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ESPN has announced plans for The Contender Challenge, a new reality series that will follow a team of The Contender boxers as they take on seven British boxers for the inaugural "Sugar Ray Leonard Cup."  The six-episode series is scheduled to premiere on ESPN on Tuesday, April 10, and it will also be shown in Britain on ITV. ]]> Christopher Rocchio https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/espn-announces-ryder-cup-like-the-contender-challenge-series-4692.php rtvw-news-espn-announces-ryder-cup-like-the-contender-challenge-series-4692 Mon, 12 Feb 2007 10:08:23 -0500

In the fourteenth episode of NBC's boxing reality-competition show The Contender, heavily-favored Sergio 'The Latin Snake' Mora (now 15-0, 4 KOs) pounded his way to the show's $1 million final match by decisively thrashing Jesse Brinkley (now 25-2, 17 KOs) in the last semifinal match, winning by unanimous decision. With his win, Sergio will face Peter Manfredo Jr. (24-1, 10 KOs) in the seven-round bout, to be held at the famed Caesar's Palace venue in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 24, with the live broadcast beginning at 8PM ET. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/sergio-mora-pounds-jesse-brinkley-reach-nbc-1000000-contender-final-bout-3526.php rtvw-news-sergio-mora-pounds-jesse-brinkley-reach-nbc-1000000-contender-final-bout-3526 Mon, 23 May 2005 17:27:09 -0400

In a semifinal rematch of the opening episode of NBC's The Contender, Peter Manfredo Jr. (now 24-1, 10 KOs) avenged the only defeat of his career with a seven-round unanimous decision over Alfonso Gomez Jr. (now 12-3-1, 4 KOs) in the thirteenth episode of the show. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/peter-manfredo-jr-avenges-loss-advances-the-contender-finals-with-win-over-alfonso-gomez-3499.php rtvw-news-peter-manfredo-jr-avenges-loss-advances-the-contender-finals-with-win-over-alfonso-gomez-3499 Mon, 16 May 2005 03:14:05 -0400

In the final quarterfinal match, which took place in the twelfth episode of NBC's reality-competition boxing show The Contender, the two most reluctant warriors in the dominant 'Italian Clan' coalition (also known as the "Gutless Four") were forced into the ring to do "battle." Unfortunately, they couldn't both lose. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/jesse-brinkley-tko-anthony-bonsante-in-nbc-twelfth-contender-episode-3476.php rtvw-news-jesse-brinkley-tko-anthony-bonsante-in-nbc-twelfth-contender-episode-3476 Mon, 09 May 2005 16:42:01 -0400

On the eleventh episode of NBC's reality-competition boxing show The Contender, the "Italian Clan" coalition (aka the "Gutless Four" for their penchant to fight easy fights, unlike the rest of the boxers) were forced to begin fighting each other, with two spots in the semifinals at stake. In the first such fight, lawyer, former NCAA boxing champion and Sylvester Stallone nutrition endorser Joey Gilbert (now 9-1, 7 KOs) was defeated by Peter Manfredo (now 23-1, 10 KOs) in a split decision after the bout was stopped early due to a severe cut suffered by Joey as a result of an accidental head butt. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/peter-manfredo-cuts-and-ousts-joey-gilbert-in-nbc-eleventh-contender-episode-3463.php rtvw-news-peter-manfredo-cuts-and-ousts-joey-gilbert-in-nbc-eleventh-contender-episode-3463 Mon, 02 May 2005 14:27:21 -0400

In the ninth and tenth episodes of NBC's reality-competition boxing show The Contender, both the good and the bad parts of the show's formula were on display, and not necessarily to the show's best advantage. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/sergio-mora-edges-ishe-smith-alfonso-gomez-whips-ahmed-kaddour-on-nbc-the-contender-3441.php rtvw-news-sergio-mora-edges-ishe-smith-alfonso-gomez-whips-ahmed-kaddour-on-nbc-the-contender-3441 Mon, 25 Apr 2005 17:02:46 -0400

