BODY SHOTS

Dwight Howard‘s all about gender equality — which is why he and a female boxing trainer took turns PUNCHING EACH OTHER IN THE STOMACH!!

The NBA star laced up the gloves with Ann “Annimal” Najjar at the UFC Gym in San Diego — where she challenged Dwight to hit first … and he did. Hard.

In fact, Howard knocked her back twice in a row … before ending it with a 3rd body shot that folded her in half.

The next day, Ann flipped the script and punished Howard’s abs with more than 10 ferocious body blows in a row.

FYI, Dwight tips the scales at 6’11”, 265 pounds … so props to the trainer for steppin’ outta her weight class.