The Contender - Season 3 [R] [Archive]

SoccerNova2009

15 Aug 2007, 04:22 PM

I really got into this series last year, glad to see it back:

Some highlights from the article (http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/columns/story?columnist=rafael_dan&id=2959700) by Dan Rafael:

"The Contender," the popular ESPN reality series, is getting back in the ring for a third season with a mix of experienced contenders and youthful prospects among the 16 super middleweights who will vie for the tournament title and $750,000 grand prize.

The new 10-episode season debuts Sept. 4 (10 p.m. ET) and will air Tuesdays through the live finale on Nov. 6 at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston.

Here's the rundown of the 16 fighters in the field, which will be trimmed to 10 by the end of the first episode (in alphabetical order with age, hometown and pro record):

• Max Alexander (26, Camden, N.J., 14-1, 2 KOs).
• David Banks (24, Portland, Ore., 14-2-1, 2 KOs).
• Sakio Bika (28, Sydney, Australia, via Cameroon, 22-3-2, 14 KOs).
• Henry "Sugar Poo" Buchanan (28, Capital Heights, Md., 14-1, 11 KOs).
• La Farrell Bunting (27, Las Vegas, 16-3-1, 16 KOs).
• Jaidon Codrington (23, New York, 16-1, 12 KOs).
• Miguel Hernandez (32, Chicago, 20-5, 10 KOs).
• Wayne Johnson (29, Lyndhurst, N.J., 16-1, 9 KOs).
• Donny McCrary (24, St. Joseph, Mo., 23-5-2, 13 KOs).
• Les Ralston (25, Buffalo, N.Y., 16-2, 9 KOs).
• Danny Santiago (34, Ocala, Fla., 29-3-1, 19 KOs).
• Paul Smith (24, Liverpool, England, 20-0, 12 KOs).
• Sam Soliman (33, Melbourne, Australia, 33-9, 13 KOs).
• Brian Vera (26, Austin, Texas, 14-0, 9 KOs).
• Rhoshii Wells (30, Las Vegas, 18-2-2, 10 KOs).
• Rubin Williams (31, Detroit, 29-2-1, 16 KOs).

The fighters this season are, as a whole, more accomplished than they were in the first two seasons. Bika, Soliman, Santiago, Williams and Wells have all fought for world titles. Bika was also a 2000 Olympian for Cameroon and Wells a 1996 U.S. Olympian. Codrington and Smith are notable prospects.

In addition to beefing up the level of fighters, producers have also vastly improved the training staff. Gone are Tommy Gallagher and Jeremy Williams, who have been replaced by Buddy McGirt, one of the best trainers in the sport, and Pepe Correa, who worked with Leonard and former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, among others, during his 40-year career.

While episodes will be structured similarly to previous seasons, more of the bouts will be seen each week. In addition, every bout will air in its entirety, most likely on ESPN2.

"The good news for the hard-core boxing fan is that the fights will be available on one of our network platforms," Wechsler said. "We want to continue providing 'Contender' fans with the show that they love and we also want to give hard-core fans what they want."

A fourth season is being discussed with heavyweight as the target division.

SoccerNova2009

15 Aug 2007, 04:24 PM

Lou Ciaccia (http://www.ringtalk.com/index.php?action=fullnews&showcomments=1&id=1519) article gives some good background on the fighters:

REALITY SHOW MOVES TO SUPER MIDDLE

New York, NY- ESPN has announced the participants for the third season of The Contender, the boxing reality show that has found a bit of a home in the national consciousness. This year, there are more names that should be recognizable to fight fans than in the first two seasons. This year’s version features fighters in the 168-lb division, and premiers September 10th.

JUST WHO ARE THE 2007 CONTENDERS ANYWAY?

Max Alexander (14-0-1, 2 KOs) is a N.J. light heavyweight who has fought 14 of his fights in Philadelphia, many at the famed Blue Horizon. While he technically carries a 0 in the loss column, he was iced in 10 seconds by journeyman Marty Lindquist last year, but the fight was later ruled a no contest when Lindquist failed a post-fight drug test. Alexander won a lopsided decision in a February rematch.

LIKE ALEXANDER, BANKS CAN’T PUNCH!

David Banks (14-2-1, 2 KOs) faced season one Contender star Peter Manfredo on an ESPN 2 main event in June, losing a competitive decision. He has two wins over previously unbeaten prospect Elvin Ayala, and his only loss is to hot prospect Eromosele Albert. The Contender series has been kind to light-punching fighters, and Banks has to be considered a dark horse in a loaded field.

AUSSIE PUG BEST KNOWN CONTENDER

Sakio Bika (22-3, 14 KOs) of Australia is a definite favorite, and probably the most well-known name in the field. Twice a challenger for a super middleweight title, he had both a technical draw with then-titlist Markus Beyer and a decision loss to Joe Calzaghe last year. His other two losses are also to world class fighters, fellow Season Three Contender Sam Soliman and top-10 super middleweight Lucian Bute. Bika is ranked tenth by Ring Magazine among super middleweights.

