After the umpteenth replay of James Toney versus Fres Oquendo, it's time for a new edition of Fight Night on Versus, live from the Bell Centre in Montreal. Adrian Diaconu and Jean Pascal will battle in front of their local fans in the main event, but The Contender Season 4 champion Troy Ross is in action first.
Wally Matthews and Barry Tompkins are calling the action. They are reporting a crowd of about 15,000 on hand at the Bell Centre.
This is Ross' first fight since winning the TV show title. He is 21-1 and comes into the ring to Kanye West's "Jesus Walks." Ross turns 34 next month, so as the announcers correctly point out, he can't waste time in his career.
Opponent Michael Simms is generously being called a veteran, sporting a 20-10-1 pro record. He's lost six of his last seven but isn't necessarily an easy out, as he's never been knocked out.
The tale of the tape shows Simms with a height and weight advantage. Christian Gauthier handles the introductions in both English and French, and we're set to go for a scheduled 10 rounds in the cruiserweight division.
Round 1
Apparently these guys fought as amateurs, with Ross coming out on top. Ross reaches with some jabs. He lunges to the body. Simms pumps his jab as well. Ross works the body along the ropes as Simms covers his head. Nice right hook by Ross. Both men throw to the body and the ref steps in. Ross jabs twice and ties up. Left hand by Ross knocks Simms back a step or two. He throws more chopping left hands in the final 20 seconds.
Franchise: 10-9 Ross
Round 2
Ross uses jabs to try to set up his left. Left uppercut from Ross finds a home. They wrestle in close and Ross tries to punch his way free. Nice one-two by Ross in the corner. Simms is covering up and only throwing sporadic uppercuts in return. Ross tries to hook around Simms' high guard. They back into a corner again and trade uppercuts. Simms finally walks forward but he hasn't found anything effective thus far.
Franchise: 10-9 Ross
Round 3
Here comes Simms with a left hook right off the bat. Ross is swinging wildly with his lefts. Ross triples up on the jab. Right to the body by Ross. Simms waves Ross in, but they tie up. The announcers want to see more jabs from Simms. Now he gets off a two-punch combo upstairs. Ross peppering the jabs but missing follow-up shots. That was Troy's weakest round, but he probably won it with activity.
Franchise: 10-9 Ross
Round 4
We see a shot of Diaconu warming up. Ross jabs some more and throws right hooks. Troy just misses a big left. Simms comes forward off balance. Right hook to the head by Ross. Simms lands a right but has to cover up right away as return fire comes back. A right hand to the body makes Simms wince and his pants slip down. Ross works the body again in the final 10 seconds.
Franchise: 10-9 Ross
Round 5
Ross' corner works on some swelling and possibly a cut by his right eye. Ross forces Simms back along the ropes. A left to the body looked a little low from Troy. Simms is more active now but he isn't landing. Just as I say that, he smacks Ross on his swollen eye. Ross fires back to the head and body. Troy bullies Simms along the ropes as they lean on each other. They trade and Simms almost loses his trunks again. Simms gets some shots in during the closing seconds.
Franchise: 10-9 Ross
Round 6
Ross is winning easily but he's lucky his opponent isn't a big puncher. Simms comes forward and lands a nice right uppercut. They trade from super close range and the ref warns Ross for leading with his head. Ross jabs and ties up. The ref calls timeout for an accidental headbutt. Ross retreats and throws jabs as he goes. Both men try hooks and uppercuts in close. Nice flurry by Simms before the bell. Close round.
Franchise: 10-9 Simms
Round 7
Ross is bleeding a little from his left eye. Left hand scores for Simms. Both guys miss wild shots as they come in. Left upstairs and right to the body by Ross. Ross turns it up with a right uppercut and presses forward. Simms digs in and just misses a right hook. Troy throws clubbing left hands and backs Simms up again. Quick one-two by Ross. Troy showed more spark in that round.
Franchise: 10-9 Ross
Round 8
The cut over Ross' left eye looks worse than I thought. He trades along the ropes and circles back into the center. There's more wrestling that forces the ref to step in. They lean and grapple some more. Ross lands two left hands and they tie up again. Quick right hook counter by Ross. Not much of consequence in the last 20 seconds.
Franchise: 10-9 Ross
Round 9
Simms comes out with energy but Ross still has bounce in his legs. Troy jabs and tries to find his way through Simms' gloves. Left-right combo from Ross. Simms looks for uppercuts inside. Both men look a bit fatigued right now. Simms comes forward as Ross tries more left hands. Ross lands the last few shots of the round.
Franchise: 10-9 Ross
Round 10
Unless something crazy happens, Simms is looking at yet another decision loss. Ugly close range fighting as before. Simms is rocked by a right hook but doesn't look hurt. The ref gives Simms to recover from a shot below the belt. It looked pretty low. Left uppercut by Simms as they resume fighting. Ross takes it well and throws to the body. They are tangled along the ropes, but Troy finds room for a few right hands. Simms doubles over and gets a standing eight with ten seconds to go. Simms makes it to the final bell though.
Franchise: 10-8 Ross
Franchise: 99-90 Ross
The judges score it 98-91 and 99-90 twice, all to the winner by unanimous decision, Troy "The Boss" Ross.
Posted by The Franchise
Showing posts with label the contender. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the contender. Show all posts
25.2.09
Troy Ross vs. Ehinomen Ehikhamenor: The Contender Season 4 Final Round By Round
We've made it to the end of the road for Season 4 of The Contender, with Troy Ross and Ehinomen Ehikhamenor battling in the final at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods. Nick Charles and Wally Matthews call Ross, the Canadian southpaw, the favorite, but Tony Danza expects Hino to give him a fight.
A video package voiced by Danza gives viewers a look at how both men made it to the final. The tale of the tape shows that both men are basically even in height, weight and reach. Ross is five years older but has just a few more pro fights under his belt.
Ross is 20-1 with 14 KOs, and he showed good power in both hands with two early knockouts on the show. Ehikhamenor is 15-3 with just seven KOs, and he dropped a lopsided decision to Herbie Hide in his last fight before appearing on The Contender.
The introductions are made and we're ready for 10 rounds to determine the Season 4 champion.
Round One
Ross reaches with the jab as Hino stays alert. Nothing really lands for the first minute. Hino scores with some quick right counters. A short exchange breaks out in the center of the ring. Ross comes in behind a left and is knocked back off balance. Two lefts land partially for Ross, but Hino responds with a right. Some wrestling in close ends a tough round to score.
Franchise: 10-9 Ross
Round Two
Neither man looks tentative in the second round, with each man swinging away with power shots. They both score but Ross lands the cleanest shot. Ross goes to the body and Hino counters. Nice left upstairs by Ross, then a right as Hino comes in. The announcers think Ross would be well served to box, though he looks like he's content to slug it out thus far.
Franchise: 10-9 Ross
Round Three
Ross does some work at very close range. Hino's two-punch combo hits Ross' arms. Both men connect on power shots along the ropes. Troy is really swinging for the fences. Neither man can find a home for the jab, so they aren't throwing many now. Ross just misses a big left as he hops in. The ref has been a little busier too.
Franchise: 10-9 Ross
Round Four
Ross is the aggressor right out of the gate, and he connects with a massive right and a left. Hino doesn't go down, but he looks out on his feet as he slumps in the corner, and the ref jumps in to stop it. The replays show Hino had his arm draped over the top rope making no effort to defend himself, so he didn't give the ref much choice.
The winner by TKO at 2:00 of Round Four... and The Contender Season 4 champion... Troy "The Boss" Ross.
Ross says Hino fought a smart fight, but he felt stronger and thought he would get to him after a few rounds. He didn't think he was much bigger, calling his experience the key factor. Ross also had no problem with the stoppage, saying it's never a bad thing.
Danza awards The Contender belt to Ross, who seems genuinely pleased with Danza's efforts on the show. Ross ends by thanking the fans for coming out and supporting the program.
Ehikhamenor also thanks everyone for their support, but he's disappointed that the fight was stopped. He says the plan was to take Ross into deep water to drown him and thinks he may have been able to do it.
Posted by The Franchise
A video package voiced by Danza gives viewers a look at how both men made it to the final. The tale of the tape shows that both men are basically even in height, weight and reach. Ross is five years older but has just a few more pro fights under his belt.
Ross is 20-1 with 14 KOs, and he showed good power in both hands with two early knockouts on the show. Ehikhamenor is 15-3 with just seven KOs, and he dropped a lopsided decision to Herbie Hide in his last fight before appearing on The Contender.
The introductions are made and we're ready for 10 rounds to determine the Season 4 champion.
Round One
Ross reaches with the jab as Hino stays alert. Nothing really lands for the first minute. Hino scores with some quick right counters. A short exchange breaks out in the center of the ring. Ross comes in behind a left and is knocked back off balance. Two lefts land partially for Ross, but Hino responds with a right. Some wrestling in close ends a tough round to score.
Franchise: 10-9 Ross
Round Two
Neither man looks tentative in the second round, with each man swinging away with power shots. They both score but Ross lands the cleanest shot. Ross goes to the body and Hino counters. Nice left upstairs by Ross, then a right as Hino comes in. The announcers think Ross would be well served to box, though he looks like he's content to slug it out thus far.
