Barkley trying to lose weight in the boxing ring

C

HARLES BARKLEY

needs to shed some pounds, so he's

» READ MORE: taken up boxing as his exercise of choice

.

The soon-to-be not-so-Round Mound of Rebound has been training at Joltin' Jabs (4313 Main) in Manayunk. Barkley told us that he'd read in our column that "Joltin' " Joey DeMalavez had recently trained NBC 10's Vai Sikahema for what turned out to be his first-round knockout of Jose Canseco.

"My doctor told me I was a Happy Meal away from diabetes," Barkley told us Friday. "I have to get my fat ass back together," he said. Barkley says he was 330 pounds, but is now closer to 300 and plans to work with DeMalavez throughout the summer while he's living on the Main Line. Barkley notes that boxing's a lot different than when he used to get in fights while playing in the NBA. "When I was on the Sixers and got arrested all those times, none of those people ever hit me back. It was always little guys that messed with me," said Sir Charles, who's getting used to getting hit back.

Wonder how long it'll be until

tries enlisting Barkley for a Celebrity Boxing match.