By Jake Donovan
It seems like a lifetime ago when “The Contender” first launched. Since opening to mixed reviews in March 2005, all matters related to the show have gone through considerable changes in and out of the ring.
On the tube, the boxing-based reality series has bounced from NBC to ESPN2 and now to VERSUS, which just aired the fourth season of the show.
In the ring, Tournament of Contenders – who promotes the fights during the series with the intention of promoting the fighters beyond the season finale – endured a massive overhaul in its stable. Most of the fighters from the first season signed on for long-term deals; few remain from that graduating class, with even fewer having a kind word to say on their way out the door – or in some cases while still under contract.
Among the alumni who have since moved on is Jesse Brinkley, currently enjoying a seven-fight win streak. What the 32-year old is not part of, however, is the group of kicking and screaming defectors who rue the day they ever set foot in reality land.
“I had a great run with The Contender people, but we all move on,” said Brinkley, who seeks his eighth straight win tonight when he faces Mike Paschall in Reno, Nev. “I don’t have a single bad word to say about them.”
He has instead allowed his fists to do all of the talking for him as he continues to win in the ring. It’s a far cry from where he was at just two years ago, having struggled to a 1-4 mark over a 2 ½ year stretch that began with a decision loss to Sergio Mora and ended with a failed bid against former super middleweight champion Robin Reid in a bout that was part of “The Contender UK vs. USA” challenge.
Wins are all that appear on his record these days, one which presently stands at 33-5 (22KO). Even more impressive than his continuing to have his arm raised in victory is that he has become a draw in Reno, approximately 90 minutes from his hometown of Yerington.
“I’m kicking ass for Let’s Get It On Promotions,” Brinkley proudly proclaims of his status with the Reno-based promotional firm who promotes tonight’s event, though also now co-promoted by TKO Boxing, whose mission for 2009 has been to re-establish the hometown boxing draw.
Their “Hometown Heroes” series has been a smash hit, turning club shows into regional attractions throughout the country, a series for which Brinkley is a perfect fit.
“When I come into the arena it’s a beautiful thing,” insists Brinkley. “I fight my ass of and give people their money’s worth.”
Outside of Reno, all eyes won’t exactly be on tonight’s fight as he takes on Paschall (19-1-1, 4KO), a light-hitting Baltimore native with minimal notoriety. Ever the optimist, Brinkley still finds distinction in what most would ordinarily view as “just” a tune-up bout.
“Two things that have me excited about (tonight’s) fight – I’m fighting a southpaw and in my fifth weight class as a professional.”
The bout takes place at or near the light heavyweight limit, which doesn’t bother Brinkley, who by his own admission benefits from not having to shed that much more weight in such a little time. That said, expect little more than a one-and-done tour of the division to take place.
“I have no intention whatsoever of staying in this weight class. My goal is to contend at 168, or even boil down to 160 for a title shot against (lineal middleweight champ) Kelly Pavlik.”
For now, or at least through tonight, his focus lies squarely on Paschall, whose lone loss came at the hands of current super middleweight contender Andre Dirrell last year on Showtime.
While neither Dirrell nor Showtime have had anything to do with Brinkley’s career to date, both threaten to play a major role in slowing down his career progress, especially considering his plans to seriously campaign at super middleweight.
Dirrell, a 2004 Olympic Bronze medalist, is one of six fighters who will be a part of the soon-to-be-officially-announced SHOWTIME Super Middleweight Tournament. Over the course of the next two years, Dirrell will join Mikkel Kessler, Carl Froch, Andre Ward, Arthur Abraham and Jermain Taylor in a round-robin style tournament designed to eventually crown a true super middleweight king.
The series will be great for boxing fans and for the six fighters involved.
For the rest of the super middleweight division, it absolutely sucks.
“I’m happy for all of (the fighters involved), but it took Kessler, Taylor and Froch out of the playing field,” explains Brinkley over his momentary concern of where to next look for a big fight. “It killed my hopes to have a fight against them, in the next two years, anyway.”
Title opportunities still exist, although cut in half with Kessler and Froch removed from the fold for the time being. But fighters like Brinkley are more concerned about the fighter who happens to wear the belt, more so than an actual title being at stake.
With the two-year plan to crown a new king, there’s little incentive for the rest of the division to continue tackling tough opposition over that stretch. Fights like a rumored future showdown with Allan Green, for example. It’s a rumor that Brinkley insists he’d never caught wind of, but wouldn’t mind making a reality – if he knew it led to something.
“Honestly, what’s the point of such a fight taking place now,” Brinkley wonders aloud. “It’s a good fight between two good fighters. Beyond that, it’s not very interesting. It’s just two guys beating the crap out of each other, and for what? It’s not a title eliminator or a fight that even leads to an elimination fight.”
Green himself once said of his status with a former promoter, “I feel like all I’m doing is accepting fights that just lead to another fight.”
Such is exactly how Brinkley views a future fight with Green or nearly any other super middleweight who isn’t tournament bound.
“Allan Green and I never met, never in our lives have spoken two words to each other, but we think exactly alike.”
The shared desire to fight the best, or at least accept fights that lead to fighting the best, has Brinkley thinking something other than a run at 168 might be in his immediate future.
“After (tonight), I’d really love to set my sights on Kelly Pavlik. Hopefully I can make a fight with him later this year or even early next.”
Despite his status as middleweight king, Pavlik is equally affected by Showtime’s plans. The middleweight division was running dry on its own; with Abraham removing himself from the fold, Pavlik is all but left without a rival. A head-on collision with Abraham always stood little chance of actually materializing. Those chances are now reduced to zero, which means everyone must move on.
In Brinkley’s case, moving on could mean moving down for the right opportunity.