Franchise: 10-9 Ross
Round Three
Ross does some work at very close range. Hino's two-punch combo hits Ross' arms. Both men connect on power shots along the ropes. Troy is really swinging for the fences. Neither man can find a home for the jab, so they aren't throwing many now. Ross just misses a big left as he hops in. The ref has been a little busier too.
Franchise: 10-9 Ross
Round Four
Ross is the aggressor right out of the gate, and he connects with a massive right and a left. Hino doesn't go down, but he looks out on his feet as he slumps in the corner, and the ref jumps in to stop it. The replays show Hino had his arm draped over the top rope making no effort to defend himself, so he didn't give the ref much choice.
The winner by TKO at 2:00 of Round Four... and The Contender Season 4 champion... Troy "The Boss" Ross.
Ross says Hino fought a smart fight, but he felt stronger and thought he would get to him after a few rounds. He didn't think he was much bigger, calling his experience the key factor. Ross also had no problem with the stoppage, saying it's never a bad thing.
Danza awards The Contender belt to Ross, who seems genuinely pleased with Danza's efforts on the show. Ross ends by thanking the fans for coming out and supporting the program.
Ehikhamenor also thanks everyone for their support, but he's disappointed that the fight was stopped. He says the plan was to take Ross into deep water to drown him and thinks he may have been able to do it.
Posted by The Franchise
The Contender Season 4 Finale Live Blog
The MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods is the site for the live finale of Season 4 of The Contender. Nick Charles and Wally Matthews are calling the action, and the host of the show, Tony Danza, is also on hand.
First up is the so-called bronze medal bout between Rico Hoye and Akinyemi "A.K." Laleye. Matthews says Hoye brought in one of the top resumes of any fighter on the show and is big for a cruiserweight. He thinks Laleye will have to outhustle Hoye to win, which he is capable of doing.
Danza narrates a look back at how A.K. got to the semifinals, defeating Erick Vega and Alfredo Escalera Jr. before losing to Troy Ross. He was the smallest man in the tournament.
Hoye beat Mike Alexander in a close fight and Joell Godfrey but lost to Hino Ehikhamenor. He has plenty of experience but was out of boxing for a while thanks to some legal trouble.
This will be an eight-round fight. The tale of the tape shows Hoye with a solid advantage in height and weight, though reach is almost even.
Laleye comes to the ring first, followed by Hoye. John Vena handles the introductions.
A.K. is giving up plenty of size, but he takes it right to Hoye in the first round. Hoye can't keep him at bay with his jab, and Laleye scores with several short, sharp hooks.
Hoye is trying to line up a big right hand but Laleye has done a good job of avoiding it. The ref wanrs both men for holding, and Hoye slugs his way forward with multiple power shots in the last 20 seconds of the second round.
Danza talks to Hino about the fight going on now and the upcoming championship fight. Ehikhamenor calls it the biggest opportunity of his life.
Laleye keeps trying to smother Hoye, but the bigger man stuns his foe with a left hook and a body shot halfway through the third. Both men seem more than happy to trade, and they are swinging wildly as the third round closes.
Charles and Matthews are critical of Laleye's corner for offering him little advice between rounds. With a minute left in the fourth round, Hoye lands several consecutive head shots, and Laleye has to dig deep to survive the onslaught.
This is the first time A.K.'s mom has seen him fight, and she can't like what she saw over the last two rounds. CompuBox had Hoye throwing 100 punches in Round Four, which is pretty crazy for a large cruiserweight. A.K. loses a point for holding, then basically shoves Hoye through the ropes, and the ref lectures both men. Hoye smokes A.K. with a left hand late in the round.
Danza gets a chance to talk to Ross about his thoughts. He says he feels great and is ready to let his hands fly.
There isn't anything in the sixth or seventh rounds to make it look like A.K. can pull off a knockout, but that's what he's probably going to need heading into the eighth and final round. he deserves credit for standing in and exchanging all the way until the end, but he's eating at least as many as he's landing. Both guys make it to the final bell, and we'll go to the scorecards.
Past Contender champions Sergio Mora, Grady Brewer and Sakio Bika are all in attendance.
All three judges score it 79-72, all to the winner by unanimous decision... Rico "Suave" Hoye.
CompuBox showed Hoye throwing about 300 punches more than Laleye and landing a lot more as well. Matthews talks to the winner, who says he got caught with some good shots early on, but he stayed relaxed and listened to his team. Hoye also admits to being disappointed in not being in the final, but he's not looking back. Asked about the final, he favors Hino but says it should be a great fight.
Posted by The Franchise
First up is the so-called bronze medal bout between Rico Hoye and Akinyemi "A.K." Laleye. Matthews says Hoye brought in one of the top resumes of any fighter on the show and is big for a cruiserweight. He thinks Laleye will have to outhustle Hoye to win, which he is capable of doing.
Danza narrates a look back at how A.K. got to the semifinals, defeating Erick Vega and Alfredo Escalera Jr. before losing to Troy Ross. He was the smallest man in the tournament.
Hoye beat Mike Alexander in a close fight and Joell Godfrey but lost to Hino Ehikhamenor. He has plenty of experience but was out of boxing for a while thanks to some legal trouble.
This will be an eight-round fight. The tale of the tape shows Hoye with a solid advantage in height and weight, though reach is almost even.
Laleye comes to the ring first, followed by Hoye. John Vena handles the introductions.
A.K. is giving up plenty of size, but he takes it right to Hoye in the first round. Hoye can't keep him at bay with his jab, and Laleye scores with several short, sharp hooks.
Hoye is trying to line up a big right hand but Laleye has done a good job of avoiding it. The ref wanrs both men for holding, and Hoye slugs his way forward with multiple power shots in the last 20 seconds of the second round.
Danza talks to Hino about the fight going on now and the upcoming championship fight. Ehikhamenor calls it the biggest opportunity of his life.
Laleye keeps trying to smother Hoye, but the bigger man stuns his foe with a left hook and a body shot halfway through the third. Both men seem more than happy to trade, and they are swinging wildly as the third round closes.
Charles and Matthews are critical of Laleye's corner for offering him little advice between rounds. With a minute left in the fourth round, Hoye lands several consecutive head shots, and Laleye has to dig deep to survive the onslaught.
This is the first time A.K.'s mom has seen him fight, and she can't like what she saw over the last two rounds. CompuBox had Hoye throwing 100 punches in Round Four, which is pretty crazy for a large cruiserweight. A.K. loses a point for holding, then basically shoves Hoye through the ropes, and the ref lectures both men. Hoye smokes A.K. with a left hand late in the round.
Danza gets a chance to talk to Ross about his thoughts. He says he feels great and is ready to let his hands fly.
There isn't anything in the sixth or seventh rounds to make it look like A.K. can pull off a knockout, but that's what he's probably going to need heading into the eighth and final round. he deserves credit for standing in and exchanging all the way until the end, but he's eating at least as many as he's landing. Both guys make it to the final bell, and we'll go to the scorecards.
Past Contender champions Sergio Mora, Grady Brewer and Sakio Bika are all in attendance.
All three judges score it 79-72, all to the winner by unanimous decision... Rico "Suave" Hoye.
CompuBox showed Hoye throwing about 300 punches more than Laleye and landing a lot more as well. Matthews talks to the winner, who says he got caught with some good shots early on, but he stayed relaxed and listened to his team. Hoye also admits to being disappointed in not being in the final, but he's not looking back. Asked about the final, he favors Hino but says it should be a great fight.
Posted by The Franchise
Live Contender Season 4 Finale Round By Round Updates Tonight
Season 4 of The Contender comes to a conclusion tonight with a live finale from the MGM Grand at Foxwoods. Troy Ross meets Hino Ehikhamenor for the show championship, and the undercard is full of bouts between other contestants, at least one of which will also be shown during the broadcast.
Because not even all of the BoxingWatchers get Versus, it stands to reason that not all of you do either. So I'll be doing a live a live blog of any preliminaries and round by round updates of the championship bout out on the main page.
Showtime is 9 pm Eastern tonight.
Posted by The Franchise
Because not even all of the BoxingWatchers get Versus, it stands to reason that not all of you do either. So I'll be doing a live a live blog of any preliminaries and round by round updates of the championship bout out on the main page.
Showtime is 9 pm Eastern tonight.
Posted by The Franchise
19.2.09
Recap: The Contender Season 4 Semifinals (Episode 11)
After starting with 16 cruiserweights, just four men remain. Troy Ross will meet A.K. Laleye in one semifinal, while Rico Hoye takes on Hino Ehikhamenor in the other.
Both Hino and A.K. are thrilled to be in the semifinals after winning last week. Tony Danza gathers the final four together and tells them they will be going on a little excursion to celebrate.
Said excursion is on board a yacht, giving the men a little time to relax. Everyone tests the water except for Hino, who deems it "too risky." After the boat trip, Danza asks the boxers about their thoughts on the 12 men who have been eliminated, and the show recaps some of the more memorable moments for each fighter.
Ross and Laleye make final preparations for their fight. Tommy Brooks tells Ross to get ahead early and look to catch his foe in the later rounds. John Bray wants Laleye to box and throw Ross off his game.