”SUGAR POO” IS OF SHO BOX FAME

Henry “Sugar Poo” Buchanan (14-1, 11 KO) is most notable to fight fans as a participant in last year’s Sho Box super middleweight tournament on Showtime. Buchanan didn’t make many fans in two dull appearances, eventually losing a lopsided decision to tournament finalist Jean Paul Mendy. Buchanan does have the element of showmanship and cockiness that will set him apart from his fellow Contenders outside the ring.

LA FARRELL CAN FIGHT A LITTLE BIT

La Farrell Bunting (16-3-1, 16 KO) was also a Sho Box tournament participant, although he didn’t face Buchanan. Bunting got into the tournament as a late replacement for fellow Contender Bika, and picked up a big knockout win before being stopped in three by eventual finalist Anthony Hanshaw. He also has a decision loss to top prospect Jean Pascal.

SHO BOX “WELL REPRESENTED THIS YEAR

Jaidon Codrington (16-1, 12 KOs) became a household name on Showtime when he was viciously and frighteningly demolished in a mere 18 seconds by contender Allen Green. It was one of 2005’s knockouts of the year. Condrington has won seven straight since, but against miserable competition.

YORY BOY & RAUL BEAT HERNANDEZ

Miguel Hernandez (20-5, 10 KOs) has no victories over notable opponents, but stoppage losses to aging former champs “Yory Boy Campas and Raul Marquez. It’s hard to imagine the 32-year old middleweight contending in this year’s field.

THIS WAYNE JOHNSON “NOT” THE WWE ROCK

Wayne Johnson (16-1, 9 KOs) is a 29-year old former college football player who turned pro late after just six amateur fights. He has no notable wins on his resume, but has knocked out four of his last six opponents.

DOONY LOOKS SORTA’ ORDINARY

Donny McCrary (23-5-2, 13 KOs), like Codrington, also made his name in a loss to Allen Green. The Missouri native was a lightly regarded journeyman when he faced the highly rated Green on ESPN 2 last year, but came within a whisker of pulling a tremendous upset. In one of the more memorable ESPN 2 fights of 2006, McCrary nearly knocked Green out in the third round before succumbing to Green in the sixth. A live underdog in this field, McCrary’s five losses include solid guys like Green, Kofe Jantuah, Lucian Bute and Yuri Foreman. His last fight was a first round knockout over the respected Eric Regan.

BUFFALO PUG BEATEN BY SEASON ONE CHAMP

Les Ralston (16-2, 9 KOs) of Buffalo, NY has been on television twice. He was soundly outpointed by the then-unknown Sergio Mora on the short-lived NBC boxing series back in 2004, and was knocked out by Leonard Pierre on ESPN 2 in 2005. With no notable wins and only one fight in the last two years, Ralston seems unlikely to make any noise in this field.

THIS GUY RUMBLED WITH ZSOLT

Danny Santiago (29-3-1, 19 KOs) challenged WBO light heavyweight (175) titleholder Zsolt Erdei in his last bout, and was stopped in eight. The 34-year old also holds a TKO win over recent Antonio Tarver opponent Elvir Muriqi. All three of his losses are by stoppage.

BRITISH LAD GETS CONTENDER SLOT

Paul Smith (20-0, 12 KOs) is a British prospect who knocked out the badly fading Jonathan Reid, a Season One Contender, in his last outing. He’s never fought outside the U.K., but was a decorated amateur and is considered one of Britain’s top prospects.

DON’T COUNT “DOUBLE S” OUT YET!

Sam Soliman (33-9, 13 KOs) of Australia is another familiar face to boxing fans, who burst on the American scene with a competitive loss to Winky Wright on HBO in 2005. He holds wins over contender Raymond Joval and prospect Enrique Ornelas, as well as fellow Contender Sakio Bika. Soliman was knocked out by Anthony Mundine in a title bid his last time out, but has a wild, difficult style that should make him a favorite to win The Contender. He’s currently in Ring Magazine’s top ten among middleweights.

TOUGH TEXAN TAKES WALK ON WILD SIDE!

Brian Vera (14-0, 9 KOs) is 25-year old Texan who is largely untested. He did pin the second loss on the once-bright prospect Samuel Miller for his biggest win to date, in a fight that appeared on ESPN 2 in May.

WELLS WAS “SUPPOSED” TO BE THE GUY

Rhoshii Wells (18-2-2, 10 KOs) is undefeated against anyone not named Alex “Terra” Garcia, coming up short in two title bids against the former junior middleweight titlist. Wells moves up two weight classes (from 154 to 168) for The Contender.

JEFF LACY VICTIM ROUNDS OUT FIELD

Rubin Williams (29-2-1, 16 KOs) is another former title challenger who gave former champ Jeff Lacy a pretty good fight on Showtime in 2005 before being stopped in the seventh. He is 3-0-1 since, and in his last fight drew with former contender Antwun Echols in a fight that was considered a “fight of the year” type affair.