I told them, ‘You got to be able to just sit on this for about six months, Dana. You can’t say anything and let me get situated with that, because that sounds great and I’d love to do it.’ So it was a nice dinner, and we all left positive. I left stoked, and I was like, ‘OK, well this makes sense. This is my moment to come and be back in there.”
Fans of the two icons have created dream fight simulations that showcased possible outcomes in support of the UFC’s UFC 2 video game. You may watch the full women’s bantamweight dream bout above via EA Sports.
Since the UFC, Rousey has become a WWE Superstar and the current Smackdown Women’s Champion, alongside a flourishing acting career with roles in blockbuster film franchises Fast and Furious and Expandables.
Gina Carano has established herself as an action star with high-profile roles in blockbuster franchises like Fast and Furious also, Marvel’s Deadpool and Star Wars.
More celebrity boxing is coming this summer with the announcement Thursday evening (June 16) of popular recording artist and recurring celebrity boxer DDG (“Moonwalking in Calabasas”) set to return to the ring to face off against chart-topping Atlantic Records recording artist and first-time celebrity boxer PnB Rock(“Selfish”) on July 30 in Los Angeles, California at Crypto.com Arena and Pay-Per-View.
“I said I wasn’t getting back in the ring unless it was another artist,” tweets DDG on Twitter with a promotional flyer featuring PnB Rock and himself. “LETS GET IT!!! Get tickets now.”
Brought to you by Social Golves Entertainment and Bash Boxing, the two hip-hop stars will join as co-headliners of the upcoming boxing match between Los Angeles recording artist Blueface and NBA champ-turned-podcaster Nick “Swaggy P” Young. Bout against PnB Rock marks DDG second celebrity boxing match with a decisive win against YouTuber Nate Wyatt in June 2021 at Battle of the Platforms in Miami.
In his fight against PnB Rock, DDG hopes to inspire the end of senseless gun violence in today’s hip-hop that has taken the lives of so many prominent hip-hop stars in recent years. He encourages other artists to join celebrity boxing and settle their differences with their fists, instead of resorting to gun violence.
In a follow-up tweet, DDG tweets with money bag emojis: “This shit more than a boxing match, it’s a movement! Rappers put the GUNS down & put on the Gloves. Ni**as out here killing for free when u can just punch it out for a BAG.”
This shit more than a boxing match, it’s a movement! Rappers put the GUNS down & put on the GLOVES niggas out here killing for free when u can just punch it out for a BAG
PnB Rock has yet to comment on the upcoming bout at press time.
DDG is scheduled to perform headlining shows in Chicago, Atlanta and New York City leading up to the fight with more show announcements on the way.
In related news, DDG and popular recording artist Toosii agreed to a boxing match last summer after the two exchanged words over DDG’s ex-girlfriend Rubi Rose. More as the story develops.
Tickets for DDG vs. PnB Rock are available now at AXS.
Steph Curry poured in 31 points and 11 assists as the Warriors beat the Mavericks 109-100 in Game Three in Dallas. Curry guided Golden State to a 3-0 lead in the series as the team now sits one win away from returning to the NBA Finals.
Andrew Wiggins also chipped in with 27 points and 11 rebounds in the victory. Curry and Wiggins are the second duo with 25-point double-doubles this postseason.
Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins are the second duo with 25-point double-doubles this postseason pic.twitter.com/zkcLtc9lLZ
Logan Paul and Floyd Mayweather may be set up for a new kind of fight, but this time it might be in a courtroom rather than a ring.
Speaking to reporters at the opening of New York’s Hard Rock Hotel, Paul told reporters that Mayweather has not paid him what he is fully owed from last year’s fight. Paul said, “He [Mayweather] has not paid me in full. That is a fact…short a few mil.”
Paul did not say specifically how much money he’s still owed, but it was reported last May that he would earn 10 percent of the fight’s PPV shares, which was estimated to be about $5 million.
When asked if Paul had been in contact with Mayweather regarding the money, Paul said “nah…we’re taking this one to court.” He then addresses the reporter’s camera directly and said “See you in the courtroom. Congrats you’re going to prison, Floyd.”
The full video, courtesy of TMZ Sports, can be seen here.
He then continued to speak about the hotel’s culinary offerings, including bull’s testicles.
The fight between Mayweather and Paul took place in June of 2021. While no official winner was declared, ESPN unofficially scored the bout 78-74 for Mayweather.