The first two rounds go solidly in Ross' favor. He uses good counter shots and wide hooks to get around Laleye's guard. A.K. leads often with his head, and lots of wrestling on the inside makes things fairly ugly.
Ross uses a good body attack to open the third round in strong fashion. A.K. finally shows some spark in the second half of the round, bulling his way inside and landing some shots in close.
The fourth round looks like a repeat of the third. Brooks tells Ross not to get hit with anything stupid, and he lands some nice shots in the final round and quickly moves away.
The judges scorecards make it a shutout: all three score it 50-45, all to the winner, Troy Ross.
Laleye is definitely one of the more emotional losers, shouting in frustration at himself. He says he knows he didn't box enough and he let his emotions get the best of him. Danza congratulates A.K. for the effort but says he wishes Laleye would have let his hands go.
A.K. keeps things in proper perspective, laughing and saying he'll be back better than before. He hangs up his gloves to leave us with three fighters remaining.
The second semifinal seems like it will be a battle between Hino's athleticism and Rico's fundamentals. Bray instructs Hoye to throw multiple jabs and work off of them.
Rico does indeed use the jab to keep Hino at bay for much of the first round. Ehikhamenor lands a few good shots coming in, but he is wilder and Hoye's defense looks better.
The momentum shifts in Hino's favor during the middle rounds. He isn't jabbing much, but he's able to land some big right hands and get out before Hoye can respond.
Rico goes after it in the final round, but Hino's elusiveness is the difference. A slow-motion sequence near the end foreshadows something dramatic, though nothing too consequential happens, and we go to the scorecards.
The judges score it 50-45, 48-47 and 49-46, all to the winner, Hino Ehikhamenor.
Hoye says he saw some shots there but was unable to pull the trigger, and he's disappointed in himself. He says it's important to stay faithful and take comfort in the idea that things happen for a reason. His gloves are hung, putting an end to the Singapore portion of the show.
Next week: Season Four of The Contender comes to an end with a live two-hour finale from the MGM Grand at Foxwoods. Ross and Ehikhamenor will go ten rounds for the show's championship, with Laleye and Hoye facing off on the undercard.
Both Hino and A.K. are thrilled to be in the semifinals after winning last week. Tony Danza gathers the final four together and tells them they will be going on a little excursion to celebrate.
Said excursion is on board a yacht, giving the men a little time to relax. Everyone tests the water except for Hino, who deems it "too risky." After the boat trip, Danza asks the boxers about their thoughts on the 12 men who have been eliminated, and the show recaps some of the more memorable moments for each fighter.
Ross and Laleye make final preparations for their fight. Tommy Brooks tells Ross to get ahead early and look to catch his foe in the later rounds. John Bray wants Laleye to box and throw Ross off his game.
The first two rounds go solidly in Ross' favor. He uses good counter shots and wide hooks to get around Laleye's guard. A.K. leads often with his head, and lots of wrestling on the inside makes things fairly ugly.
Ross uses a good body attack to open the third round in strong fashion. A.K. finally shows some spark in the second half of the round, bulling his way inside and landing some shots in close.
The fourth round looks like a repeat of the third. Brooks tells Ross not to get hit with anything stupid, and he lands some nice shots in the final round and quickly moves away.
The judges scorecards make it a shutout: all three score it 50-45, all to the winner, Troy Ross.
Laleye is definitely one of the more emotional losers, shouting in frustration at himself. He says he knows he didn't box enough and he let his emotions get the best of him. Danza congratulates A.K. for the effort but says he wishes Laleye would have let his hands go.
A.K. keeps things in proper perspective, laughing and saying he'll be back better than before. He hangs up his gloves to leave us with three fighters remaining.
The second semifinal seems like it will be a battle between Hino's athleticism and Rico's fundamentals. Bray instructs Hoye to throw multiple jabs and work off of them.
Rico does indeed use the jab to keep Hino at bay for much of the first round. Ehikhamenor lands a few good shots coming in, but he is wilder and Hoye's defense looks better.
The momentum shifts in Hino's favor during the middle rounds. He isn't jabbing much, but he's able to land some big right hands and get out before Hoye can respond.
Rico goes after it in the final round, but Hino's elusiveness is the difference. A slow-motion sequence near the end foreshadows something dramatic, though nothing too consequential happens, and we go to the scorecards.
The judges score it 50-45, 48-47 and 49-46, all to the winner, Hino Ehikhamenor.
Hoye says he saw some shots there but was unable to pull the trigger, and he's disappointed in himself. He says it's important to stay faithful and take comfort in the idea that things happen for a reason. His gloves are hung, putting an end to the Singapore portion of the show.
Next week: Season Four of The Contender comes to an end with a live two-hour finale from the MGM Grand at Foxwoods. Ross and Ehikhamenor will go ten rounds for the show's championship, with Laleye and Hoye facing off on the undercard.
12.2.09
Recap: The Contender Season 4, Episode 10
This week's recap shows the departure of Ryan Coyne due to injury and the return of Joell Godfrey, who lost during the very first episode. A.K. Laleye sent Alfredo Escalera home, leaving us with six fighters remaining. We'll be down to the final four after tonight's doubleheader.
The remnants of the Gold Team are not upset to see Escalera go. They reflect a bit on how strange it is for six men who were once teammates having to fight each other for the championship. There's a short training spotlight on Godfrey, and everyone agrees he looks a lot less rusty this week.
He's not up first though, as Deon Elam and Hino Ehikhamenor are on tap for the first fight. Elam plans to throw more punches and work off his jab, while Hino feels his experience and slicker style will win out.
We waste no time and get right into the action. Elam is the aggressor right out of the gate. He doesn't throw tons of punches, but it's more than Elam can muster. Deon does cover up well to pick off punches with his arms, he's just not letting his hands go.
Round Three shows why that might be, as Elam gets hit often as he looks to punch. He does pick it up late in the round, though it doesn't appear to be enough to win him the round.
Trainer John Bray begs Elam to be first, and he charges out after the bell and stuns his opponent with a combo. Ehikhamenor looks like he might be in trouble, but he gets his legs back under him and is coming forward again by the end of the round.
The final round turns into a slugfest, with Hino more than holding his own. We go to the judges scorecards and they all saw it the same way: 49-46 for Ehikhamenor.
Deon says he knows he started too slowly, and he thanks Bray for giving him advice that would have been good enough to win if he had followed it. It's Elam's first loss as a pro - he was 10-0 going into the fight.
Leading up to the second bout, Hoye explains that he was locked up for ten years for shooting someone. He fights to honor his dad and grandfather, both of whom passed away while he was incarcerated.
Godfrey is looking forward to making something of his unexpected second chance. He wants to use his quickness to get in and out, but he feels his most important improvement from his first fight will be mental.
The pace set by Godfrey to start the fight is a fast one, but Hoye is successful at cutting off the ring and making Joell fight with his back against the ropes. Hoye looks like he wins the first two rounds in that manner, with Laleye noting that both men are going to be tired.
Tommy Brooks wants more combos from Hoye. Bray asks for straight counter shots from Godfrey, who finally figures out how to avoid getting trapped about halfway through the fight. He comes on down the stretch in the third round and clearly wins the fourth by sticking and moving.
It's possible that the fight is there for the taking in Round Five, and both men seem willing to trade. Hoye gets the upper hand with a series of clubbing right hands, sending Godfrey stumbling. Rico pours it on and Joell is forced to take a knee late in the round from a combination of punishment and fatigue. The judges turn in a unanimous decision for Hoye, eliminating Godfrey again.
Godfrey says he's still green, so just being in the tournament was a valuable learning experience. Bray tells him he should be proud for giving it his all and that he thinks Joell has a bright future in the sport. Godfrey hangs his gloves up for the second time, and we're down to just four men standing.
Next Week: It's the semifinals. Troy Ross takes on Laleye, and Hino squares off with Hoye.
The remnants of the Gold Team are not upset to see Escalera go. They reflect a bit on how strange it is for six men who were once teammates having to fight each other for the championship. There's a short training spotlight on Godfrey, and everyone agrees he looks a lot less rusty this week.
He's not up first though, as Deon Elam and Hino Ehikhamenor are on tap for the first fight. Elam plans to throw more punches and work off his jab, while Hino feels his experience and slicker style will win out.
We waste no time and get right into the action. Elam is the aggressor right out of the gate. He doesn't throw tons of punches, but it's more than Elam can muster. Deon does cover up well to pick off punches with his arms, he's just not letting his hands go.
Round Three shows why that might be, as Elam gets hit often as he looks to punch. He does pick it up late in the round, though it doesn't appear to be enough to win him the round.
Trainer John Bray begs Elam to be first, and he charges out after the bell and stuns his opponent with a combo. Ehikhamenor looks like he might be in trouble, but he gets his legs back under him and is coming forward again by the end of the round.
The final round turns into a slugfest, with Hino more than holding his own. We go to the judges scorecards and they all saw it the same way: 49-46 for Ehikhamenor.
Deon says he knows he started too slowly, and he thanks Bray for giving him advice that would have been good enough to win if he had followed it. It's Elam's first loss as a pro - he was 10-0 going into the fight.
