Gladiator to host "boxing extravaganza" Posted by the Times-Beacon Newspapers on 08/24/06 BY BOB VOSSELLER STAFF WRITER LACEY - Like Rocky Balboa, of movie fame, John "The Eastern Beast" Brown is seeking to reach the top and is coming to a local business in the township to do it. Gladiator Boxing is owned and operated by Shawn Darling who is a certified U.S. Amateur boxing coach and a New Jersey Police Academy boxing instructor. Darling is a former "Tough Man" fighter. He is also a certified personal trainer and certified in first aid and CPR. International Boxing Hall of Fame champ, Matthew Saad Muhammad is also available as a personal trainer by appointment. Gladiator Boxing is affiliated with Team Gladiator, which is a registered member of USA Boxing and is a nonprofit organization. Darling said that Gladiator Boxing is for ages 8 and up. He added that boxing is for "fun, fitness, amateur competition or for box professionally." "An ideal workout would include jump rope, shadow box, stretch, calisthenics, medicine ball work, plyometrics and, of course, boxing instruction," Darling said. Gladiator Boxing recently relocated one block over to a newly constructed 2,300-square-foot location with a 22-foot professional boxing ring. The new facility also features various heavy bags, speed bags, double end bags, cardio equipment, free weights and weight machines. On Saturday, the business will host a "boxing extravaganza" at 8 p.m. The event will feature 10 exhibition bouts that will also give fans the chance to meet and greet Muhammad, former IBF light heavyweight and WBA Cruiserweight champion Bobby Czyz and Brown who is a former NABF and USBA lightweight champion. Brown recently signed on with Gladiator Boxing LLC. He'll be trained by Darling who is a Hall of Fame Inductee. Brown is a five-time world title challenger. Darling said that Brown has fought "courageous bouts against the who's who of boxing: Sugar Shane Moseley, Chico Corrales, Robbie Peden, Miguel Cotto, Steve Forbes, Gabe Ruelas, Jesus Chavez and Angel Manfredy." "He feels he has the experience and desire to reach the top. He fought rising contenders Jermaine Marks (11-2-2), Damian Fuller (24-4) and Herman Ngodjo (13-0) recently and went the distance with all of them, taking them on short notice," Darling said. "No more short notice fights. I am looking to fight the best. Give us a call," Brown said. www.boxinggyms.com/gladiator.htm