By Cliff Rold

A show favorite, Darnell Wilson, is gone.  Six fighters, three fights, remain in the opening round.  The week five winner, Ehikhamenor, refers to Boxing as a gift God gave him.  He celebrates victory with Acelino Freitas level tears in his eyes.

I guess the Contender, by proxy, is a gift God gives us? 

Not sure which God of course, but we do know Team Gold sits with Holy blessings, the game board their’s to design.  The Blue Team laments the nature of defeat not just in terms of the ring but in having to continue to hear the bird calling of Ehikkamenor.  Their pain is felt and shared as predicted taunting for tears ensues…from Gold team trainer Tommy Brooks. 

“Boxers don’t cry.  Boxers are men.”  Brooks explains as NOW begins a letter writing campaign to the Versus network.  “Don’t get me wrong.  We’re all humans and everybody has emotions but that was just a little dramatic for me.”

Tears, in other words, should be spared for the big things.  For instance, show host Tony Danza’s TV daughter Alyssa Milano?  Still a no show in Singapore.

(Sob!)

With hopes for a better day, the Gold Team control hovers over a board that currently looks like:

Blue

Mike Alexander (12-2, 8 KO)

Felix Cora Jr. (19-2-2, 9 KO) - Advancing

Ryan Coyne (9-0, 3 KO)

Alfredo Escalera Jr. (16-1-1, 11 KO) - Advancing

Richard Gingras (9-1, 5 KO) - Eliminated

Lawrence Tauasa (30-5-1, 17 KO)

Erick Vega (8-3-1, 6 KO) - Eliminated

Darnell Wilson (23-8-3, 20 KO) - Eliminated

Gold

Joell Godfrey (9-1-1, 5 KO) - Eliminated

Deon Elam (10-0, 5 KO) - Advancing

Rico Hoye (20-2, 15 KO)

Akinyemi Laleye (10-1, 5 KO) - Advancing

Ehinomen Ehikhamenor (13-3, 7 KO) - Advancing

Tim Flamos (20-4-1, 8 KO)

Troy Ross (17-1, 12 KO)

Jon Schneider (7-3-1, 5 KO) - Eliminated

Cue the Contender music….

Episode Six Recap

Troy Ross emerges early on as a story of the week.  A southpaw, he is shown aggressively sparring as an onlooker outside the ring comments that he’s mad.  Next up is a look at Rico Hoye, former major title challenger, who notes “I haven’t fought in almost a year.  That first fight I’d like to get somebody where I can, you know, shake off the cobwebs and get back comfortable in the ring.”  Blue Team member Tauasa is also spotlighted with trainer John Bray commenting on his superior footwork.  Fancy dance steps in a mirror ensue.

Next up is a segment where the fighters get foot massages.  Anyone’s who has seen Pulp Fiction knows this part of the show should be rated “R.”  Seriously, the author is uncomfortable…moving on to some commercials…

…and we’re back at the tournament board.  Ehikhamenor selects as his quarterfinal foe team member Elam.  Elam takes it personal, wondering why he’s been picked on.  Brooks supports the move because, “there’s only going to be one winner anyways.”  With that in mind, the remaining members of both teams head to their rooms to sort out who Team Gold will select as their avatar and against whom he will do combat. 

The bass line kicks in.

Ross steps forward and points a single finger.  Tauasa is his target.  The Samoan footwork master lumbers forward and there is no dancing this time.  There is a call home to a fiancée as the soft strings of amor play in the background.  Seriously, the author is uncomfortable…moving on to some commercials because, dammit, this is a Boxing show. 

Tauasa describes life in Samoa as like life in Australia but more relaxed while chatting at the supper table with Troy.  “I’ve got nothing but love and respect for Troy,” Tauasa states with eerily similar strings to those from fiancée chat time playing in the background again.  Tauasa then goes on to explain how he and his opponent sit up late just “laughing and talking.”  Brooks comes in and pounds the table, calling their camaraderie “true professionalism.”

Horns play and it’s time…for pre-fight dramatic build.  Ross explains his father was a fistic Olympian for Guayana and experienced two Olympiads of his own.  “I’m here to outbox one of the best Boxers out there in my field and that’s Lawrence.”  Tauasa talks about the slow build of his career to the top ten and some regional titles.  Pep talks and shake outs ensue followed by mitt walks and the lonely walks to the ring.  A brief commercial break leads to…clang

Round One

The wiry, muscled Ross circles and works the right jab.  Eventually, he follows with a left to the gut.  Tauasa responds with a left uppercut to the chest and later a reaching right to the body.  Ross backs his man off with three lead lefts and becomes more fluid with the jab, doubling and tripling the blow.  The measured first round closes with neither having seized the advantage.

Round Two

Tauasa charges out at the bell but remains at the end of Ross’s jab.  Ross uses his elbow to block a right to the body and responds with a slashing left to the face.  A Tauasa right hook slides off a retreating Ross and another plainly misses, all with Ross continuing to land in peppering fashion.  After enough seasoning is applied, Ross serves the steak.  A lead left hook catches Tauasa flush on the temple.  Brooks celebrates in the corner as Tauasa’s knees wobble and gravity takes over.  He pitches face first through the ropes and barely beats the count, rising at around seven.  The official allows him to continue and he is immediately on the defensive as Ross comes forward in combination.  Hooks rain around the intended high and tight guard of Tauasa before a final left hook forces the official to intervene.

Ross is the winner by knockout, though no official time is provided, and the reality of this reality program sets in.  “I’m definitely happy that I had the first knockout of the Contender tournament.  It pretty much sets the bar.  Everybody is gonna’ be looking at me.”  Ross observes, later shown embracing his friend.  “Lawrence is a friend now and I know he’s getting married.  I wish him all the best.”

Tauasa reflected on his defeat.  “This is the very first time this has happened to me.  Being stopped, being dropped, being knocked down.  It’s hard to take in after a fifteen, sixteen year career.”

“The friendship that I have with Troy is gonna’ be a lifetime friendship.  You can’t buy the friendship we have.  We’re brothers for life.”

Bray comes in to console his charge with the only real thing he can say.  “You got caught,” Bray provided, and shrugged his shoulders.  In Boxing, it happens. 

“Being on the Contender is the highlight of my career.”  Tauasa states, tears of a different kind ending this week’s show.  “Getting married is the highlight of my life.”

He walks to a darkened wall to hang his gloves up.  “I tried my best.”  He exits the gym, a class act all the way around.

Episode Six Rating: 9 out of 10

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com