Leading up to the second bout, Hoye explains that he was locked up for ten years for shooting someone. He fights to honor his dad and grandfather, both of whom passed away while he was incarcerated.
Godfrey is looking forward to making something of his unexpected second chance. He wants to use his quickness to get in and out, but he feels his most important improvement from his first fight will be mental.
The pace set by Godfrey to start the fight is a fast one, but Hoye is successful at cutting off the ring and making Joell fight with his back against the ropes. Hoye looks like he wins the first two rounds in that manner, with Laleye noting that both men are going to be tired.
Tommy Brooks wants more combos from Hoye. Bray asks for straight counter shots from Godfrey, who finally figures out how to avoid getting trapped about halfway through the fight. He comes on down the stretch in the third round and clearly wins the fourth by sticking and moving.
It's possible that the fight is there for the taking in Round Five, and both men seem willing to trade. Hoye gets the upper hand with a series of clubbing right hands, sending Godfrey stumbling. Rico pours it on and Joell is forced to take a knee late in the round from a combination of punishment and fatigue. The judges turn in a unanimous decision for Hoye, eliminating Godfrey again.
Godfrey says he's still green, so just being in the tournament was a valuable learning experience. Bray tells him he should be proud for giving it his all and that he thinks Joell has a bright future in the sport. Godfrey hangs his gloves up for the second time, and we're down to just four men standing.
Next Week: It's the semifinals. Troy Ross takes on Laleye, and Hino squares off with Hoye.
5.2.09
Recap: The Contender Season 4, Episode 9
Tony Danza's recap covers the history between Akinyemi "A.K." Laleye and Alfredo Escalera Jr., who will meet in the second round tonight. There's also a short briefing on the health of Ryan Coyne, who suffered bad cuts over both eyes in the first round.
Troy Ross, who won both of his first two fights by knockout, says he knows the other fighters will step up their games after seeing those performances. The remnants of the Gold Team don't say it in so many words, but they are impressed. Over in the old Blue Team room, only Escalera and Coyne remain.
Speaking of Coyne, the doctor makes a house call to examine his right eye. It turns out that the cut is infected, and the doctor advises him not to fight. He's obviously disappointed as he packs his things, and Escalera says it could have happened to any of them. Coyne is happy with the fight he did win, but he has no choice but to hang up his gloves and leave.
Danza gathers the remaining fighters to inform them that Coyne is out. Since Rico Hoye is now without an opponent, Danza says one of the defeated fighters has to return. Only three are medically cleared to do so: Joell Godfrey, Erick Vega and Mike Alexander. Danza tells the others to deliberate and decide who they would like to have back.
There is support for Alexander, who lost a very close decision, and Godfrey, since he had the guts to step up and compete in the very first fight of the tournament. Eventually, opinion swings toward letting Hoye pick his own opponent. That doesn't sit well with Escalera, who gets into a heated shouting match with Hoye before leaving.
Escalera reflects for a bit on how he has no allies left. The decision is made to have Godfrey return, and though he's happy to be back, he questions why Hoye would choose him. The spotlight is on Godfrey in training, and John Bray decides Joell is rusty and will need a lot of work.
Fight night arrives for Laleye and Escalera. The consensus is that the fight will pit A.K.'s speed against Alfredo's size. Tommy Brooks warns A.K. to stay off the ropes, while Bray tells Alfredo he needs to impose his will and cut off the ring.
Round one sees the fight develop as expected, with Laleye landing more but Escalera showing more pop. A.K. looks like he wants to stand and slug, which may not be to his favor, and Brooks tells him he lost the first round.
The middle rounds go more in Laleye's favor, as he's able to outwork Escalera in close to make up for his deficiency in jabs. The ref has to tell both men to stop wrestling on numerous occasions. Alfredo looks like he's gassed by the end of Round Four, and Bray tells him he may need a knockout to win.
Both men look like they could go down from one big shot in the final round, though Laleye clearly has more left in the tank. A left hook from A.K. sends Alfredo slumping into the ropes and down to the canvas. The ref tells Escalera he was out on his feet and that it's all over. The official decision is Laleye by KO at 1:51 of the fifth round.
A.K. says he has nothing personal against Alfredo and gives him credit for a good fight. He knows he's in for a challenge facing Ross in the semifinals.
Escalera feels the biggest battle he lost was with himself, failing to keep his emotions under wraps. Bray echoes those thoughts but says he has nothing to be ashamed of, as he battled all the way to the end and didn't look to run or hide. Escalera departs, taking with him the last remnants of the original Blue Team.
Next Week: The second round comes to an end with another doubleheader, with both fights pitting former Gold teammates against each other.
Troy Ross, who won both of his first two fights by knockout, says he knows the other fighters will step up their games after seeing those performances. The remnants of the Gold Team don't say it in so many words, but they are impressed. Over in the old Blue Team room, only Escalera and Coyne remain.
Speaking of Coyne, the doctor makes a house call to examine his right eye. It turns out that the cut is infected, and the doctor advises him not to fight. He's obviously disappointed as he packs his things, and Escalera says it could have happened to any of them. Coyne is happy with the fight he did win, but he has no choice but to hang up his gloves and leave.
Danza gathers the remaining fighters to inform them that Coyne is out. Since Rico Hoye is now without an opponent, Danza says one of the defeated fighters has to return. Only three are medically cleared to do so: Joell Godfrey, Erick Vega and Mike Alexander. Danza tells the others to deliberate and decide who they would like to have back.
There is support for Alexander, who lost a very close decision, and Godfrey, since he had the guts to step up and compete in the very first fight of the tournament. Eventually, opinion swings toward letting Hoye pick his own opponent. That doesn't sit well with Escalera, who gets into a heated shouting match with Hoye before leaving.
Escalera reflects for a bit on how he has no allies left. The decision is made to have Godfrey return, and though he's happy to be back, he questions why Hoye would choose him. The spotlight is on Godfrey in training, and John Bray decides Joell is rusty and will need a lot of work.
Fight night arrives for Laleye and Escalera. The consensus is that the fight will pit A.K.'s speed against Alfredo's size. Tommy Brooks warns A.K. to stay off the ropes, while Bray tells Alfredo he needs to impose his will and cut off the ring.
Round one sees the fight develop as expected, with Laleye landing more but Escalera showing more pop. A.K. looks like he wants to stand and slug, which may not be to his favor, and Brooks tells him he lost the first round.
The middle rounds go more in Laleye's favor, as he's able to outwork Escalera in close to make up for his deficiency in jabs. The ref has to tell both men to stop wrestling on numerous occasions. Alfredo looks like he's gassed by the end of Round Four, and Bray tells him he may need a knockout to win.
Both men look like they could go down from one big shot in the final round, though Laleye clearly has more left in the tank. A left hook from A.K. sends Alfredo slumping into the ropes and down to the canvas. The ref tells Escalera he was out on his feet and that it's all over. The official decision is Laleye by KO at 1:51 of the fifth round.
A.K. says he has nothing personal against Alfredo and gives him credit for a good fight. He knows he's in for a challenge facing Ross in the semifinals.
Escalera feels the biggest battle he lost was with himself, failing to keep his emotions under wraps. Bray echoes those thoughts but says he has nothing to be ashamed of, as he battled all the way to the end and didn't look to run or hide. Escalera departs, taking with him the last remnants of the original Blue Team.
Next Week: The second round comes to an end with another doubleheader, with both fights pitting former Gold teammates against each other.
28.1.09
Recap: The Contender Season 4, Episode 8
This week's episode begins with an extra-long recap narrated by Tony Danza that sums up the entire first round of the tournament. We're down to eight remaining fighters, and the second round will begin with a bout between Felix Cora Jr. and Troy Ross.
There's a short focus on Ryan Coyne, who won the final first round fight in a narrow decision. He has to visit the hospital for a cut over his right eye. This one is deeper than the one he suffered over his left eye earlier in the show, and he has less time to recover before his next fight.
The remaining members of the Gold Team discuss the last fight. Akinyemi "A.K." Laleye is especially upset about the decision that cost them teammate Tim Flamos, and he unleashes a tirade in the direction of Troy Ross when he feels like Ross isn't as bothered by the actions of the judges.
Coyne and trainer John Bray talk about whether or not he can realistically continue. Though he wants to keep fighting, Coyne promises to make the decision that's best for him going forward when the time comes.
In the morning, Danza gathers all the remaining competitors and congratulates them for making it to the second round. He declares the team portion of the tournament officially over and says it's every man for himself now. There's no drama in choosing second round slots - Rico Hoye and Coyne have to fight each other because there are only two slots left.
As a reward, Danza tells the fighters he is going to take them out to see some of the sights in Singapore. It becomes a bonding experience as they take a boat tour, ride one of the world's largest Ferris wheels and enjoy a private dinner at a nice restaurant. Danza tells a good story about how he got his first big break in TV after he got up from two knockdowns in a boxing match and knocked out his opponent with one punch. Cora also gives a heartfelt speech about boxing and respect.
When the boxers return, they find pictures of their first round fights decorating the walls of the loft. They also receive letters from home, and Hoye gets word from his wife that he'll be having a baby boy.
Cora gets some bad news in his letter. Since he's been away from his city job for more than ten days, he gets notification that he's been terminated. And since storm-damaged Galveston was hit so hard, he has no home either. Those revelations have an impact on Alfredo Escalera.
