The Contender News

The Contender News

The Contender 2 - Episode 3 summary
July 28, 2006
"Stand Up and Take it Like a Man!," our episode summary for the third episode of ESPN's second season of The Contender, written by ARnutz, is now available.
The Contender 2 - Episodes 1 & 2 summary
July 23, 2006
"Confidence Will Only Get You So Far," our episode summary for the first and second episodes of ESPN's second season of The Contender, written by ARnutz, is now available.
ESPN reveals the identities of its 'The Contender 2' boxers
June 27, 2006
ESPN, Mark Burnett Productions, and DreamWorks Television have revealed the identities of the sixteen boxers who will compete on the second season of The Contender, which will premiere Tuesday, July 18 at 10PM ET/PT on ESPN.
ESPN's new edition of 'The Contender' to premiere July 18
January 15, 2006
ESPN has announced that rather than debut in April as was originally planned, its new season of The Contender will premiere on Tuesday, July 18 at 10PM ET/PT.
ESPN formally announces pickup of 'The Contender', second season to premiere in April 2006
August 11, 2005
Confirming the recent public statements of ESPN executives, Mark Burnett Productions, DreamWorks Television, and the cable sports giant announced today that the network will become the new broadcast home of The Contender, last winter's critically-acclaimed but low-rated reality boxing series that NBC canceled after only a single season.
Report: ESPN confirms being close to 'The Contender' second season deal
July 19, 2005
Nearly two months after talk about The Contender returning on another network first started circulating, ESPN reportedly confirmed yesterday that it is close to a deal to acquire the rights for a second season the cancelled NBC reality boxing series.
Sergio Mora pounds Jesse Brinkley to reach NBC's $1,000,000 'Contender' final bout
May 23, 2005
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.
Peter Manfredo Jr. avenges loss, advances to 'The Contender' finals with win over Alfonso Gomez
May 16, 2005
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.
Jesse Brinkley TKO's Anthony Bonsante in NBC's twelfth 'Contender' episode
May 9, 2005
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.
Peter Manfredo cuts and ousts Joey Gilbert in NBC's eleventh 'Contender' episode
May 2, 2005
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.