| Hosts | |
| Sylvester Stallone (2005) Sugar Ray Leonard (2005–2007) Tony Danza (2008) Andre Ward (2018) | |
| Broadcast | |
     | |
| Packagers | |
| Mark Burnett Productions DreamWorks Television (2005–2009) ESPN Original Entertainment/eoe (2006–2008) MGM Television (2018–Present) Paramount Television (2018) | |
The Contender was a reality 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[]
The series follows sixteen aspiring boxers from training camp through an evolving series of ring challenges. the winner of the "fight-of-the-week" will be rewarded with a guaranteed spot in the quarter finals. After four weeks of these quarter finals, two weeks of semi-finals will follow. In the show's last week, the final victor will claim a $1,000,000 prize.
The Contender Challenge: UK vs. USA[]
a short-lived spinoff of sorts aired on both ESPN in America and on ITV4 in Britain from April 10 (10 April) until April 17 (17 April) 2007. The series featured a set of boxing matches that are held at Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England. Featuring six boxers from the first and second seasons of The Contender. The boxers in a team that have been coached by Sugar Ray Leonard takes on six boxers from England all promoted by Frank Warren and have been coached by Barry McGuigan. The bouts was the basis of this series with commentary by the well-known ESPN team of Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas along with British boxing commentator John Rawling joining the team. In addition, Leonard and McGuigan provided some analysis through the fight as well. The winning team was awarded the self-proclaimed "Sugar Ray Leonard" cup not unlike the "Ryder Cup" that is given away in golf.
Najai Turpin suicide[]
On February 14, 2005, one of the sixteen contenders named Najai Turpin[1] was despondent over personal matters, committed suicide by shooting himself while sitting with his girlfriend in a parked car outside the West Philadelphia gym where he trained. In his memory, the producers set up a trust fund for his daughter Anyae. The show still aired in its entirety, but with a special tribute to Turpin.
International Versions[]
Local versions of The Contender have been produced in Australia and Asia.
See Also[]
The Next Great Champ – a former competitor to The Contender