During training, Bray expresses his opinion that Cora is the man to beat. He doesn't think Felix will get caught the way Ross' first-round foe did. Trainer Tommy Brooks says both men will come to fight and it may boil down to who makes the first serious mistake.
Before the fight, Brooks tells Ross to get up on points in the early rounds and be patient. Bray speaks to Cora mostly about the mental aspect of his game.
And it's fight time...
The first round sees both men trying to establish the jab. Ross looks like he has the faster hands, while Cora looks a little more hesitant. He lands a nice power shot that is answered with a multi-punch combo by Ross.
In the final minute of the round, Cora is caught flush by a hook and he goes down. He beats the count but the ref will not let him continue despite his protests. The official time of Ross' KO win is 2:38 of the first round.
Ross says he was expecting a five-round chess match, not a first-round KO. He wishes the best to Cora going forward and says he feels very confident.
An embarrassed Cora agonizes over his failure to step up to the plate. He also thinks he may have been too tight going into the fight. Physically he feels great, but mentally he is shaken up. As he takes the long walk, he sounds like he is considering giving up boxing, ending the episode on a somber note.
Next week: Tension heats up in the loft between Escalera and Hoye, but it's A.K. who Escalera will have to face in the ring.
There's a short focus on Ryan Coyne, who won the final first round fight in a narrow decision. He has to visit the hospital for a cut over his right eye. This one is deeper than the one he suffered over his left eye earlier in the show, and he has less time to recover before his next fight.
The remaining members of the Gold Team discuss the last fight. Akinyemi "A.K." Laleye is especially upset about the decision that cost them teammate Tim Flamos, and he unleashes a tirade in the direction of Troy Ross when he feels like Ross isn't as bothered by the actions of the judges.
Coyne and trainer John Bray talk about whether or not he can realistically continue. Though he wants to keep fighting, Coyne promises to make the decision that's best for him going forward when the time comes.
In the morning, Danza gathers all the remaining competitors and congratulates them for making it to the second round. He declares the team portion of the tournament officially over and says it's every man for himself now. There's no drama in choosing second round slots - Rico Hoye and Coyne have to fight each other because there are only two slots left.
As a reward, Danza tells the fighters he is going to take them out to see some of the sights in Singapore. It becomes a bonding experience as they take a boat tour, ride one of the world's largest Ferris wheels and enjoy a private dinner at a nice restaurant. Danza tells a good story about how he got his first big break in TV after he got up from two knockdowns in a boxing match and knocked out his opponent with one punch. Cora also gives a heartfelt speech about boxing and respect.
When the boxers return, they find pictures of their first round fights decorating the walls of the loft. They also receive letters from home, and Hoye gets word from his wife that he'll be having a baby boy.
Cora gets some bad news in his letter. Since he's been away from his city job for more than ten days, he gets notification that he's been terminated. And since storm-damaged Galveston was hit so hard, he has no home either. Those revelations have an impact on Alfredo Escalera.
During training, Bray expresses his opinion that Cora is the man to beat. He doesn't think Felix will get caught the way Ross' first-round foe did. Trainer Tommy Brooks says both men will come to fight and it may boil down to who makes the first serious mistake.
Before the fight, Brooks tells Ross to get up on points in the early rounds and be patient. Bray speaks to Cora mostly about the mental aspect of his game.
And it's fight time...
The first round sees both men trying to establish the jab. Ross looks like he has the faster hands, while Cora looks a little more hesitant. He lands a nice power shot that is answered with a multi-punch combo by Ross.
In the final minute of the round, Cora is caught flush by a hook and he goes down. He beats the count but the ref will not let him continue despite his protests. The official time of Ross' KO win is 2:38 of the first round.
Ross says he was expecting a five-round chess match, not a first-round KO. He wishes the best to Cora going forward and says he feels very confident.
An embarrassed Cora agonizes over his failure to step up to the plate. He also thinks he may have been too tight going into the fight. Physically he feels great, but mentally he is shaken up. As he takes the long walk, he sounds like he is considering giving up boxing, ending the episode on a somber note.
Next week: Tension heats up in the loft between Escalera and Hoye, but it's A.K. who Escalera will have to face in the ring.
21.1.09
Recap: The Contender Season 4, Episode 7
Only ten fighters remain in Season Four, and the first doubleheader of the tournament will finish the first round and reduce that number to eight. The Gold Team has had control for several weeks and will once again decide the pairings for the last two first round bouts.
The early spotlight is on Tim Flamos of the Gold Team as he checks in with his home. The oldest fighter in the tournament at 41, Flamos almost retired after his last fight but was talked out of it by his son.
Trainers Tommy Brooks (Gold) and John Bray (Blue) share some frustrations about the fighters not listening to them. It's especially hard on Bray, a former fighter who feels he never lived up to his promise and doesn't want to see the same thing happen to the competitors on the show.
Last week's winner Troy Ross talks over his choices with Brooks. He can either put himself in the one remaining empty bracket or go for Felix Cora Jr. who everyone seems to avoid. Ross chooses the latter, and Cora says it will be a good competitive fight.
When Tony Danza gathers the fighters, Rico Hoye steps forward for Gold and calls out Mike Alexander. That leaves Flamos and Ryan Coyne in the final fight.
Brooks says both fights are good style match-ups and either could be ended by one shot. Is he foreshadowing? We'll see.
Hoye is from Detroit and was a former top-10 caliber light heavyweight before running into trouble with the law. He says he considered moving on but somehow drifted back to boxing. His plan is to set up his offense off the jab.
Alexander hails from Columbus, Ohio, and he knows he's in for a big challenge. His goal is to keep Hoye moving.
The first two rounds go mostly Alexander's way, as it's clear that both men can land and are there to be hit in return. Brooks tells Hoye to let his hands go more because he is losing the fight.
Hoye appears to take round three and four with excellent work on the inside. Alexander looks like he may be running out of gas, and Bray implores him not to blow a fight he was winning.
The fifth and final round is fairly ugly with lots of wrestling. Both fighters do some good things, but Hoye seems to get the best of it and is clearly fresher when the final bell rings.
The judges come to a unanimous decision, scoring it 48-47 and 49-46 twice for Hoye. Alexander tips his hat to the victor, saying he was a bit winded and arm-weary down the stretch. Bray tells him his stock went up with that performance, and that if he gets himself in top condition he has a bright future.
Flamos and Coyne prepare to close out the first round. Coyne speaks a little bit about being the youngest fighter at 26, and how he once thought his future was in football (he played linebacker at Missouri) until injuries pushed him toward boxing.
Brooks tells Flamos he must stick to the plan and stay off the ropes. Bray reminds Coyne he has an advantage in talent, so if he listens he will come out on top.
Round One sets the tone with Flamos coming forward and Coyne laying back and making him pay with quick jabs and uppercuts on the inside. Neither man shows off textbook technique, and Bray is worried about clashes of heads.
Sure enough, Coyne is cut above the right eye - his cut in training a few weeks ago was above his left - in the second round. Bray is beside himself, telling his charge that he's turning an easy night into a tough fight.
Like the first fight, this one seems like it may be there for the taking in the fifth round. Flamos stays aggressive, but Coyne lands a few big shots amidst plenty of holding. Both fighter stand and trade all the way until the bell.
A split decision is announced, with 48-47 scores both ways and one judge seeing it 49-46 for Coyne. In a rare move, Danza goes in and congratulates the losing Flamos. He says he's not sure what his future holds, and he hangs up his gloves and departs the training center.
Next week: Coyne's future in the tournament is once again in jeopardy due to a cut. And the second round begins with an intriguing fight, as tournament favorite Cora steps in against Ross.
The early spotlight is on Tim Flamos of the Gold Team as he checks in with his home. The oldest fighter in the tournament at 41, Flamos almost retired after his last fight but was talked out of it by his son.
Trainers Tommy Brooks (Gold) and John Bray (Blue) share some frustrations about the fighters not listening to them. It's especially hard on Bray, a former fighter who feels he never lived up to his promise and doesn't want to see the same thing happen to the competitors on the show.
Last week's winner Troy Ross talks over his choices with Brooks. He can either put himself in the one remaining empty bracket or go for Felix Cora Jr. who everyone seems to avoid. Ross chooses the latter, and Cora says it will be a good competitive fight.
When Tony Danza gathers the fighters, Rico Hoye steps forward for Gold and calls out Mike Alexander. That leaves Flamos and Ryan Coyne in the final fight.
Brooks says both fights are good style match-ups and either could be ended by one shot. Is he foreshadowing? We'll see.
Hoye is from Detroit and was a former top-10 caliber light heavyweight before running into trouble with the law. He says he considered moving on but somehow drifted back to boxing. His plan is to set up his offense off the jab.
Alexander hails from Columbus, Ohio, and he knows he's in for a big challenge. His goal is to keep Hoye moving.
The first two rounds go mostly Alexander's way, as it's clear that both men can land and are there to be hit in return. Brooks tells Hoye to let his hands go more because he is losing the fight.
Hoye appears to take round three and four with excellent work on the inside. Alexander looks like he may be running out of gas, and Bray implores him not to blow a fight he was winning.
