THE CONTENDER (New!) - Mark Burnett ("Survivor"), Jeffrey Katzenberg and Sylvester Stallone are developing a new reality series which focuses on a nationwide search for a new boxing superstar. The project, which is set up at Katzenberg's DreamWorks Television, is also seen as a possible launching pad for a new boxing federation independent of current organizations and headed up by the trio. The group sees said new federation as a chance to breathe new life into the often troubled sport. Burnett, Katzenberg and Stallone are reportedly pitching the series, which is being targeted for a January 2005 start, to several broadcast networks in the coming week, starting with CBS and FOX. In addition, despite the obvious parallels considering the talent involved, "The Contender" will not be linked in any way with MGM/UA's "Rocky."

• RE: Reality show on Boxing?,munson, 04:13 PM, 02-23-04
  • RE: Reality show on Boxing?,I_AM_HE, 01:43 AM, 04-26-04
• FOX doing it too,Loree, 08:16 PM, 04-19-04
  • RE: FOX doing it too,I_AM_HE, 01:41 AM, 04-26-04
• RE: Reality show on Boxing?,contenderfan, 08:42 PM, 01-02-05

Saw MB talk about this show on a local Chicago talk news magazine thingy.

While not linked to Rocky, he explicitly said they were hoping to find some real life Rockys.

Isn't this just a boxing version of Tough Enough?

Boxing...

NBC...

Mark Burnette...

I'm getting a vision of...

it's coming...

Omarosa being used as a punching bag!

"Uh, ref, shouldn't you call the fight? She's bleeding from the ears!" "Nah, she can go another 12 rounds."

LAST EDITED ON 04-19-04 AT 08:21 PM (EST)

http://jam.canoe.ca/Television/apr19_champ-can.html

Monday, April 19, 2004

'Contender' has stiff competition
By JAM! TV
The gloves have come off as a war of words has started between the producers of NBC's reality boxing show "The Contender" and its upcoming Fox competitor.

Fox has teamed up with WBC super-welterweight champion Oscar de la Hoya to develop a series tentatively called "The Next Great Champ," Variety reports.

The weekly show is set up to find a boxing superstar and to compete with NBC's boxing series.

The winner of "The Next Great Champ" will have the opportunity to fight for an existing title and will also receive a substantial cash prize and a contract with de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions.

Fox reality guru Mark Darnell took a jab at "The Contender" executive producer Sylvester Stallone, telling Variety that "ours is the only boxing show where we have a real-life boxer, one who's working right now, rather than someone who portrayed a boxer."

"Champ" is expected to air this fall for eight to 12 weeks, and "The Contender" is tentatively scheduled to air in January 2005.

The Fox series will feature amateur and fledgling pro boxers who have fought less than four matches and put them up against each other each week.

LAST EDITED ON 04-26-04 AT 01:41 AM (EST)

actually, I don't think about being the one with the "real boxer" is necessarily true. i believe i read something in one of the news stories here taht there was a boxer working with MB, Stallone, et al.

and it's kind of funny that it's Fox, because FoxSports' Best Damn Sports Show Period had Sly on about a week ago talking about the show, and lots of jokes and slams about De La Hoya stealing his idea.

ETA taht from what i've seen from Stallone on the talk show circuit, this show sounds like it could be interesting

Here are two of the contestants:

Joey Gilbert - http://www.joeygilbert.com

Jesse Brinkley - http://www.jessebrinkley.com