Lions are on the hunt for the most prestigious title in Boxing Saturday night.
Heading into his undisputed rematch with Brian Castaño(17-0-2), unified Junior Welterweight Champion Jermell Charlo (34-1-1) talks to The Source’s Bryson “Boom” Paul about preparing for his upcoming rematch, discussions with his twin brother, and fellow champion Jermall Charlo, future outside of boxing, the best advice he’s received from manager Al Haymon, and, of course, Houston hip hop. You may watch the full interview right below.
Charlo and Castaño fought to a draw last July. Remember the night, Charlo credits the draw to multiple reasons, ranging from lower back issues to giving away too many rounds to just simply not being his “best night.” He told Bad Left Hook’s Will Esco in May, “… I didn’t have my best night, I got a draw — I’m not worried about losing a 0 because I’ve already been down that road before, so right now it’s just stepping up into the ring to be the Jermell Charlo that I know I should be, and possess a different type of talent, be very talented, be very athletic and smart. With that alone, he can’t fuck with me.”
On what adjustments he’s made for the rematch, Charlo says in the same interview: “I feel like I’m gonna make some improvements just like he’s gonna make some improvements. I’m excited to be in there again, ready to do it again, ready to go, and I just know I want to get the fuckin’ knockout. I want to knock this motherfucker out ‘cause I’m 154 lb champion and I’ve been 154 lb champion, and I’ve been knocking motherfuckers out. Now I’m going back to that.”
Should Jermell win on Saturday night, he will be crowned the undisputed Junior Welterweight champion as holder of all four belts (WBC, WBO, WBA, IBF) within the division. On the other hand, Castaño has the opportunity to strip Charlo of all three titles, the WBC, IBF, WBA, currently in his possession on Saturday night. It all goes down Saturday night.
Watch Charlo vs. Castaño 2 Saturday night (May 13) on Showtime starting at 9PM ET/6PM PT.
Watch the full interview above and get ready for Charlo vs. Castaño 2 today with the preview below.
Last night NASCAR turned into WWF wrestling when Ty Gibbs and Sam Mayer came to blows. Gibbs lost the lead to Brandon Jones in the final corner and attempted a final drive off the corner when Sam Mayer ran into Gibbs from behind, moving him up the racetrack and creating a three-car jam for second place. Mayer then ended up driving Gibbs into the wall.
Gibbs expressed his displeasure by running into Mayer after the checkered flag, and things escalated once the two stopped on pit road. Gibbs quickly confronted Mayer, and the two exchanged words and shoves before Gibbs began punching and grabbing Mayer by the head. The two went down in a pile before being separated.
“I tried to talk to him, and he got all in my face. At that point, we’ve got to start fighting,” Gibbs told Fox Sports. “We got put in a bad position there. The only thing I’m mad about … He wasn’t going to get past the No. 16 there and I just got hit in the left rear. It’s just frustrating. I just got drove in the fence at the end.”
Mayer, who was left with a black eye and some bruising to his face, said his racing Gibbs hard on the final lap would have awarded $100,000 to Mayer had he passed Gibbs to be the highest-finishing Dash 4 Cash-qualified driver. Mayer criticized Gibbs for getting upset for being on the receiving end of getting moved out of the way despite his willingness to do the same to other drivers Gibbs previously moved John Hunter Nemechek for the win at Richmond, a point which Gibbs agreed.
During the melee an official was also placed on a stretcher and taken to an ambulance with unspecified injuries. Watch the video below
Floyd “Money” Mayweather (50-0) picks up another bag as he continues his exhibition boxing run – this time, he will be fighting in the United Arab Emirates.
TMZ broke the news that the 45-year-old undefeated Hall of Famer has signed a deal to participate in his third exhibition bout, to be called “The Global Titans Fight Series,” against the undefeated boxer Don “Dangerous” Moore (18-0-1) in an eight-round match on top of a literal helipad above the Burj Al Hotel in Dubai on May 14. Mayweather originally announced plans for the fight last December after meeting with promoters.
45-year-old Floyd Mayweather is returning to the boxing ring May 14 for an 8-round exhibition fight on a helipad in Dubai! https://t.co/lMq5jJZhKs
Moore and Mayweather are familiar with one another as Moore trained with Mayweather’s late-Uncle and former coach, Roger Mayweather. Moore and Mayweather sparred together in 2015 to get Mayweather for his bout against Andre Berto. Mayweather beat Berto that September via the decision to secure his 49th victory. You may check out the clip of Mayweather and Moore’s 2015 spar below.