In a double shocker, huge underdog Joey Gilbert (now 9-0, 7 KOs) defeated Jimmy Lange (now 24-2-1, 17 KOs), the boxer Anthony Bonsante was too chicken to fight, in a five-round unanimous decision to complete the first round of NBC's The Contender, while last week's winner Juan de la Rosa claimed sufficient injury to pull out of the competition, leaving just seven first-round winners left after eight episodes. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/joey-gilbert-upsets-jimmy-lange-as-juan-de-la-rosa-quits-on-nbc-eighth-the-contender-episode-3419.php rtvw-news-joey-gilbert-upsets-jimmy-lange-as-juan-de-la-rosa-quits-on-nbc-eighth-the-contender-episode-3419 Mon, 18 Apr 2005 09:41:23 -0400

During the first seven episodes of NBC's reality-competition boxing show The Contender, co-hosts Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard have made several references to the fact that contestant/lawyer Joey Gilbert (who will be fighting in this week's episode against Jimmy Lange) is the best and best-conditioned all-around athlete in the show's sixteen boxer field. Now, it appears that Stallone has found a way to use Joey's athleticism to his advantage. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/contender-boxer-joey-gilbert-signs-nutrition-endorsement-pact-with-host-sly-stallone-3410.php rtvw-news-contender-boxer-joey-gilbert-signs-nutrition-endorsement-pact-with-host-sly-stallone-3410 Thu, 14 Apr 2005 00:59:00 -0400

With one fight in the first round still remaining, one thing is certain on NBC's The Contender reality competition boxing show : an Arab-American will not win the million-dollar first prize. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/juan-de-la-rosa-defeats-tarick-salmaci-in-nbc-seventh-the-contender-episode-3399.php rtvw-news-juan-de-la-rosa-defeats-tarick-salmaci-in-nbc-seventh-the-contender-episode-3399 Mon, 11 Apr 2005 23:11:47 -0400

"Stray Bullet Takes Out The Disciple," our episode summary for the sixth episode of NBC's The Contender, written by PhoenixMons, is now available. ]]> Admin https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/the-contender---episode-6-summary-3385.php rtvw-news-the-contender---episode-6-summary-3385 Wed, 06 Apr 2005 17:22:06 -0400

In the sixth episode of NBC's reality-competition boxing show The Contender, the West's Anthony "The Bullet" Bonsante (now 26-4-3, 15 KOs) stopped the East's Brent Cooper (now 20-3-2, 15 KOs) at 0:38 of the third round. However, the victory may have cost Anthony more than the place in the second round that he gained is worth. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/the-contender-anthony-bonsante-tko-brent-cooper-but-double-crosses-his-team-3378.php rtvw-news-the-contender-anthony-bonsante-tko-brent-cooper-but-double-crosses-his-team-3378 Mon, 04 Apr 2005 15:53:39 -0400

The "angel on his shoulder" -- his wife Yamilka -- propelled the East's Peter Manfredo Jr. (now 22-1, 10 KOs) to a stunning come-from-behind win over the West's Miguel Espino (now 9-2-1, 3 KOs) in his "second chance" on the fifth episode of NBC's The Contender. All three judges scored the five-round bout 48-47 (3 rounds for Peter, 2 for Miguel), giving the East its first win in the series. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/miguel-espino-edged-by-resurgent-peter-manfredo-in-nbc-fifth-the-contender-episode-3358.php rtvw-news-miguel-espino-edged-by-resurgent-peter-manfredo-in-nbc-fifth-the-contender-episode-3358 Mon, 28 Mar 2005 10:20:34 -0500

NBC announced today that it would add a special "recap edition" of its The Contender reality-competition boxing show, to be shown on Sunday, March 27 (Easter Sunday) at 7PM ET/PT. This special edition will serve as the lead-in to the show's regularly scheduled 8PM broadcast of its fifth episode.. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/nbc-air-special-easter-sunday-the-contender-recap-episode-3355.php rtvw-news-nbc-air-special-easter-sunday-the-contender-recap-episode-3355 Fri, 25 Mar 2005 23:38:19 -0500

"An American Tragedy," our episode summary for the fourth episode of NBC's The Contender, written by ARnutz, is now available. ]]> Admin https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/the-contender---episode-4-summary-3356.php rtvw-news-the-contender---episode-4-summary-3356 Fri, 25 Mar 2005 07:46:43 -0500

