BALAZS BOXING PRESS RELEASE

ALLENTOWN, Pa.; April 20, 1998 - Throughout the country, women and men are flocking to the hottest trend in fitness: BOXING. TakeItToTheBag.com® brings the ability to shop for the latest gear right to your PC.

The Site
TakeItToTheBag.com, the corporate web site of BALAZS INC., offers the fitness boxer a comprehensive array of Everlast workout accessories and apparel, from heavy bags and gloves to sweatpants and sports bras. The site also features the entire line of BALAZS Universal Boxing Stands (UBS®), designed to withstand the rigors of commercial gym use, yet compact enough for the home.

Since introducing its online catalog in November 1996, TakeItToTheBag.com has become one of the fastest growing web sites in the industry. More than 4,500 boxers and fitness enthusiasts from around the world access the site each month. Feedback has been positive, with customers appreciative of the large selection and fast service. In addition, customers without Internet access can call to request a catalog. Items can be purchased online, by phone, or by mail.

The Universal Boxing Stand®
The Universal Boxing Stands are designed as modular units for versatility. Each stand can be equipped with a combination of heavy bags, adjustable-height speed bags and double-end bags. The UBS line includes four, two and one-station models. Unlike other stands, the UBS will accommodate even the heaviest of heavy bags. The Universal Boxing Stands feature up to ½-inch thick steel, 1½-inch solid Maple and genuine stainless steel. In addition, BALAZS offers individual wall and ceiling mounted units and will do custom design work upon request. All bags and accessories are sold separately.

BALAZS INC.
The first punch to a Universal Boxing Stand was thrown in 1996. Andrew Laudenslager, a design engineer, was looking for a boxing stand as a birthday present for his girlfriend. Unable to find any that were strong, stable or appropriately priced, he used his engineering background to build her gift on his own. While originally intended for a 100-pound fitness boxer, the resulting stand was robust enough even for professional use.

Although the gift looked like a giant hangman stand, Laudenslager saw its potential and partnered with Peter Balazs Pecsvaradi, another engineer, to found BALAZS INC. Focusing on strength, performance and quality, they re-engineered the single-bag stand to create the Universal Boxing Stand. To complete their product line, they added individual wall and ceiling mounts and became an authorized Everlast® dealer. The pair turned to the World Wide Web to showcase their new products, offering their customers the most complete line of high quality boxing products available.

For more information on Universal Boxing Stands and other premium equipment, please call Andrew Laudenslager, president, or Peter Pecsvaradi, vice-president, at BALAZS INC., (610) 433-4515 or visit their web site at www.TakeItToTheBag.com.

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