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'The Contender' Crowns An Underdog Champ
Tuesday (Sept. 26) night marks the finale of one of TV's more underappreciated reality shows, the contemporary gladiator saga known as The Contender.
Transplanted to ESPN after one low-rated season on NBC, the show enjoyed an entertaining second season full of sympathetic and charismatic characters beating each other senseless.
Rock Star: Supernova favorite Storm Large kicks things off by fulfilling some sort of lifelong personality by taking her sweet time to bellow the national anthem.
The evening's first live fight from the Staples Center is the third place brawl, an eight-rounder between Norberto Bravo ("Fighting for his family and Mexican pride") and Cornelius "K-9" Bundrage (fighting in the name of his sister, murdered in Detroit in August). Throughout the season, Bravo was the more winning fighter, a sage veteran fighting for his last chance. Bundrage, conversely, was the yappy youngster who took down better boxers in his early fights, undoing their skill with a mixture of pure power and a rough grabbing style.
It's Bundrage's strength that dominates, bringing Bravo to his knees in the second round. Through five rounds, Bundrage is up 5-0 on marble-mouthed announcer Teddy Atlas' scorecard. After Bundrage throws Bravo to the canvas twice in the sixth, K-9 is docked a point, but it hardly matters. Bravo keeps walking into K-9's right hand until he's staggered by an upper-cut in the seventh and the ref stops the fight. I think Bravo could have gone on and were this a real fight, it probably would have been allowed to continue, but you don't want anybody getting seriously injured for an ESPN reality show.
The $500,000 final features a similar contrast, with Steve Forbes entering as the obvious favorite, carrying a 32-3 lifetime record as well as a fleeting world title, which the announcers keep mentioning over and over as a mantra. But Forbes is smaller than Brewer, whose career record is 21-11, but includes three straight upset wins on The Contender.
Brewer's superior reach is a major factor, preventing Forbes from getting any traction inside. Several rounds are dominated by hugging, but when the punches begin to fly, Brewer holds the advantage. After last year's bloody war between Manfredo and Mora, this year's title fight is harder to call and harder to get excited by. It's also underwhelming after the decisive bronze medal undercard.
"Quite honestly, not a lot of action so far," Atlas comments with only four minutes to go.
Forbes closes with a flurry, landing several big uppercuts in the 10th.
One judge sees it 97-93 Brewer, another 96-94 Forbes. Yes, there were a lot of really tough-to-score rounds, but its disparities like this that cause viewers to distrust boxing judges. The final judge also sides with Brewer, giving The Contender a champ with 11 losses.
It wasn't the best of conclusions -- the most entertaining part of the two-hour finale was the trailer for Rocky Balboa -- but Brewer's underdog streak was good TV.
I hope ESPN can find a reason to bring The Contender back for another season.
Any thoughts on this season of The Contender or on the finale?
The contender isn't nearly the reality show The Ultimate Fighter is, really they aren't close.
Matt Rauseo | Sep 27, 2006 7:42:59 AM | #Storm Large sang the National Anthem like a champ.
With dignity, power and grace, it was awesome. I was surprised but delighted because I've not heard it done this well since Whitney Houston.
As for the Contender, I love it and I hope ESPN does bring it back. I was disappointed for Bravo but happy that someone who could use that money won it. He, like Storm really surprised me. I didn't think he had it in him but he did.
NA | Sep 27, 2006 1:25:18 PM | #I missed the finale. Does anyone know when it will be re-aired?
Tommy | Sep 28, 2006 8:48:09 AM | #Are you kidding me? Storm Large sucked and dragged the anthem on for longer than I have EVER seen. Talk about trying to squeeze every last second outta your 15 mins!
As for the Contender finale....awesome! Grady did what he had to do and it makes for a "rocky'esque" ending to this brilliant series. Best performance of the night however, has to go to k9. Total domination of Bravo and really proved he belonged in the bronze medal fight, if not, the finals!
yes! bad boy brewer, u ledge! k9! ur quality soz bout ya sis. steve frobes is crap...YES KIMBO CRAP
kendell n smithy | Oct 10, 2006 4:21:46 AM | #yess were bk! k9 u shudda wun bronze ent gd enuff!unluky...bravo ur gd to...kimbo,again steve forbes is crap shokinly bad IN YO FACE! torres shokin man bizzlee
kendell n smithy | Oct 10, 2006 4:29:21 AM | #Carl U no u dint want K-9 2 win. n oh yh cuz k-9 beat forbes dint he.... NO DINT FINK SO IN YO FACE!!
Kimbo | Oct 10, 2006 8:57:15 AM | #ay up...dint want k-9 to win..ye cuz hes just a ledge
smithy | Oct 11, 2006 12:21:41 PM | #oi bravo beat grady brewer he shoulditn of been in the final.... best fight was between bravo and that blonde haird one, but i did miss the 1st 3 fights
Rory from england | Oct 11, 2006 5:00:22 PM | #ye ye bravo n balleto whut a fightttttttttt
kendel n smithy | Oct 13, 2006 6:32:13 AM | #let me set it out for you kimbo im from south africa cape town i had hard times in my life back in south africa thats why i wanted k9 to win because i know whats it like to live in the ghetto man i dont care if K9 lost his got a good heart man i wanted him to win because also his got a son and wants the best for his son Cornelius had hard times in his life, and if it wasnt for boxing who knowz where the brother could have ended up so k-9 keep believing in god brother because somthing will come true for you peace. Steve Forbes knowz he could have fought better but made mistakes grady had the advantages but steve is still a world champ and if you gave him a rematch against grady steve will win but Congrataulations on the win Grady. K-9 and forbes put on the best shows for the people they were the best boxers no doubt.
Carlo Forbes | Oct 23, 2006 4:09:41 AM | #Acaully all was good boxers all put on good shows like bravo against rudy and gary, steve against freddy and nick,nick against fraser and steve all the fights was good. hope they make another show next year
Carlo forbes | Oct 26, 2006 6:19:41 PM | #
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