I think I_AM_HE did a great job with episode 1! He raised the bar and I hope I can measure up!

After a very long recap of episode 1, we see Alfonso in the shower immediately after the first match. He looks exhausted (to be expected) and he grins as he realizes he is one step closer to his dreams.

The two teams return to their living quarters and Ishe holds an impromptu meeting. I can’t really get a good read on Ishe and his personality. At times he comes across very arrogant and I don’t like arrogance! Then other times he comes across as a very touching person, but I digress.

Back to the meeting, Ishe says that he and Peter had their differences (who doesn’t Ishe have issues with?) but he really felt bad for Peter and his family. Ishe says that it really got to him and it was tough. Ishe wonders if Peter is out of boxing? Is he done? Everyone realizes that half of them will be taking the walk of shame. What did they think? They knew it was a competition.

Tommy (the trainer) interrupts to tell a story…picture it, “Peter is the only one not moaning! Tommy goes on to tell of a boxer that got knocked out during a match but was begging Tommy to get him another shot as he is being carried off in a stretcher!” I understand Tommy trying to motivate the guys but I would love to spend an afternoon with him to hear his stories!

Jonathan Reid decides that he is going to visit his family in The Contender housing unit. Jonathan introduces us to his very very very pregnant wife and his FOUR children! WOW! Do these guys not know what is causing this? I can’t imagine what it takes to raise 5 children these days. However, if the first episode is any indication, things are not looking good for Jonathan. Editing is making it easy to determine the loser because their families’ story unfolds during the episode. Let’s see if this holds true.

The next morning begins with workouts. Sugar Ray Leonard is giving advice to Jonathan as he is sparring. Jesse and Ishe are watching and Jesse tells Ishe that, “this guy can fight!” (Jonathan).

Jonathan is shown in a confessional saying he doesn’t show everything in the ring. He plays “dumb”. Good idea and I hope it works but damn…can he hide everything? Also, I am sure his weaknesses would come out in sparring. I don’t know about this.

Pretty Boy (Ahmed) is taking notes while Ishe is sparring. Pretty Boy says, “I have been focused about Ishe Smith so much, I have a book, I write everything down. The first picture is Ishe Smith and it says I kick your ass. I don’t even want to have a picture of him, he is too ugly to be in my book!” Hey Pretty Boy…it is your book, take the damn picture out! Pretty Boy better worry about his own ass and concentrate on what he is doing…not Ishe!

Then we have to listen to Ishe tell us that he is the top dog in the house and if anyone wants him, they can come and get it! Umm…Ishe, looks like that is exactly what Pretty Boy is doing. I am hoping this story is one that needed to be told quickly so we don’t have to listen to the bitchfest for long!

This is beginning to remind me of a bad episode of Melrose Place! The drama continues as Ishe leaves the ring and says something to a member of the East team and this sends Pretty Boy into a tizzy as he screams for Ishe to not talk to his friends! Oh boy, we are now back to elementary school. Pretty Boy needs to mature very quickly. Ishe says something about Pretty Boy’s mom and he (Pretty Boy) says he will hit Ishe up side the head! Just like a ref at a Tyson match, Sly steps in and demands to see Pretty Boy alone in his office.

I have just remembered where I last saw Pretty Boy! Wasn’t he in the spring catalog of Abercrombie and Fitch? He was the guy standing in a lake with only tight wet jeans on. He looked very sexy…FWIW!

Sly pulls Pretty Boy aside and basically tells him that he I going to have to control his temper towards Ishe or it will ruin his shot in this game. Pretty Boy tells Sly he still has his modeling and that he received an offer from Undergear to be an underwear model! At least he has something to fall back on.

Pretty Boy promised Sly to try and not let Ishe get under his skin. Umm…too late for that! Ishe has accomplished his goal! Ishe has taken Pretty Boy out of his game. I don’t think Pretty Boy is concentrating on boxing as much as he is on Ishe.

Leonard, Sly and Jackie bring everyone together in the gym. OMG! Has Jackie been taking make-up hints from Rupaul? Jackie has so many cracks in her make-up her face looks like the Grand Canyon! I am not even going to mention the gaudy jewelry. Sly calls Alfonso (this message boards favorite Contender! ) over and hands him a cloth bag with pull ties. Sly tells everyone that Alfonso is the first person to make the final 8 and that he will not have a match until at least the first round of eight! In the bag is a symbol of Alfonso making the final 8. Alfonso opens the bag and finds a gold necklace with a gold pennant on it. I am going to quote Webby here, “Looked like a bling-bling immunity necklace to me.” That cracked me up! The pennant appears to be boxing gloves. Alfonso puts the necklace on and has a smile that would make a cat that swallowed a canary happy! You can tell he is really proud!

After every team challenge the winners will get a reward. *cue outside limo cam* Who is it? The grill master himself…George Foreman! The West team will get to spend time with him and have lunch with him. Please don’t tell me Georgie is going to pull out one of those mac daddy Foreman grills that will cook 52 burgers or 78 hot dogs! WHEW! It isn’t! They are at a beautiful house and eating burgers by the pool.