The fifth and final round is fairly ugly with lots of wrestling. Both fighters do some good things, but Hoye seems to get the best of it and is clearly fresher when the final bell rings.
The judges come to a unanimous decision, scoring it 48-47 and 49-46 twice for Hoye. Alexander tips his hat to the victor, saying he was a bit winded and arm-weary down the stretch. Bray tells him his stock went up with that performance, and that if he gets himself in top condition he has a bright future.
Flamos and Coyne prepare to close out the first round. Coyne speaks a little bit about being the youngest fighter at 26, and how he once thought his future was in football (he played linebacker at Missouri) until injuries pushed him toward boxing.
Brooks tells Flamos he must stick to the plan and stay off the ropes. Bray reminds Coyne he has an advantage in talent, so if he listens he will come out on top.
Round One sets the tone with Flamos coming forward and Coyne laying back and making him pay with quick jabs and uppercuts on the inside. Neither man shows off textbook technique, and Bray is worried about clashes of heads.
Sure enough, Coyne is cut above the right eye - his cut in training a few weeks ago was above his left - in the second round. Bray is beside himself, telling his charge that he's turning an easy night into a tough fight.
Like the first fight, this one seems like it may be there for the taking in the fifth round. Flamos stays aggressive, but Coyne lands a few big shots amidst plenty of holding. Both fighter stand and trade all the way until the bell.
A split decision is announced, with 48-47 scores both ways and one judge seeing it 49-46 for Coyne. In a rare move, Danza goes in and congratulates the losing Flamos. He says he's not sure what his future holds, and he hangs up his gloves and departs the training center.
Next week: Coyne's future in the tournament is once again in jeopardy due to a cut. And the second round begins with an intriguing fight, as tournament favorite Cora steps in against Ross.
14.1.09
Recap: The Contender Season 4, Episode 6
Thanks to Hino Ehikhamenor's victory last episode, the Gold Team is still in control and riding high as we begin to near the end of the first round of the tournament. Hino receives his necklace from Tony Danza, but also plenty of ribbing from trainer Tommy Brooks and others for the way he broke down in tears after winning.
With only three fights left, Blue's Mike Alexander thinks everyone left is ready to go. Since Lawrence Tauasa has the most experience, Alexander believes Gold will look to avoid him, but that's not the way the tourney has gone so far.
Gold's training time focuses on Troy Ross, a two-time Canadian Olympian, and Rico Hoye, a veteran from Detroit who's been inactive for almost a year. Blue trainer John Bray is impressed with Tauasa, especially his footwork, and teammate Felix Cora Jr. gives him props for keeping everything light.
With both teams gathered, Danza brings in a master of foot reflexology - basically a painful foot massage that uses pressure points to help relieve pain in other parts of the body. Tauasa doesn't mind being the guinea pig, but seeing the reactions of all the fighters when they take their turns provides some comic relief.
Afterward, Hino agonizes over where to place himself in the second round. He seems to be avoiding the one empty fight left in the bracket, and after talking it over with Brooks, he still is up in the air about facing Cora - who looked sharp in his first fight and is now well rested to boot - or his teammate Deon Elam.
As it turns out, he does elect to face Elam, throwing his teammate off guard. Brooks and Hoye believe it's a good move, and the unspoken factor is that no one really seems to want to fight Cora.
Ross steps forward for the Gold Team. And to the surprise of no one who's been following this season, he calls out Tauasa. Ryan Coyne's injured eye makes it all the way back to health, one supposes. Danza reminds both men that this fight is doubly important, as the first round will end with a doubleheader next week, and the team that wins tonight will control both matchups.
The twist this week is that Ross and Tauasa have really hit it off and become good friends. Brooks says he likes to see the true professionalism they are displaying. The Samoan Tauasa (now residing in Sydney, Australia) is also recently engaged, and he checks in with his bride-to-be on the wedding preparations.
During the final strategy talks, Brooks tells Ross to use his height and reach and to build up points in the first three rounds before he does any gambling. Bray wants Tauasa to close the distance and keep his foe off-balance.
There are only 15 minutes left when the actual fight coverage begins, leading one to wonder if this fight is going the distance. The first round is pretty tentative, as a southpaw versus orthodox battle leads to both men having trouble jabbing effectively. The teammates of both men are really mic'ed up well - Cora can be heard constantly offering Tauasa advice.
After a close first round, both men look a little more assertive in the second. Then it happens: Ross lands a right hook flush and Tauasa is knocked down between the bottom two ropes. He manages to beat the count but looks extremely wobbly. Ross pours it on to try to close the show, and the ref stops the fight since Tauasa is not defending himself. The second-round TKO is the first stoppage of the tournament to date.
Ross is classy in victory, a stark contrast to Hino's displays last week. Tauasa gives all of the credit to his opponent, vowing that they will remain friends for life. He looks forward to his wedding, but the disappointment of losing catches up with him as he breaks down in tears right before he leaves.
Next week: Ross chooses between the empty second round bracket or a showdown with Cora. And a doubleheader closes out the first round of the tournament.
With only three fights left, Blue's Mike Alexander thinks everyone left is ready to go. Since Lawrence Tauasa has the most experience, Alexander believes Gold will look to avoid him, but that's not the way the tourney has gone so far.
Gold's training time focuses on Troy Ross, a two-time Canadian Olympian, and Rico Hoye, a veteran from Detroit who's been inactive for almost a year. Blue trainer John Bray is impressed with Tauasa, especially his footwork, and teammate Felix Cora Jr. gives him props for keeping everything light.
With both teams gathered, Danza brings in a master of foot reflexology - basically a painful foot massage that uses pressure points to help relieve pain in other parts of the body. Tauasa doesn't mind being the guinea pig, but seeing the reactions of all the fighters when they take their turns provides some comic relief.
Afterward, Hino agonizes over where to place himself in the second round. He seems to be avoiding the one empty fight left in the bracket, and after talking it over with Brooks, he still is up in the air about facing Cora - who looked sharp in his first fight and is now well rested to boot - or his teammate Deon Elam.
As it turns out, he does elect to face Elam, throwing his teammate off guard. Brooks and Hoye believe it's a good move, and the unspoken factor is that no one really seems to want to fight Cora.
Ross steps forward for the Gold Team. And to the surprise of no one who's been following this season, he calls out Tauasa. Ryan Coyne's injured eye makes it all the way back to health, one supposes. Danza reminds both men that this fight is doubly important, as the first round will end with a doubleheader next week, and the team that wins tonight will control both matchups.
The twist this week is that Ross and Tauasa have really hit it off and become good friends. Brooks says he likes to see the true professionalism they are displaying. The Samoan Tauasa (now residing in Sydney, Australia) is also recently engaged, and he checks in with his bride-to-be on the wedding preparations.
During the final strategy talks, Brooks tells Ross to use his height and reach and to build up points in the first three rounds before he does any gambling. Bray wants Tauasa to close the distance and keep his foe off-balance.
There are only 15 minutes left when the actual fight coverage begins, leading one to wonder if this fight is going the distance. The first round is pretty tentative, as a southpaw versus orthodox battle leads to both men having trouble jabbing effectively. The teammates of both men are really mic'ed up well - Cora can be heard constantly offering Tauasa advice.
After a close first round, both men look a little more assertive in the second. Then it happens: Ross lands a right hook flush and Tauasa is knocked down between the bottom two ropes. He manages to beat the count but looks extremely wobbly. Ross pours it on to try to close the show, and the ref stops the fight since Tauasa is not defending himself. The second-round TKO is the first stoppage of the tournament to date.
Ross is classy in victory, a stark contrast to Hino's displays last week. Tauasa gives all of the credit to his opponent, vowing that they will remain friends for life. He looks forward to his wedding, but the disappointment of losing catches up with him as he breaks down in tears right before he leaves.
Next week: Ross chooses between the empty second round bracket or a showdown with Cora. And a doubleheader closes out the first round of the tournament.
7.1.09
Recap: The Contender Season 4, Episode 5
Tonight's episode begins with a rather lengthy recap of what's gone on so far, perhaps acknowledging that no one was likely to have seen the previous two episodes that aired on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Deon Elam's win over Richard Gringas last week has the two teams even at six men each with the Gold Team in control of the next fight.
Everyone on the Gold Team agrees that the most recent fight was the toughest one so far. They have their eye on two boxers on the Blue Team: Ryan Coyne, who is still recovering from a cut above his left eye, and Darnell "Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson, who has been battling weight problems.
Blue trainer John Bray complains about Wilson's eating habits and questions his commitment to making weight. Wilson is shown having a hard time resisting starches.
The training focus is mostly on Hino Ehikhamenor, who originally hails from Nigeria and works as a personal trainer when he's not boxing. Coyne is back sparring but looks tentative, and Bray keeps him from doing too much.
Danza gathers both teams and gets them to applaud the effort shown in last week's fight. He editorializes a bit and says that even the winning fighters don't seem to be heeding the advice of their trainers. Elam gets the chance to place himself in the second round, and he avoids Felix Cora Jr. and slots into one of the bottom-half fights instead.
It's no surprise when Callout Day arrives and Hino steps forward for the Gold Team. It is a bit surprising when he chooses Wilson, proving that it's very easy to out-think yourself in a format like this. Ehikhamenor tells Danza he simply thinks Wilson will be a better fight.
