The Contender

[Green Demon]

ESPN.com

"The Contender," the reality television series about professional boxers, will begin its second season in April 2006 on ESPN.

The network, Mark Burnett Productions, and DreamWorks Television made the announcement Thursday.

"The Contender" is an unscripted drama about the lives of 16 professional boxers as they compete for the chance to change their lives. The show will air as part of ESPN Original Entertainment (EOE) programming and be executive produced by "Survivor" creator Mark Burnett, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Sylvester Stallone. Casting and production on the series, which will air in primetime beginning April 2006, will begin immediately.

" 'The Contender' has all of the elements that make it the right fit for ESPN: compelling storylines, dynamic characters and suspense over the outcome," Mark Shapiro, ESPN executive vice president, programming and production, said. "This series speaks to our viewers' love for competition and their appreciation for triumph over adversity, and it goes without saying that the track record of Mark Burnett is exemplary -- a perfect match for the critical and ratings successes EOE has delivered in both scripted and unscripted drama."

Said Burnett: "Our vision from the onset was to improve the entertainment experience of televised boxing for the fans. What better platform to achieve that vision than on the network that pioneered sports television programming."

After being introduced to the contestants in the first episode, subsequent shows will see one or more boxers eliminated through ring competition. Viewers will see contestants training in the ring, living together in one house and witness their personal interactions, while learning the details of these men's lives and what led them to pursue their dreams.

ESPN has options to renew the series for two subsequent seasons

I liked the first season of The contender on NBC and was unhappy when it didnt get another season. I am glad to see though that ESPN pick up the show since I am sure it will still get a fair amount of viewers and it is fun to watch.

[Colly]

It all depends on the boxers. I watched the last one because the mix of characters was superb. Plus I marked out for Ishe Smiths comedy 'now I'm the number 1 Daddy' hat after beating Bonsante in the finals undercard. I hate Anthony Bonsante. Plus Alfonso Gomez rules you all.

I'll likely watch it if ITV pick it up again and Sly and Sugar Ray are still involved. 'This week, you must do a task somehow related to a Toyota Taurus (or whatever)'.

[fineintent]

I liked the series, particularly Ishe Smith and Peter Manfredo Jr. who I thought were decent. Any news on what these guys are doing now? Are they respected boxers or what?

[Rebby]

I read something that the first Contender to return to boxing was Ahmed

[Whisper]

Joey Gilbert is booked to fight either Joe Calzaghe or someone in December i think. I'm guessing it'll be a title fight too since Calzaghe is champ right now.