Back at the house, Jonathan wants to have a team meeting to strategize their next move. They look everywhere for Pretty Boy and decide to have the meeting without him. *cue sleaze cam* Pretty Boy is taking the afternoon off to get a massage! This kid is full of himself! Back to the meeting: They decide the best thing to do is to get a match they can win! Well, they really catch-on quickly to these type games don’t they. And to think…it took all the turnips on the truck to come up with this sound game plan!

Ishe tells Foreman to that Sugar Ray Robinson was his idol. Foreman said that Robinson once told him, “Plan your work and work your plan”. The 10 watt light bulb goes off in Ishe’s head and he realizes that he has to worry about himself and to forget about the team…Foreman just said so!

The Challenge

Rules:
1) Takes place in the Rose Bowl.
2) A puzzle to decipher. There are 20 squares, each square is to be retrieved from different places throughout the stadium. Basically, this is going to be a running the steps challenge. The squares contain a portion of each of the team’s logo that is on the back of their robes.
3) The squares are attached to flags that can be easily seen.
4) Both teams will have to retrieve 7 flags. 5 squares are already in place on the puzzle board.
5) All 7 members of each team will retrieve the first flag, 6 members will retrieve the second flag and son until 1 team member retrieves the last flag.
6) West team won the last fight and have to sit someone out (they have one more member than the East). Jesse will not participate.

The funny thing? As the challenge starts we see Jesse sitting in a chair on the grass in the middle of the Rose Bowl…with his shoes off! LMAO! Take a load off and enjoy Jesse!

The East coast gets the first flag and goes for the second before the West coast even gets back to the mat. Major editing during this sequence as we see the West team surpass the East team as they have now retrieved 5 flags. Timmy (East team…who is this guy?) makes it back to the mat first but it is neck and neck. Tommy is cracking me up as he yells, “It is a puzzle guys, look for letters that go together like A & B.” HEHEHEHE!
The West team pulls it together and will be deciding who fights.

WEST = 2
EAST = 0

The West team goes to their dressing room to determine who will fight. Everyone is looking at Ishe and wondering why he isn’t stepping up like he said he would. Jesse gets frustrated and calls Ishe out and tells him that he isn’t a man of his word! We have now digressed to high school. Jesse speaks up and says he wants Jonathan Reid. Everyone thinks it is a bad idea but Jesse insists and the match is set.

They all meet in the gym to toe-the-line. Jesse steps forward, then we cut to confessional of Jesse talking about Ishe, “shut up, put up, go hard or go home.” I have never heard this saying before but I really like it. Jesse seems to be very well balanced and just tells it like it is.

Jesse calls out Jonathan and they do the stare down. Both competitors go to visit their families. Jesse has 2 adorable children and they wrestle in the floor. Jonathan goes home to his equally adorable 4 children. However, the 4 kids are screaming and shouting. Jonathan many not get a good night’s sleep.

Pre-Match Press Conference

Jonathan says he is there to make things even.

Stallone asks Jess if it was a team decision for him to fight. Oh dear…this could get interesting. Jesse says he is tired of all the Ishe/Ahmed stuff and that he decided he would fight. Ishe jumps to his feet and runs up to the table and Ishe/Jesse go at it. Ishe tells Jesse that all this is about him (Jesse) not Ishe and to leave him out of it. Ishe goes and sits in the front row…leaving the team on the other side of the room.

After the conference, Jonathan goes over and gives Ishe a hug and Ishe says, “this is your night, your time. I pray God gives you favor and protection. It ain’t about team. I believe in you.” In confessional Ishe says he hopes Jesse loses and he hopes Jonathan knocks him out! Ishe has now convinced me to not like him. Don’t punk your team! I understand he doesn’t like Jesse but he should not punk his own team!

The Fight

We see both getting taped and shadow boxing. They dress and we are ready for the introductions. Jonathan takes the first and then Jesse.

Round 1
The round begins with Jonathan making first contact. Jessie gets in some solid hits but Jonathan lands more punchers. I would give this round to Jonathan.

Round 2
There was some major editing to this round. We were only shown about 45 seconds. Jonathan started strong but Jesse landed some combinations. I would score this more for Jesse.

Round 3
This round delivered some of the best punches so far! Jesse landed 2 upper cuts and 3 or 4 direct blows to Jonathan’s head. This one easily goes to Jesse

Round 4
I would describe this round as a draw. Jonathan landed a couple direct hits. But, when I thought Jesse was down, he came back and landed a few good hits as well!

Round 5
This is where Jesse pulls away! From the segment we were shown, Jesse landed 26 blows to Jonathan’s 9! I give the round and the match to Jesse.

The judges agree! The unanimous winner is Jesse.

Jesse handled himself very classy. He tapped gloves before each round and hugged Jonathan before and after the match. I am liking him more and more.

I would like to end by saying it was very hard being snarky with such a show! This show is dramatic and I find myself rooting for all of them! Yes, that includes Ishe because he redeems himself on Sunday’s show and KO Fan will be here to give you that summary!

OH.THE.DRAMA!