The Contender Update, Part One: NBC has declined to pick up the show for a second season, so unless a cable network steps in, the series will be over following Tuesday’s finale. Fortunately for fifteen of the sixteen contestants (the sixteenth, Najai Turpin, took his own life earlier in the year), Mark Burnett’s reality show will play a major role in providing opportunities and furthering their pugilistic careers. Name recognition is vital in selling boxing, and any publicity generated over the past two and a half months is priceless.
The Contender Update, Part Two: After tonight’s episode, the million-dollar finale is set, and it will feature Peter Manfredo Jr. and Sergio Mora. The only fighter on the show to never have to “hang up his gloves” (think the snuffing of the torch on Survivor), Mora earned a unanimous seven-round decision over Jesse Brinkley to seal his chances at the grand prize, which, shall he win, he plans to use to buy his mother a house. The finale will air live from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 24.
The Contender Update, Part Three: On the undercard of the Manfredo/Mora finale will be three matches, chosen by viewers voting their “fan favorites”. The three fights will be streamed live at http://contender.yahoo.com/ on May 24, beginning at 1 PM Eastern Time/10 AM Pacific. The pairings are Brent Cooper vs. Ishe Smith, Anthony Bonsante vs. Jeff Fraza and Jimmy Lange vs. Tarick Salmaci.
Manfredo tired himself out way too fast. He needs to dump his dad, and get himself a real trainer. He's good, but he's going nowhere if he doesn't get a different trainer.
And he got a Tacoma truck and made the cover of Ring Magazine.
Is that actually going to be the next cover of Ring Magazine? I hope not cause there are three guys (Winky, Corrales, Castillo) who did some stuff in the last few weeks that I think probably deserve a cover themselves. In any event- I was pretty suprised that Cortez did not jump in there at the end of the seventh and stop the fight- Manfredo was taking some punishment.
Sergio going to be a great fighter. His defense and ring movement is incredible. He just made me a fan.
He just made me rich!
I am also a Sergio fan even though I didnt see the fight yet
but I told u, his way to slick
YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!
I"M SOOOOOOO HAPPY!!!
I JUST WON $30!!!!!!!
I won 80 off brewster and I bet $10 for the spurrs to beat suns tonite and $10 forDetroit to beat miami in the series
SErgio almost KO Peter, Sergio won no doubt about it.
I love you for this round by round coverage!
bring on the $30 betting site and 10 million points thrilla!
Rds 1, 2 Sergio
Rds 3, Peter
Rd 4 leans Sergio
Rd 5 Sergio
Rd 6 very close... go either way
Peter needs a KO or Sergio wins.
Sergio is to slick for Manfredo..
Sergio is to hungry....