For many, the once hit TV reality series The Contender, was a show that was used as a tool to revitalize a so-called dying sport.
The first season set the precedent, but then the following seasons (with the exception of a few fights) failed to follow suit. Now, with the announcement of an additional season, it's fourth, and the many changes that will come with it, it is probable that this can easily be their final nail in the coffin.
The Contender has suffered a fall from grace, and while the quality of the show might not hurt boxing's popularity for it's hardcore fans, it surely doesn't help the sport attract fans, either.
The show's first season was popular because of it's diversity. It provided sheer guts and will from some fighters and brash and flash from others. Other than that, everyone likes a little drama and there was no shortage in that department.
The season also introduced some new faces, too, some, albeit not many, weren't too successful, but a few were. Sergio Mora, Peter Manfredo Jr., Alfonso Gomez, and Ishe Smith are four fighters that have reaped the expected benefits from the series.
It must be noted—it wouldn't be wise to expect worldy success from fighters on The Contender. They're on that show for a reason—because they weren't successful in the first place. But that doesn't suggest any lack of skill—the fighters could have been misguided or led down the wrong path by the bureaucracies that come with prize fighting.
In other words, when The Contender 1 winner Sergio Mora captured a Junior Middleweight Championship, despite losing the rematch, he exceeded many expectations—probably even his own.
Season two, however was the start of a decline. Moving from network television to cable tv, despite ESPN being a more suitable home for the show, doesn't make sense in regards to potential audience. Going from ESPN to NBC means millions of potential viewers lost—period.
While the second season was filled with drama and potentially superb boxers, just like it's predecessor, barely any fighters delivered—especially the supposed winner of the contest, Grady Brewer...yeah, remember that guy? He was the winner—where is he now?
It's a shame when the guy beaten in the finale of a show that supposed to be a catalyst to boxing careers has more success than the man who won.
It's not only Forbes that enjoys more success than Brewer, but practically everyone else on that roster has been at least somewhat active, even in losing efforts. Brewer personifies what The Contender shouldn't be about.
But how much blame should go on their promotion?
Much of it—many of the fighters who have continued their careers in boxing have openly criticized the promotional company The Tournament of Contenders for lack of activity with fighters outside the company, among many issues, with the exception of Sergio Mora, who seems to be the company's only marketable fighter.
With that in an eggshell, Grady "Bad Boy" Brewer will fight Cornelius "K9" Bundrage in an undercard fight in mid-November in Providence, RI. The main event will be Peter "The Pride of Providence" Manfredo vs. Sakio Bika, the third season's winner.
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