It looks like NBC's The Contender may not be down for the count on Sunday nights after all, despite last week's debacle. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/ratings-nbc-the-contender-rallies-in-its-second-sunday-night-broadcast-3351.php rtvw-news-ratings-nbc-the-contender-rallies-in-its-second-sunday-night-broadcast-3351 Thu, 24 Mar 2005 11:17:21 -0500

In the fourth episode of NBC's reality-competition boxing show The Contender, chicken pox ended up giving one boxer a second chance, while two other boxers left without the $1 million first prize. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/najai-turpin-and-jeff-fraza-depart-the-contender-as-peter-manfredo-jr-returns-3340.php rtvw-news-najai-turpin-and-jeff-fraza-depart-the-contender-as-peter-manfredo-jr-returns-3340 Mon, 21 Mar 2005 12:46:44 -0500

"The Lord of the Ring," our episode summary for the third episode of NBC's The Contender, written by KObrien_fan, is now available. ]]> Admin https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/the-contender---episode-3-summary-3330.php rtvw-news-the-contender---episode-3-summary-3330 Thu, 17 Mar 2005 17:53:33 -0500

NBC's aggressive launch strategy for its reality-competition boxing show The Contender took a hard hit to the body on Sunday, March 13, when the third episode -- but the first episode in its intended time slot (Sunday at 8 PM ET/PT) -- hit the airwaves with a resounding thud. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/the-contender-suffers-ratings-knockdown-in-its-first-sunday-broadcast-3318.php rtvw-news-the-contender-suffers-ratings-knockdown-in-its-first-sunday-broadcast-3318 Tue, 15 Mar 2005 16:46:46 -0500

"Shut-up, Put-up, Go Hard or Go Home!," our episode summary for the second episode of NBC's The Contender, written by volsfan, is now available. ]]> Admin https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/the-contender---episode-2-summary-3319.php rtvw-news-the-contender---episode-2-summary-3319 Tue, 15 Mar 2005 16:37:59 -0500

The grudge match that everyone wanted to see in the third episode of NBC's reality-competition boxing show The Contender is over, but the complete domination of West boxers over East boxers continues unabated. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/ishe-smith-eliminates-ahmed-kaddour-in-third-episode-of-nbc-the-contender-3312.php rtvw-news-ishe-smith-eliminates-ahmed-kaddour-in-third-episode-of-nbc-the-contender-3312 Mon, 14 Mar 2005 10:24:42 -0500

"Unusual Circumstances," our episode summary for the premiere episode of NBC's The Contender, written by I_AM_HE, is now available. ]]> Admin https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/the-contender----episode-1-summary-3313.php rtvw-news-the-contender----episode-1-summary-3313 Mon, 14 Mar 2005 09:26:53 -0500

Will East Coast boxing survive NBC's The Contender? ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/jonathan-reid-becomes-second-straight-east-star-ousted-in-nbc-the-contender-3309.php rtvw-news-jonathan-reid-becomes-second-straight-east-star-ousted-in-nbc-the-contender-3309 Fri, 11 Mar 2005 13:33:39 -0500

Those people who said that NBC's new reality-competition boxing show The Contender would struggle to find female viewers were correct. Nevertheless, the March 7 premiere of The Contender, while not a huge success, showed promise for the later rounds. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/nbc-the-contender-premiere-garners-ratings-split-decision-3301.php rtvw-news-nbc-the-contender-premiere-garners-ratings-split-decision-3301 Wed, 09 Mar 2005 13:22:40 -0500

One of the real surprises when the cast for NBC's The Contender was announced was that Peter Manfredo, Jr., a promising middleweight with a 21-0 record who was ranked #3 in the world by the World Boxing Organization, had agreed to become one of the 16 contestants on the reality-competition boxing show. A bigger surprise, shown on the March 7 premiere episode of The Contender, was that Peter became the first contestant eliminated from the show, as he suffered his first pro defeat at the hands of Alfonso Gomez, Jr. (now 11-2-1 as a pro). ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/peter-manfredo-jr-loses-undefeated-record-in-premiere-of-nbc-the-contender-3297.php rtvw-news-peter-manfredo-jr-loses-undefeated-record-in-premiere-of-nbc-the-contender-3297 Tue, 08 Mar 2005 12:48:51 -0500