Before the upcoming exhibition, Mayweather boxed two previous opponents, including kickboxing star Tenshin Nasukawa and YouTuber star Logan Paul last June. The last time Mayweather fought professionally was in 2017, when he defeated MMA star Conor McGregor by TKO.
Mayweather says the attendance will be exclusive, calling the latest exhibition a “limited edition boxing showcase,” Mayweather says the attendance will be exclusive. “It’s going to be a very special crowd, not too many people,” he said. “So if you get the chance to come here, you must know, you’re very, very special for this event.”
The Global Titans Fight Series will be co-presented by FrontRow and ROQU and, of course, in conjunction with Floyd’s Mayweather Promotions. The undercard will include marquee names in MMA legend-turned-boxer Anderson “The Spider” Silva and Mayweather protege and former Light Heavyweight champion boxer Badou Jack (25-3-3). Silva, 46, will be facing Brazilian star, Bruno Machado.
No official word of Mayweather’s purse and full undercard at press time.
In related news, Mayweather has joined the metaverse with his own NFT project, titled Mayweverse. “Mr. I don’t lose at nothing, is back and if you in the NFT world and you betting on me, you will never lose,” he said. “Ladies and gentlemen, follow me. As you can see, we like to call this the great room, coz I’m great. Let’s go in here, that beautiful masterpiece right there, soon that’s gonna be an NFT. But what I need you to do right now, go get Mayweverse. That’s my new NFT, I’ve been working on that for months and I just dropped right now, go get it.”
See the latest addition to the Mayweverse NFT collection below.
The last card – Avatar All In has supply of 1,000 NFTs
One lucky holder will win 30,000$with this NFT
This card will give you Floyd’s Avatar and access to Floyd’s Gym & Events in the Metaverse
After the unstoppable buzz surrounding their celebrity boxing matches, Triller Fight Club announces the next phase of the brand with a new boxing competition series, titled So You Think You Can Fight. Partnering with TV super-producer Nigel Lythgoe, Triller will produce an unscripted competition series with a similar format to the popular competition show, “So You Think You Can Dance.”
Reported as a weekly series, “So You Think You Can Fight” will be an hour-long show that pairs a celebrity action star with a pro fighter, each who will select an amateur boxer through a global talent search and competition audience voting and participation. The selected contestants will undergo a series of mental and physical training, fighting against each other with one winner for each division — lightweight, heavyweight, and MMA. The show’s winner will go on to a pro bout on a Triller Fight Club main event to launch their pro boxing career.
“So You Think You Can Fight” is slated to premiere late-2022 on Triller’s new streaming platform, Triller Verzuz TV, formed by TrillerNet’s recent acquisition of the Timberland and Swizz Beatz-created live streaming channel Verzuz and global live event streaming platform, FiteTv.
Everyone Fights For a Reason. What’s Yours?
Join the Producer of American Idol & So You Think You Can Dance on Triller to see if you have what it takes. Apply to So You Think You Can Fight by downloading the Triller app & uploading a video w/ your name, age, & weight w/ #sytycfpic.twitter.com/TYIj6tcXxL
“Triller has built something extraordinary, and they truly have their finger on the pulse of where live event entertainment is headed,” Lythgoe said. “As a lifelong fan of music and boxing, I am thrilled to be getting into the ring with Ryan, Snoop and the whole Triller team to join their disruptive and innovative journey. Everyone is fighting for something in this world, and I’m excited to tell the many fascinating stories behind the raised gloves.”
“Nigel Lythgoe is a giant among giants, and his new role at Triller is a total game-changer for us,” said Ryan Kavanaugh, co-owner of Triller Fight Club parent company TrillerNet. “Nigel has changed the face of competition-based television around the world, and there is no one better to help us bring the excitement of Triller Fight Club to our global audiences, both through our exciting new streaming series and by adding his visionary storytelling abilities to our Fight Club events. We could not be more excited to welcome Nigel to the Triller team.”
“Boxing and dancing share the same movements and the same rhythm, and who better to take Fight Club to the next level that the person who brought the world ‘American Idol’ and ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ the iconic talent discovery platforms where music, competition, movement and showmanship all count towards the victory, which in our case is hopefully by a knockout,” said Triller Fight Club partner Snoop Dogg.
LETS GET IT!! Get tickets now 
(@PontiacMadeDDG) 
