Metta World Peace is down to trade his sneakers for gloves -- the NBA champion tells TMZ Sports after signing rising boxing star Chordale Booker, he's not against getting some action himself!!
We spoke with Metta and sports business manager Paul Guarino after they inked a deal to co-manage Booker, a super welterweight from Connecticut who won his 24th fight by knockout in August.
Metta said it's an exciting moment ... so much that it's motivating him to spar with Booker during his training .