For the first time since 1976 and only the second time ever, a motion picture focused on the world of boxing, Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby, won the Best Picture Oscar at the Academy Awards. Will that success translate into a wider interest in (or even a wider tolerance of) boxing? NBC's new reality-competition boxing series, The Contender, which premieres at 9:30 PM ET/PT on Monday, March 7, certainly hopes so. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/nbc-the-contender-comes-out-swinging-hoping-be-mark-burnett-next-reality-knockout-3291.php rtvw-news-nbc-the-contender-comes-out-swinging-hoping-be-mark-burnett-next-reality-knockout-3291 Sat, 05 Mar 2005 13:47:52 -0500

Both Philadelphia police and the family of boxer Najai 'Nitro' Turpin, 23, have concluded that his Valentines' Day suicide was unrelated to his appearance on NBC's upcoming The Contender reality-competition show. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/contender-boxer-najai-turpin-suicide-related-custody-dispute-not-reality-tv-demands-3287.php rtvw-news-contender-boxer-najai-turpin-suicide-related-custody-dispute-not-reality-tv-demands-3287 Thu, 03 Mar 2005 18:50:15 -0500

NBC's "The Contender" will have tough competition from two established CBS hits when it premieres next month, Daily Variety said Tuesday.]]> https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/cbs-sacrifices-sweeps-ratings-take-shot-at-nbc-contender-debut-1002172.php rtvw-news-cbs-sacrifices-sweeps-ratings-take-shot-at-nbc-contender-debut-1002172 Tue, 22 Feb 2005 14:17:35 -0500

Up-and-coming Philadelphia boxer Najai "Nitro" Turpin, 23, one of the sixteen contestants appearing on NBC's upcoming The Contender boxing reality-competition show, apparently committed suicide in a parked car on the Valentine's Day morning of February 14, 2005. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/the-contender-boxer-najai-turpin-commits-suicide-before-nbc-show-airs-3250.php rtvw-news-the-contender-boxer-najai-turpin-commits-suicide-before-nbc-show-airs-3250 Tue, 15 Feb 2005 13:48:50 -0500

No one knows if NBC's The Contender will score a ratings knockout when it finally premieres, but one thing is clear -- it certainly has the "float like a butterfly" part of boxing legend Muhammad Ali's strategy down. NBC has announced yet another scheduled change for the upcoming Mark Burnett-produced reality series -- its fifth for those keeping score at home. ]]> Admin https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/nbc-reschedules-the-contender-%28again%29-for-sundays-beginning-march-13-3234.php rtvw-news-nbc-reschedules-the-contender-%28again%29-for-sundays-beginning-march-13-3234 Tue, 08 Feb 2005 17:12:19 -0500

What had been touted as a heavyweight reality showdown between reality titan Mark Burnett's upcoming The Contender series and Fox's American Idol undisputed ratings champ has suddenly turned into an instant forfeit as a result of NBC's announcement that it has decided to refuse to enter the ring. ]]> Admin https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/nbc-reschedules-the-contender-for-wednesdays-beginning-march-9-3201.php rtvw-news-nbc-reschedules-the-contender-for-wednesdays-beginning-march-9-3201 Fri, 21 Jan 2005 18:08:48 -0500

Despite witnessing Fox's The Next Great Champ copycat series draw dismal ratings, it looks like NBC and Survivor and The Apprentice producer Mark Burnett are still looking for a fight. A Nielsen fight. NBC announced last week that The Contender, Burnett's highly-publicized reality boxing series that had its premise copied by Fox, will premiere in late February -- and air regularly versus Fox's American Idol ratings heavyweight. ]]> Admin https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/nbc-the-contender-premiere-february-21-then-air-tuesdays-versus-fox-american-idol-3097.php rtvw-news-nbc-the-contender-premiere-february-21-then-air-tuesdays-versus-fox-american-idol-3097 Mon, 06 Dec 2004 10:56:06 -0500