Ten hours before the fight, Wilson is still a bit heavy. He goes to work to shed the last few pounds but Bray is obviously displeased. Hino also thinks his foe has been spending too much time cutting and not enough time practicing his craft.
Weigh-in time arrived and Hino tips the scale at 196 3/4 pounds. They play up the drama for Wilson, who is right on the button at 200 pounds.
We get a little insight into the strategy from both corners. Bray cautions Wilson not to let Hino outwork him, while Tommy Brooks wants to see his guy use his jab and dance. Brooks says both men can bang.
Round One sets the tone with Hino looking speedy but wild and Wilson throwing less but swinging for the fences. A wild exchange leads to Ehikhamenor scoring a knockdown, though Wilson pops right back up.
Wilson goes down again in the second, but the ref calls it a slip caused by Hino stepping on his foot. Bray implores him to use uppercuts and stop looking for single shots.
Hino controls the next two rounds but spends as much time mugging and showboating as he does boxing. He gets rocked late in the third but looks like he easily wins the fourth with movement, as Wilson is simply swinging at air on several occasions. Danza tells what looks like a random fan that both men look like they may walk into something big.
The fifth and final round is somewhat anticlimactic with Ehikhamenor landing the cleaner shots. The scorecards offer no surprises, with Hino winning lopsided decisions from all three judges.
Hino says he feels a win over a cruiserweight with as much renown as Wilson moves him to a whole different dimension. The disappointed Wilson owns up to mot taking his conditioning seriously enough and give Ehikhamenor his due. He says he recovered from a four-fight losing streak earlier in his career and will bounce back from this setback too.
Next week: Hino has a tough decision on where to place himself in the second round. Blue Team tries to "reverse the curse." And an Asian master pays the boxers a visit.
Everyone on the Gold Team agrees that the most recent fight was the toughest one so far. They have their eye on two boxers on the Blue Team: Ryan Coyne, who is still recovering from a cut above his left eye, and Darnell "Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson, who has been battling weight problems.
Blue trainer John Bray complains about Wilson's eating habits and questions his commitment to making weight. Wilson is shown having a hard time resisting starches.
The training focus is mostly on Hino Ehikhamenor, who originally hails from Nigeria and works as a personal trainer when he's not boxing. Coyne is back sparring but looks tentative, and Bray keeps him from doing too much.
Danza gathers both teams and gets them to applaud the effort shown in last week's fight. He editorializes a bit and says that even the winning fighters don't seem to be heeding the advice of their trainers. Elam gets the chance to place himself in the second round, and he avoids Felix Cora Jr. and slots into one of the bottom-half fights instead.
It's no surprise when Callout Day arrives and Hino steps forward for the Gold Team. It is a bit surprising when he chooses Wilson, proving that it's very easy to out-think yourself in a format like this. Ehikhamenor tells Danza he simply thinks Wilson will be a better fight.
Ten hours before the fight, Wilson is still a bit heavy. He goes to work to shed the last few pounds but Bray is obviously displeased. Hino also thinks his foe has been spending too much time cutting and not enough time practicing his craft.
Weigh-in time arrived and Hino tips the scale at 196 3/4 pounds. They play up the drama for Wilson, who is right on the button at 200 pounds.
We get a little insight into the strategy from both corners. Bray cautions Wilson not to let Hino outwork him, while Tommy Brooks wants to see his guy use his jab and dance. Brooks says both men can bang.
Round One sets the tone with Hino looking speedy but wild and Wilson throwing less but swinging for the fences. A wild exchange leads to Ehikhamenor scoring a knockdown, though Wilson pops right back up.
Wilson goes down again in the second, but the ref calls it a slip caused by Hino stepping on his foot. Bray implores him to use uppercuts and stop looking for single shots.
Hino controls the next two rounds but spends as much time mugging and showboating as he does boxing. He gets rocked late in the third but looks like he easily wins the fourth with movement, as Wilson is simply swinging at air on several occasions. Danza tells what looks like a random fan that both men look like they may walk into something big.
The fifth and final round is somewhat anticlimactic with Ehikhamenor landing the cleaner shots. The scorecards offer no surprises, with Hino winning lopsided decisions from all three judges.
Hino says he feels a win over a cruiserweight with as much renown as Wilson moves him to a whole different dimension. The disappointed Wilson owns up to mot taking his conditioning seriously enough and give Ehikhamenor his due. He says he recovered from a four-fight losing streak earlier in his career and will bounce back from this setback too.
Next week: Hino has a tough decision on where to place himself in the second round. Blue Team tries to "reverse the curse." And an Asian master pays the boxers a visit.
10.12.08
Recap: The Contender Season 4, Episode 2
This week's show begins with a recap of last week's debut, complete with a voiceover by Tony Danza. Felix Cora Jr. receives a gold boxing glove pendant as a symbol of his first week win, but more importantly, his Blue team has the power to choose both fighters in the second fight of the tournament.
But that power isn't all it's cracked up to be, as the team can't decide who should represent it next. Both Mike Alexander and Alfredo Escalera Jr. make their cases. Alexander also adds some comedy relief as he invades the Gold team's loft to take the mattress that used to belong to Joell Godfrey.
Danza steps into the ring and does some sparring against Jon Schneider, an ex-Marine on the Gold team who is being watched carefully by boxers on the Blue team, who believe he is one of the weak links. Ryan Coyne of the Blue team experiences disaster, as he suffers a nasty cut over his left eye that could mean he'll have to drop out.
Cora's victory gives him the option of slotting himself into any fight in the second round, and he chooses to place himself in the first fight. From this point forward, any winning fighter can place himself into any available slot in the next round, regardless of team affiliation.
The Blue team still can't decide who to send out, so they leave it to a coin flip... which in classic Mark Burnett fashion, we don't get to see. Gold feels like Tim Flamos may be picked from their squad.
Escalera wins the coin flip and calls out Schneider. It looks like a poor match-up for Jon, as he is smaller and less experienced. Gold team trainer Tommy Brooks thinks it will be a slugfest.
Coyne returns with stitches in his eye and announces that he'll be allowed to stay. That adds to the urgency for Escalera to win, as they can delay Coyne's first round fight if their team can hold on to the power of choice.
Both fighters have very specific motivations for entering the tournament. Schneider would like to put Jewish fighters back on the map. Escalera is looking to escape the shadow of his father, who once held the WBC super featherweight title for 10 consecutive defenses before losing it to Alexis Arguello - no shame there!
The arena looks like it holds about 150 people, but at least it's full. The first two rounds are ugly with lots of holding. Schneider comes forward without throwing much, while Escalera lands some big shots that bloody his opponent's nose.
Round Three sees Escalera score a knockdown, though Schneider gets up and shows some heart by continuing to come forward. Brooks states the obvious by telling his fighter he needs a KO to win.
Schneider is bloodied again in the fifth and final round, but he battles all the way to the final bell. The scores come back 50-44 and 49-45 twice, all for Escalera.
The Gold team looks pretty depressed as they are already down two men. Schneider says he feels like his friends and family should be proud of him, as he left it all in the ring. He hangs up his gloves and heads out the big metal doors for the final time.
Next week: Team Gold is unimpressed with Escalera despite his win. Coyne doesn't let his injured eye stop him from starting some trouble in the gym. And the third fight of the season is the most explosive one so far, at least according to Danza!
But that power isn't all it's cracked up to be, as the team can't decide who should represent it next. Both Mike Alexander and Alfredo Escalera Jr. make their cases. Alexander also adds some comedy relief as he invades the Gold team's loft to take the mattress that used to belong to Joell Godfrey.
Danza steps into the ring and does some sparring against Jon Schneider, an ex-Marine on the Gold team who is being watched carefully by boxers on the Blue team, who believe he is one of the weak links. Ryan Coyne of the Blue team experiences disaster, as he suffers a nasty cut over his left eye that could mean he'll have to drop out.
Cora's victory gives him the option of slotting himself into any fight in the second round, and he chooses to place himself in the first fight. From this point forward, any winning fighter can place himself into any available slot in the next round, regardless of team affiliation.
The Blue team still can't decide who to send out, so they leave it to a coin flip... which in classic Mark Burnett fashion, we don't get to see. Gold feels like Tim Flamos may be picked from their squad.
Escalera wins the coin flip and calls out Schneider. It looks like a poor match-up for Jon, as he is smaller and less experienced. Gold team trainer Tommy Brooks thinks it will be a slugfest.
Coyne returns with stitches in his eye and announces that he'll be allowed to stay. That adds to the urgency for Escalera to win, as they can delay Coyne's first round fight if their team can hold on to the power of choice.
Both fighters have very specific motivations for entering the tournament. Schneider would like to put Jewish fighters back on the map. Escalera is looking to escape the shadow of his father, who once held the WBC super featherweight title for 10 consecutive defenses before losing it to Alexis Arguello - no shame there!
The arena looks like it holds about 150 people, but at least it's full. The first two rounds are ugly with lots of holding. Schneider comes forward without throwing much, while Escalera lands some big shots that bloody his opponent's nose.
