Series synopsis
The Contender is an American reality television series that premiered on NBC on March 7, 2005. It ended on November 9, 2018. It was created by Mark Burnett. It stars Sylvester Stallone, Sergio Mora, Brent Cooper and Tarick Salmaci.
A reality television series that follows a group of boxers as they compete with one another in an elimination-style competition, while their lives and relationships with each other and their families are depicted.
Premise
A reality television series that follows a group of boxers as they compete with one another in an elimination-style competition, while their lives and relationships with each other and their families are depicted.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Sylvester Stallone as Self - Boxing Mentor
- Sergio Mora as Self
- Brent Cooper as Self
- Tarick Salmaci as Self
- Najai Turpin as Self
- Anthony Bonsante as Self
- Jimmy Lange as Self
- Alfonso Gómez as Self
Supporting cast
- Joey Gilbert as Self
- Ahmad Kaddour as Self
- Jeff Fraza as Self
- Jonathan Reid as Self
- Jesse Brinkley as Self
- Juan de la Rosa as Self
- Miguel Espino as Self
- Ishe Smith as Self
- Sugar Ray Leonard as Self
Guest cast
Episodes
This series spans 5 seasons with 67 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 17 | March 7, 2005 | May 24, 2005 |
| Season 2 | 12 | July 18, 2006 | September 26, 2006 |
| Season 3 | 12 | September 4, 2007 | February 25, 2009 |
| Season 4 | 13 | December 3, 2008 | February 25, 2009 |
| Season 5 | 13 | August 24, 2018 | November 9, 2018 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Gomez/Manfredo Sixteen of the best middleweight fighters in the United States arrive in Los Angeles at the Contender Gymnasium. Each week, the boxers will train at this gymnasium and, with the support of their families who are now living close by, will vie to win $1,000,000 if they win a fight at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Teams are divided into East and West and in the first challenge, the winner of which decides the matchup for the fight that week (one fighter from each team), the players must haul three logs up a steep hill. West comes out victorious, and choose Alfonso Gomez and Peter Manfredo as the contenders of the night. In a suprising fight, Alfonso, with help from his father, mother and family, beats Peter, who has his wife and daughter to cheer him on. |
March 7, 2005 |
| 2 |
Brinkley/Reid The West once again wins the second challenge, a puzzle using flags, they again are allowed to decide the matchup for the week. Ishe Smith wimps out and the team reluctantly allows Jesse Brinkley to challenge veteran Jonathan Reid to the second round of fighting of the show. Tempers flare when Jesse accuses Ishe of betraying his team by rooting for Jonathan instead of himself. Later, in the second surprising upset of the game, Jesse Brinkley defeats Jonathan Reid in a close match of fighting. |
March 10, 2005 |
| 3 |
Smith/Kaddour The tension between Ishe and Ahmed reaches a boiling point when West wins the third challenge, a dodgeball game, and Ishe challenges Ahmed to the third boxing match. Though Ahmed starts out strong with a heavy barrage of punches in the first round, Ishe gets the last laugh when he wins the very personal match and gets the third spot into the quarter finals. |
March 13, 2005 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The First Will Be the Last and the Last Will Be the First/Clark/Bundrage This is the first episode of "The Contender: Season 2". It introduces 15 new boxers and one familiar boxer from season 1, all competing to become the next Contender Champion. This episode features the first fight of the season between Cornelius "K-9" Bundrage and Michael Clark. |
July 18, 2006 |
| 2 |
Power of Choice/Cisneros/Bravo Part two of the season premiere, this episode features an all out boxing war between Norberto "El Gallito" Bravo and Rudy Cisneros. |
July 18, 2006 |
| 3 |
First in the Kitchen/Balletto/Torres Week 3 of The Contender found plenty of tension among the competitors. After harsh words between boxers, it was finally decided that Aaron Torres would fight for the Blue team, and he called out Gary Balletto. |
July 25, 2006 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Contender Tryouts Sixteen super-middleweight boxers vie for a $1 million purse as the bell sounds for Season 3 of this reality show, hosted by Sugar Ray Leonard and produced by Mark Burnett ("Survivor," "The Apprentice"). Each episode ends with a five-round elimination bout. Buddy McGirt and Jose Correa are trainers. |
September 4, 2007 |
| 2 |
We're at the Dance Now, Baby! Conflict erupts between two old rivals; the fighters receive a visit from Oscar de la Hoya. |
September 11, 2007 |
| 3 |
Don't Tell Me Who You Are. Show Me Who You Are. The second first-round bout is on tap, with the Gold team owning the "power of choice." Sugar Ray Leonard hosts. |
September 18, 2007 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
A Better Tomorrow Sixteen cruiserweights arrive in Singapore; first elimination. |
December 3, 2008 |
| 2 |
I Can't Believe I Have to Wait The first elimination causes a shift in power; fighters clash over who should compete next; and an injury could end one contestant's dream. |
December 10, 2008 |
| 3 |
It's Like a Mixture of Fear and Victory Team Gold receives a wake-up call; trouble brews between fighters during training; and a boxer takes on a slugger in the tournament. |
December 17, 2008 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Why Weight? Sixteen boxers move into a training facility to compete in the Contender tournament; two fighters have a verbal altercation outside the ring; the two teams choose fighters to represent them in the first fight of the tournament. |
August 24, 2018 |
| 2 |
Fighting to Live A passionate fighter steps up and is gunning for a major threat from the opposing side; another fighter is determined to stir up trouble as tension between the teams escalates. |
August 31, 2018 |
| 3 |
Who Wants It More? The winning team is riding high from their victory and is hungry for another; one fighter plays mind games with the other team, while another focuses on his faith to maintain peace while in the Contender house. |
September 7, 2018 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | NBC |
|---|---|
| First aired | March 7, 2005 |
| Last aired | November 9, 2018 |
| Runtime | 60 minutes |
| Status | Ended |
| Schedule | Friday at 21:00:00 |