Both Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety report that NBC is contemplating delaying its launch of the new Mark Burnett/DreamWorks SKG boxing reality show The Contender to January from its planned November debut. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/nbc-contemplates-delaying-the-contender-until-january-2932.php rtvw-news-nbc-contemplates-delaying-the-contender-until-january-2932 Fri, 24 Sep 2004 21:31:32 -0400

If you can't beat them, don't let them beat you. That appears to be NBC's new motto for dealing with the reality-TV copycats at Fox. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/nbc-accelerates-the-contender-november-debut-matching-fox-copycat-show-2719.php rtvw-news-nbc-accelerates-the-contender-november-debut-matching-fox-copycat-show-2719 Wed, 14 Jul 2004 17:59:12 -0400

Well-known boxing manager Jackie Kallen has joined Mark Burnett's production team for the upcoming NBC series The Contender. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/jackie-kallen-joins-nbc-the-contender-as-den-mother-for-aspiring-boxers-2662.php rtvw-news-jackie-kallen-joins-nbc-the-contender-as-den-mother-for-aspiring-boxers-2662 Mon, 28 Jun 2004 17:41:55 -0400

Fresh off this winter's successful strategy of moving producer Mark Burnett's The Apprentice series to Thursdays at 9PM versus television's top-ranked CSI series after Apprentice was pummeled in its originally scheduled Wednesday 8PM time period by FOX's American Idol, NBC and Mark Burnett have announced that they want a rematch -- and this time they'll be bringing another of Burnett's new shows, his much-hyped The Contender series, to the showdown. ]]> Admin https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/nbc-schedules-the-contender-for-heavyweight-showdown-with-fox-american-idol-2569.php rtvw-news-nbc-schedules-the-contender-for-heavyweight-showdown-with-fox-american-idol-2569 Tue, 18 May 2004 12:12:55 -0400

Boxing matches are known for their embarrassing pre-fight "brawls," which typically take place at press conferences and weigh-ins. It looks like the boxing-focused TV shows will follow in their footsteps. ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/brawl-between-nbc-the-contender-and-fox-the-next-great-champ-heats-up-2539.php rtvw-news-brawl-between-nbc-the-contender-and-fox-the-next-great-champ-heats-up-2539 Thu, 06 May 2004 17:15:58 -0400

Is it Rocky? Is it Spartacus? Or is it the beginning of the end for Don King, Bob Arum and the other big-time boxing promoters? ]]> AyaK https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/sly-stallone-and-sugar-ray-leonard-outline-nbc-boxing-reality-show-the-contender-2440.php rtvw-news-sly-stallone-and-sugar-ray-leonard-outline-nbc-boxing-reality-show-the-contender-2440 Fri, 02 Apr 2004 22:58:54 -0500

NBC has announced that World Heavyweight Champion and Olympic gold medal winner George Foreman will appear on NBC's new upcoming The Contender series, which is set to premiere in January 2005. George joins Contender's ever-growing team of Hollywood heavy hitters which include Mark Burnett, Sylvester Stallone, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Sugar Ray Leonard. ]]> Admin https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/george-foreman-join-nbc-the-contender-team-2397.php rtvw-news-george-foreman-join-nbc-the-contender-team-2397 Mon, 22 Mar 2004 11:18:05 -0500

NBC announced Saturday that five-time world champion fighter Sugar Ray Leonard has signed on to star in The Contender, the network's new upcoming unscripted series that will launch a competitive search for the next boxing superstar. Additionally the network also announced the program's first audition dates. ]]> Admin https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/sugar-ray-leonard-joins-nbc-upcoming-the-contender-series-first-audition-dates-announced-2369.php rtvw-news-sugar-ray-leonard-joins-nbc-upcoming-the-contender-series-first-audition-dates-announced-2369 Mon, 15 Mar 2004 14:41:25 -0500

Mark Burnett, Sylvester Stallone, and Dreamworks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg have announced that they are teaming up for a new reality boxing series called (what else) The Contender. ]]> Admin https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/mark-burnett-and-sly-stallone-produce-the-contender-reality-boxing-show-for-nbc-2295.php rtvw-news-mark-burnett-and-sly-stallone-produce-the-contender-reality-boxing-show-for-nbc-2295 Mon, 23 Feb 2004 14:48:14 -0500