Round Three sees Escalera score a knockdown, though Schneider gets up and shows some heart by continuing to come forward. Brooks states the obvious by telling his fighter he needs a KO to win.
Schneider is bloodied again in the fifth and final round, but he battles all the way to the final bell. The scores come back 50-44 and 49-45 twice, all for Escalera.
The Gold team looks pretty depressed as they are already down two men. Schneider says he feels like his friends and family should be proud of him, as he left it all in the ring. He hangs up his gloves and heads out the big metal doors for the final time.
Next week: Team Gold is unimpressed with Escalera despite his win. Coyne doesn't let his injured eye stop him from starting some trouble in the gym. And the third fight of the season is the most explosive one so far, at least according to Danza!
3.12.08
Recap: The Contender Season 4, Episode 1
Plenty of things are new about Season Four of The Contender. It's on a new channel (Versus instead of ESPN), in a new locale (Singapore) and it features a new weight class (cruiserweights). It's also got a new host, Tony Danza, and the first thing I have to say is that he's not nearly as annoying as I feared.
Some things have remained the same. The show still revolves around a 16-man tournament with the boxers initially split into two teams. This time out, the trainers are Tommy Brooks for the Blue team and John Bray - who once was trained by Brooks - for the Gold team.
The gym and the living quarters look as nice as ever, so no worries that the show would be done on the cheap now that it's changed channels. All of the usual Mark Burnett touches are still there. Dramatic music and slow-motion shots abound.
Once the fighters are moved in and split into their teams, the first rivalry quickly breaks out at the pool table between Erick Vega (Blue) and Joell Godfrey (Gold). They make no bones about the fact that they would love to fight each other first. A subplot focuses on Felix Cora Jr., who is in Singapore while his hometown of Galveston, Texas is getting hit by Hurricane Ike.
Danza tells the teams they get to conference and decide who will fight first. The catch is that they won't know who the other team has picked until they both reveal them simultaneously. That adds a bit of strategy to the deal, and the team that wins the first fight gets to pick both fighters for the second bout, which adds some more.
Team Gold is swayed pretty quickly by Godfrey's plea to let him lead off. Vega tries to do the same to Team Blue, but a second line of thinking emerges that they might be able to throw the other team a curve and give them someone unexpected: Cora, who everyone agrees has looked sharp in training.
Danza calls the teams out and Godfrey steps forward for the Gold. There's a brief moment of suspense before the Blue team reveals that they've picked... Cora. Vega doesn't look happy about it.
It's tough to score the actual fight because of the way the show is edited, but my impression is that Godfrey wins the first with his activity level. After that it's Cora for rounds two through four, as he's able to walk Godfrey down and punish him along the ropes. Brooks tells Godfrey he needs a knockout in the final round, but he can't pull it off and Cora wins a fairly easy unanimous decision.
After the fight, Godfrey laments that Brooks was giving him good advice but he couldn't execute it. He says he never got into a rhythm, though he says he's learned from his first loss - he was 9-0 coming in. Godfrey hangs up his gloves and pulls the big doors shut behind him.
Next week: Danza gets in the ring for some sparring. And an injury may knock someone out of the tournament.
Final thought: It's obviously a downgrade for The Contender going from ESPN to Versus. But if there's a silver lining, it's that Versus is pulling out all the stops to promote the show. There are adds on all the time, and the announcers during the WEC card right before the episode were plugging it too. ESPN always seemed to be grudgingly airing the show, so at least it's somewhere it's wanted.
Some things have remained the same. The show still revolves around a 16-man tournament with the boxers initially split into two teams. This time out, the trainers are Tommy Brooks for the Blue team and John Bray - who once was trained by Brooks - for the Gold team.
The gym and the living quarters look as nice as ever, so no worries that the show would be done on the cheap now that it's changed channels. All of the usual Mark Burnett touches are still there. Dramatic music and slow-motion shots abound.
Once the fighters are moved in and split into their teams, the first rivalry quickly breaks out at the pool table between Erick Vega (Blue) and Joell Godfrey (Gold). They make no bones about the fact that they would love to fight each other first. A subplot focuses on Felix Cora Jr., who is in Singapore while his hometown of Galveston, Texas is getting hit by Hurricane Ike.
Danza tells the teams they get to conference and decide who will fight first. The catch is that they won't know who the other team has picked until they both reveal them simultaneously. That adds a bit of strategy to the deal, and the team that wins the first fight gets to pick both fighters for the second bout, which adds some more.
Team Gold is swayed pretty quickly by Godfrey's plea to let him lead off. Vega tries to do the same to Team Blue, but a second line of thinking emerges that they might be able to throw the other team a curve and give them someone unexpected: Cora, who everyone agrees has looked sharp in training.
Danza calls the teams out and Godfrey steps forward for the Gold. There's a brief moment of suspense before the Blue team reveals that they've picked... Cora. Vega doesn't look happy about it.
It's tough to score the actual fight because of the way the show is edited, but my impression is that Godfrey wins the first with his activity level. After that it's Cora for rounds two through four, as he's able to walk Godfrey down and punish him along the ropes. Brooks tells Godfrey he needs a knockout in the final round, but he can't pull it off and Cora wins a fairly easy unanimous decision.
After the fight, Godfrey laments that Brooks was giving him good advice but he couldn't execute it. He says he never got into a rhythm, though he says he's learned from his first loss - he was 9-0 coming in. Godfrey hangs up his gloves and pulls the big doors shut behind him.
Next week: Danza gets in the ring for some sparring. And an injury may knock someone out of the tournament.
Final thought: It's obviously a downgrade for The Contender going from ESPN to Versus. But if there's a silver lining, it's that Versus is pulling out all the stops to promote the show. There are adds on all the time, and the announcers during the WEC card right before the episode were plugging it too. ESPN always seemed to be grudgingly airing the show, so at least it's somewhere it's wanted.
6.11.07
Contender Thoughts - Season 3 Finale - Codrington v. Bika
If you hadn't been following The Contender this season - and I'll admit I'd only been checking in on it sporadically - you probably weren't tuned in to ESPN for tonight's Season 3 finale featuring Jaidon Codrington and Sakio Bika. You may be surprised to hear you missed one heck of a fight.
"Fight" being the operative word. Neither finalist showed much in the way of defense or a willingness to box. That became apparent in the first half of the first round, as Bika dropped Codrington in 30 seconds, but The Don got up off the canvas to return the favor less than a minute later. After it looked like Bika might not make it out of the first, he took over about halfway through the second round and got the better of most of the middle rounds.
There was still plenty of drama thanks to Bika leaving himself wide open for return fire. In a reversal of the usual expectations, the younger Codrington had the better boxing skills, while the older Bika was sloppier but stronger. Both men ate a bunch of big shots, and when the sixth round ended with multiple wild haymakers thrown and landed, you just got the feeling the fight wasn't going the distance. There was still some doubt about which way it would go, but someone was getting knocked out.
The end came two rounds later. Codrington bravely tried to battle his way off the ropes as he had already done numerous times, but Bika landed a stiff upprcut and a series of hooks. Staggering into the corner, back completely turned to his opponent, Codrington was out on his feet.
Though it was a gutsy performance, Codrington failed to play to his strengths and clearly has more to learn in order to realize his full potential. At 23, he still has time to do it. Getting punched silly in Boston might not be the last memory we have of him.
Who knows what the future holds for the winner? Bika's already tangled with the likes of Joe Calzaghe, Lucian Bute and Markus Beyer, but the previous Contender finalists definitely enjoyed some new opportunities after the show, and Sakio's hit-and-be-hit style seems like it would lend itself to some exciting fights.
After last night's thriller, I'll be a little more willing to clear my TV viewing schedule the next time either man steps through the ropes.
"Fight" being the operative word. Neither finalist showed much in the way of defense or a willingness to box. That became apparent in the first half of the first round, as Bika dropped Codrington in 30 seconds, but The Don got up off the canvas to return the favor less than a minute later. After it looked like Bika might not make it out of the first, he took over about halfway through the second round and got the better of most of the middle rounds.
There was still plenty of drama thanks to Bika leaving himself wide open for return fire. In a reversal of the usual expectations, the younger Codrington had the better boxing skills, while the older Bika was sloppier but stronger. Both men ate a bunch of big shots, and when the sixth round ended with multiple wild haymakers thrown and landed, you just got the feeling the fight wasn't going the distance. There was still some doubt about which way it would go, but someone was getting knocked out.
The end came two rounds later. Codrington bravely tried to battle his way off the ropes as he had already done numerous times, but Bika landed a stiff upprcut and a series of hooks. Staggering into the corner, back completely turned to his opponent, Codrington was out on his feet.
Though it was a gutsy performance, Codrington failed to play to his strengths and clearly has more to learn in order to realize his full potential. At 23, he still has time to do it. Getting punched silly in Boston might not be the last memory we have of him.
Who knows what the future holds for the winner? Bika's already tangled with the likes of Joe Calzaghe, Lucian Bute and Markus Beyer, but the previous Contender finalists definitely enjoyed some new opportunities after the show, and Sakio's hit-and-be-hit style seems like it would lend itself to some exciting fights.
After last night's thriller, I'll be a little more willing to clear my TV viewing schedule the next time either man steps through the ropes.
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