The Official Contender 2 Thread

E · Post by E » 24 Jul 2006, 18:55

Well...it was Ok but frankly I would have thought they would have tried a slightly more gritty angle.

But it's the same stuff - melodramatic music/editing/sound effects during the fights, what seems like scripted comments seemingly caught in action, naff sentimental 'family' moments as well as the cliched 'I'm just want to take my family out of the ghetto and this is my chance' etc etc

Hmmmm a bit disappointing but at least we are not plagued by the walnut faced Sly stallone........

lvlarc · Post by **lvlarc** » 24 Jul 2006, 18:58

No ITV4 here so I'm skipping this one, not that I'll be missing much...

nas7232 · Post by **nas7232** » 24 Jul 2006, 19:54

I just download them as it's a too long wait.

Neri · Post by **Neri** » 25 Jul 2006, 00:46

Going to get round to watching it tonight. If it's like last years show I will love it. Even better without Sly.

How about editing the title of this thread and making it the official contender 2 thread?

Syntax Error · Post by **Syntax Error** » 25 Jul 2006, 01:58

I saw it.

Michael Clark bit off more than he could chew.

Credit to him; despite his big mouth, he did actually give it ago, against a notably bigger & stronger man.

PS: I can't believe that SRL is 50!

I hope I look that good when I'm 50!!!!!

yiddo14 · Post by **yiddo14** » 25 Jul 2006, 03:05

Syntax Error wrote:I saw it.

Michael Clark bit off more than he could chew.

Credit to him; despite his big mouth, he did actually give it ago, against a notably bigger & stronger man.

PS: I can't believe that SRL is 50!

I hope I look that good when I'm 50!!!!!

Made me laugh when they fighters were skipping and saying 'hey sugar ray,can you do this?'.......he shaped up pretty well on the rope for a 50yr old I'am sure you will all agree!!!

dr_devious · Post by **dr_devious** » 25 Jul 2006, 04:23

I watched the Contender last night and really enjoyed it. Its better without Stallone. Its still a bit schmaltzy and american though. Only fighter I'd head of was Steve Forbes

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 25 Jul 2006, 04:48

I can just about cope with over-sentimental "I'm doing this for a better life for my kids" angle, it's annoying but it doesn't spoil my enjoyment of the show.

Its the fight footage that does my box in, it looked to be a decent fight last night and I wish they'd put on an extra show where you could watch the fight in its entirity, instead of them jumping from angle to angle just showing the punch landing and what the fornicate is that slo-mo about, as soon as it goes into slo-mo mode we all said watch out here comes a BIG shot, it takes the surprise factor out of it.

Don't get me wrong I enjoy the show, but there are some aspects of it that get right on my tits

Foggy · Post by **Foggy** » 25 Jul 2006, 04:51

I wish they would show the fights in full, i mean 5x3 minute rounds, i'm sure they could put aside 20 minutes of the programme to show the fight in full

Other then that i enjoy watching it

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 25 Jul 2006, 05:00

I must have missed Michael Clark winning his world title??

Had heard of Forbes, Clark and Stewart, hardly names which are gonna make a splash in the division.

The fight footage last night was even worse than the first series, showing the same punch from more angles to make the round look more exciting, the slow motion before the big shots. Now they have done away with the games to see who chooses the fights (thank god) surely we can see more extensive highlights than that.

Nice to see Clark get burned, all the talk that this guy was the weekest so he wanted to be the one to take him out. Always nice when something like that backfires

Syntax Error · Post by **Syntax Error** » 25 Jul 2006, 05:25

yiddo14 wrote:
Syntax Error wrote:I saw it.

Michael Clark bit off more than he could chew.

Credit to him; despite his big mouth, he did actually give it ago, against a notably bigger & stronger man.

PS: I can't believe that SRL is 50!

I hope I look that good when I'm 50!!!!!
Made me laugh when they fighters were skipping and saying 'hey sugar ray,can you do this?'.......he shaped up pretty well on the rope for a 50yr old I'am sure you will all agree!!!

Definitely agree.

I just hope it doesn't give him any ideas about a comeback!