“I love what I do. I’m just ready for the big fight.”
On the tube, the boxing-based reality series has bounced from NBC to ESPN2 and now to VERSUS, which just aired the fourth season of the show.
In the ring, Tournament of Contenders – who promotes the fights during the series with the intention of promoting the fighters beyond the season finale – endured a massive overhaul in its stable. Most of the fighters from the first season signed on for long-term deals; few remain from that graduating class, with even fewer having a kind word to say on their way out the door – or in some cases while still under contract.
Among the alumni who have since moved on is Jesse Brinkley, currently enjoying a seven-fight win streak. What the 32-year old is not part of, however, is the group of kicking and screaming defectors who rue the day they ever set foot in reality land.
“I had a great run with The Contender people, but we all move on,” said Brinkley, who seeks his eighth straight win tonight when he faces Mike Paschall in Reno, Nev. “I don’t have a single bad word to say about them.”
He has instead allowed his fists to do all of the talking for him as he continues to win in the ring. It’s a far cry from where he was at just two years ago, having struggled to a 1-4 mark over a 2 ½ year stretch that began with a decision loss to Sergio Mora and ended with a failed bid against former super middleweight champion Robin Reid in a bout that was part of “The Contender UK vs. USA” challenge.
Wins are all that appear on his record these days, one which presently stands at 33-5 (22KO). Even more impressive than his continuing to have his arm raised in victory is that he has become a draw in Reno, approximately 90 minutes from his hometown of Yerington.
“I’m kicking ass for Let’s Get It On Promotions,” Brinkley proudly proclaims of his status with the Reno-based promotional firm who promotes tonight’s event, though also now co-promoted by TKO Boxing, whose mission for 2009 has been to re-establish the hometown boxing draw.
Their “Hometown Heroes” series has been a smash hit, turning club shows into regional attractions throughout the country, a series for which Brinkley is a perfect fit.
“When I come into the arena it’s a beautiful thing,” insists Brinkley. “I fight my ass of and give people their money’s worth.”
Outside of Reno, all eyes won’t exactly be on tonight’s fight as he takes on Paschall (19-1-1, 4KO), a light-hitting Baltimore native with minimal notoriety. Ever the optimist, Brinkley still finds distinction in what most would ordinarily view as “just” a tune-up bout.
“Two things that have me excited about (tonight’s) fight – I’m fighting a southpaw and in my fifth weight class as a professional.”
The bout takes place at or near the light heavyweight limit, which doesn’t bother Brinkley, who by his own admission benefits from not having to shed that much more weight in such a little time. That said, expect little more than a one-and-done tour of the division to take place.
“I have no intention whatsoever of staying in this weight class. My goal is to contend at 168, or even boil down to 160 for a title shot against (lineal middleweight champ) Kelly Pavlik.”
For now, or at least through tonight, his focus lies squarely on Paschall, whose lone loss came at the hands of current super middleweight contender Andre Dirrell last year on Showtime.
While neither Dirrell nor Showtime have had anything to do with Brinkley’s career to date, both threaten to play a major role in slowing down his career progress, especially considering his plans to seriously campaign at super middleweight.
Dirrell, a 2004 Olympic Bronze medalist, is one of six fighters who will be a part of the soon-to-be-officially-announced SHOWTIME Super Middleweight Tournament. Over the course of the next two years, Dirrell will join Mikkel Kessler, Carl Froch, Andre Ward, Arthur Abraham and Jermain Taylor in a round-robin style tournament designed to eventually crown a true super middleweight king.
The series will be great for boxing fans and for the six fighters involved.
For the rest of the super middleweight division, it absolutely sucks.
“I’m happy for all of (the fighters involved), but it took Kessler, Taylor and Froch out of the playing field,” explains Brinkley over his momentary concern of where to next look for a big fight. “It killed my hopes to have a fight against them, in the next two years, anyway.”
Title opportunities still exist, although cut in half with Kessler and Froch removed from the fold for the time being. But fighters like Brinkley are more concerned about the fighter who happens to wear the belt, more so than an actual title being at stake.
With the two-year plan to crown a new king, there’s little incentive for the rest of the division to continue tackling tough opposition over that stretch. Fights like a rumored future showdown with Allan Green, for example. It’s a rumor that Brinkley insists he’d never caught wind of, but wouldn’t mind making a reality – if he knew it led to something.
“Honestly, what’s the point of such a fight taking place now,” Brinkley wonders aloud. “It’s a good fight between two good fighters. Beyond that, it’s not very interesting. It’s just two guys beating the crap out of each other, and for what? It’s not a title eliminator or a fight that even leads to an elimination fight.”
Green himself once said of his status with a former promoter, “I feel like all I’m doing is accepting fights that just lead to another fight.”
Such is exactly how Brinkley views a future fight with Green or nearly any other super middleweight who isn’t tournament bound.
“Allan Green and I never met, never in our lives have spoken two words to each other, but we think exactly alike.”
The shared desire to fight the best, or at least accept fights that lead to fighting the best, has Brinkley thinking something other than a run at 168 might be in his immediate future.
“After (tonight), I’d really love to set my sights on Kelly Pavlik. Hopefully I can make a fight with him later this year or even early next.”
Despite his status as middleweight king, Pavlik is equally affected by Showtime’s plans. The middleweight division was running dry on its own; with Abraham removing himself from the fold, Pavlik is all but left without a rival. A head-on collision with Abraham always stood little chance of actually materializing. Those chances are now reduced to zero, which means everyone must move on.
In Brinkley’s case, moving on could mean moving down for the right opportunity.
“I love what I do. I’m just ready for the big fight.”
Jake Donovan is the managing editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.
