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.