BUSTER DOUGLAS, former heavyweight champion of the world, steps into the ring Friday at the Ramada at the Philadelphia Airport in a Celebrity Boxing bout.

And unless he's fighting with one or both arms tied behind his back, we imagine he'll promptly trounce his three challengers, 32° (16 S. 2nd) doorman Andrew "Dank" Dankanich and Robert and Domenic Botto of Botto's Italian Sausage and Botto's restaurant in Swedesboro, N.J., each of whom he will fight for one round.

Jose Canseco had been scheduled to take on Dank and the Bottos but was removed from the card after a financial dispute with promoter Damon Feldman.

Rodney King, who fought a former cop in his last Celebrity Boxing bout, takes on actor Bob Meloni and Daniel "Tailor of Terror" Morroni.

Douglas, King and the other boxers will be at a news conference at 8 tonight at Chickie's & Pete's (1526 Packer) that is open to the public.

During Friday's fights, People Paper columnist Stu Bykofsky and Robert Botto Sr. will be inducted into the Celebrity Boxing Federation Hall of Fame.

Tickets will be available at the door.

Is Garces the 'Next Iron Chef'?Fueling speculation that he is the winner, chef Jose Garces is inviting people to watch the finale of the Food Network's "The Next Iron Chef," with him at his newest spot, Distrito (40th & Chestnut), at 9 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $50, plus tax and tip, and features a variety of food and drink offerings from the Mexican restaurant.

Reserve a spot by calling 215-222-1567.

DMC, Lupe Fiasco at Penn

Darryl McDaniels, who puts the DMC in RUN-DMC, and rapper Lupe Fiasco will be part of tonight's "The People Speak" tour at the University of Pennsylvania's Irvine Auditorium.

The pair join filmmaker Chris Moore and professor Tukufu Zuberi, chair of Penn's Department of Sociology and director of the Center for African Studies, in reading interviews from and showing clips of "The People Speak," a History Channel special premiering Dec. 13 that is based on Howard Zinn's book "A People's History of the United States."

Zinn's work examines the nation's history from the ground up, through revolts, labor unrest and other social activism.

Tonight's event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6.

And speaking of Penn . . .Congratulations to freshman Jason Merrin, part of the digital-media-design program at Penn's School of Engineering and Applied Science, who is a finalist in the Nickelodeon Animation Festival.

Merrin, of New York, made his 2 1/2- minute film, "The History of an Animation," last year and worked with Penn design professor Ellen Reynolds to get it up to snuff for the contest.

Viewers can vote at tinyurl.com/ykqhpg3 through Nov. 29. The contest prize is $5,000.

Merrin's short is set to air about 4:35 p.m. Thursday on Nicktoons network.

Pin-up docu shoots at Varga Bar

Documentary filmmaker Joe Bohannon came up from Washington yesterday to interview restaurateur George Anni at Varga Bar (10th & Spruce), which is covered in paintings by Alberto Vargas. Bohannon is working on the film "The Soul of the Pin-Up," about Vargas, known for his stylish paintings of women.

Photographer Chris Gabello is finishing up shooting a 2010 calendar full of Vargas-inspired models that will be sold at the restaurant.

Colby Colb heard here, tooPhilly radio veteran Colby Colb, who just started in Cleveland as program director of Radio One's urban cluster there, is now broadcasting a show from 3 to 6 p.m. online at colbycolb.com.

Comcast couple get craftyComcast founder Ralph Roberts and actress wife Suzanne were among the crowd strolling the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show Saturday at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Visit PhillyGossip.com for Dan's latest updates or follow PhillyGossip on Twitter. Have a tip? Call 215-854-5963, or e-mail grossd@phillynews.com. For recent columns, visit go.philly.com/dangross.