The Contender News

[The Italian Stallion]

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.

[Bad Intentions]

lol Ishe VS Brent Cooper, what a mismatch.

[m00ks]

undercards seem to be mismatches

[dansweeney]

ishe is fighting bonsante, and brent is fighting jeff fraza.

[rocko617]

I would love to see another season of this reality show, but it is up to the producers or producers of another kind to pick up the next season. To let a thing like Najah be a factor in not pursuing another season is just silly. Najah took his life for other reasons. I think there is another reality boxing show called "The Next Great Champ" or something like that. I wonder what will come of that. Anyone have some updated information? Also, if there was another season, do any of you think previous fighters will be back? It is a probability since they kept bringing fighters back during this season.

[m00ks]

next great champ is also cancelled

[vizcaya]

Here is the line-up
Jesse Brinkley 160 vs Alphonso Gomez 159.5
Jimmy Lange 159 vs Tarick Salmaci 160
Ishe Smith 158 vs Anthony Bonsante 159
Brent Cooper 156 vs Jeff Fraza 152

[Memorex]

jesse vs alphonso should be a good fight

[Bad Intentions]

any one kno if they are gonna show any of them

[scap]

jesse vs alphonso should be a good fight

that should be a war!


I think they want to end Bonsante's career, Ishe is going to murder AB in there, he has absolutely no shot against Ishe...man I feel sorry for Bonsante.