The Contender Might Get A 2nd Season

Low Ratings Aside, a Call for a Contender Rematch In Tuesday's season finale of "The Contender," NBC's boxing reality show, Sergio Mora defeated Peter Manfredo Jr. in seven rounds, winning $1 million. But viewers were treated to a pummeling of their own during the blow-by-blow commentary, as Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard repeatedly called for a sequel. "I know the fight's not even over yet," Mr. Stallone said roughly 15 minutes into the bout, "but I gotta start thinking about a rematch." "I think it's natural, Sly," Mr. Leonard replied. "Rematch is natural." Given the show's absence from NBC's recent presentations of its fall lineup, were their calls for a rematch a coded appeal to television executives to give the show a second chance? Mark Burnett, who created "The Contender," insists they were not. "It was just natural exuberance from Sly and Ray - the fight was so close," he said in a telephone interview late last week, adding that he expected to announce another fight this week and that a rematch of the two fighters is a strong possibility. "You've got to remember," he said, "we don't consider 'The Contender' to be in the reality TV business. We're in the boxing business. Our business plan all along was to continue along with these fighters." He added that it was "highly likely" that he would announce plans for a second season of "The Contender" this week. But will it be on NBC? "The Contender" had low ratings this year, competing on Sunday nights against "The Simpsons" and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," although the last bout, despite being pitted against one of the final episodes of "American Idol," performed reasonably well. An audience of 7.97 million tuned in, according to Nielsen Media Research's overnight estimates. An NBC spokeswoman said that while it did not have the show on its fall lineup, the network had not passed on "The Contender" altogether. Mr. Burnett said that if NBC was not interested, a cable channel was a possibility. "We now suddenly have international recognition for these boxers," Mr. Burnett said. "We have a very lucrative and very watchable franchise." http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/30/business/media/30contender.html

Comments (16)

Yeah maybe make it international... Get some South Africans, Europeans and best of all the Mexicans!!

21y ago

Verbl_Kint

It would be ultimately better for the sport of boxing if an international cast was chosen. Maybe some latinos, europeans and asians in the mix could really spice it up.

21y ago

welshwales

need a few brits in the mix though

21y ago

solo1bc

If you noticed the audience at the Contender finals... t looks like they have NEVER been to a real boxing match in their lives... LOL THAT is exactly the point! They've never been to a boxing match in their lives and now they have! If even 10% of them start showing an interest that's a whole lot more new fans that without The Contender. I think there are a lot of ways to improve the show (more fighting and less fluff! More analysis of the fights, fighting styles and training techniques) but I think it's a great thing for the sport.

21y ago

Verbl_Kint

We may hiss and boo at "The Contender" as we are afficionados of the sport. The average joe out there who couldn't distinguish a left hook from an uppercutlooks at the show differently. Bringing in more fans is always good for the sport, be they educated boxing die-hards or the occasional ppv buyer. The important thing is that more people see this as a sport. A lot of personalities have been preaching the so-called "barbarity" of boxing, that it is really just a brawl funded by gambling and not a true sport. And most of these people have not really followed boxing or even tried punching mitts. With the contender, they can see the amount of preparation behind a fight, how technique, strength and heart all play a vital part in a fighter's victory or defeat, much like any sport.

21y ago

solo1bc

I agree totally... I thought The Contender was a good show... It brought boxing to the masses and even gave an existing fan like me an insight into the boxers pre-fight preparation and also how much it means to someone either up and coming or last chance saloon like these guys and their families.. Even though there was too much editing of the fights (probably because of the poor boxing on display) it really showed the impact of of some of the hits that you can't see unless you watch a fight in slow motion.. Would love to see 'The Contender - Heavyweights' but hope they make a better 'finale' than last time cos that sucked...

21y ago

Tha_Greatest6475

If you noticed the audience at the Contender finals... It looks like they have NEVER been to a real boxing match in their lives...LOL I wouldn't call them boxing fans, but Contender fans...

21y ago

SonnyG8R

I would love to see another season of the Contender but only if it displayed another weight class. I like that idea too.

21y ago

SonnyG8R

The Contender is good in that it can draw in more mainstream fans. More mainstream fans means more ppv buys and better ratings for the sport in the long run. No one is publicizing it as a world championship match. This was a reality show. This show gave insight into a group of charasmatic up-and-comers most of which the hardcore boxing public had never heard of. Nothing wrong with giving these guys the opportunity to further themselves and their career. I hope the show is picked up for another season. I have a hard time getting my boxing fix off of FSN reruns. Exactly. People who don't think this show helped the sport as a whole are simply not in tune with reality. Anything that brings in more fans and puts the sport in the public eye is a good thing.

21y ago

The_Italian_Stallion

I would love to see another season of the Contender but only if it displayed another weight class.

21y ago

Shaolin_Bushido

The guys do get a disproportionate boost to their careers compared to all the other up and coming guys but I say, "good"; it's still a negative balance considering all the bullshit, corruption and pitfalls they have to face. If they ever get to the upper echelon they'll REALLY see some shit!

21y ago

Santo

21y ago

MrUnstoppable

21y ago

NiGe2011

That is one thing that I dont particuarly appreciate about our sport is that as we watch a fight all that we hear the announcers spout is how it is one of the best they have ever seen! I think it is because there is so competition between networks that there is the need to sensationalize everything. But it gets old hear "this is certainly one of the best fights that we have ever broadcast, and blah blah blah blah..." The Contender finale was even more guilty of this then usual, Stallone watching the same fight that I was? A rematch is definitely in order? How about one twelve or ten round fight between any of these guys being in order!

21y ago

Bombardier

Biased announcers lie about the fight being close enough to deserve a rematch. A millionaire producer/promoter is trying to control the boxing world and set up his own matches with his own fighters. How exactly is this changing or helping boxing?

21y ago

Truth8215

I don't think boxing needs these reality TV shows, we need alot of other things instead.

21y ago