Syntax Error · Post by **Syntax Error** » 25 Jul 2006, 05:26

Chambers2 wrote:I can just about cope with over-sentimental "I'm doing this for a better life for my kids" angle, it's annoying but it doesn't spoil my enjoyment of the show.

Its the fight footage that does my box in, it looked to be a decent fight last night and I wish they'd put on an extra show where you could watch the fight in its entirity, instead of them jumping from angle to angle just showing the punch landing and what the smeg is that slo-mo about, as soon as it goes into slo-mo mode we all said watch out here comes a BIG shot, it takes the surprise factor out of it.

Don't get me wrong I enjoy the show, but there are some aspects of it that get right on my tits

100% true.

I agree with your sentiments entirely.

yiddo14 · Post by **yiddo14** » 25 Jul 2006, 05:50

Chambers2 you are spot on.
They compensate for the lack of toe-to-toe action,so they show the same punch more than once from different angles,with ridiculous sound affects!!!
It's to keep the non-boxing fan interested,makes them think they are witnessing epic,dramatic fights.

It works though,because my girlfriend(who has no interest at all in boxing)was glued to the screen,cheering on k9!!!

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 25 Jul 2006, 06:34

I have zero interest in this show, it's good for the sport in terms of getting mainstream exposure, but it's fornicate all to do with real boxing.

nas7232 · Post by **nas7232** » 25 Jul 2006, 07:46

This show turned me into a hardcore boxing fan. I kinda like the family backrounds, it's different and shows more depth in boxing. Even though i prefer the whole fight footage, it would be better if they would extend the fights a bit more. Those 5 rounds finnish well too quick!

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 25 Jul 2006, 08:06

How the hell was the fight only a majority decision for Bundrage? From what we saw he clearly won three of the rounds with a knockdown in the final round. One of the judges must have had it a draw in that case 3-2 in rounds to Clark but with the knockdown for Bundrage. Nothing like what we saw on screen. They should show the whole of the fights. The edited fights suck.

E · Post by E » 25 Jul 2006, 09:09

nickd wrote:How the hell was the fight only a majority decision for Bundrage? From what we saw he clearly won three of the rounds with a knockdown in the final round. One of the judges must have had it a draw in that case 3-2 in rounds to Clark but with the knockdown for Bundrage. Nothing like what we saw on screen. They should show the whole of the fights. The edited fights suck.

Editing is such a powerful media tool - with good editing you could probably make it seem that TEx Cobb won every round against Larry Holmes.....

I still find the aforementioned US style glossy editing and melodrama / sentimental nonsense not to mention not showing the whole fights hard to stomach.

If anyone has watched the Ultimate fighter series on Bravo; you will see how to make an enthralling combat reality show.

They allow the fighters to be themselves and they really get under tjhe fighter's personalities. Plus there are 2 brits in the 3rd series - they often have to put subtitles for the Yanks when they are speaking as one is a Manc and one from Wolverhampton...

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 25 Jul 2006, 09:35

The Ultimate Fighter is in a different league to The Contender. Way way better.

yiddo14 · Post by **yiddo14** » 25 Jul 2006, 09:53

nickd wrote:The Ultimate Fighter is in a different league to The Contender. Way way better.

Could'nt agree more.The contender should take note on how it's done,as the basis is there for a cracking show.

Also,I understand the yankified way they bring the step father/wife/child etc into the guys changing room just before the fight.It's classic soap style tv,but the last thing you want going out for arguably the biggest fights some of these guys are going to be involved in,is an emotional moment like that!! There you are trying to focus,and stay relaxed/keep pumped(whatever your drill is)and they spring these 'suprises' on the fighters!!! Ain't the best preperation!!

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 25 Jul 2006, 10:07

It's a load of hokey old bullshit, and to be honest, you would expect someone like Ray Leonard to know better than do have the programme makers doing something like that.

Do you really want to see your wife in tears before you enter the ring to take part in a sport where you could die? Seems a little bit bloody stupid to me.

emma · Post by **emma** » 25 Jul 2006, 10:51

I enjoyed it.I didnt watch the first series but its something to watch while theres no SN fights on tv

Neri · Post by **Neri** » 25 Jul 2006, 13:34

It was good to see Clark put in his place by Bundrage. Especially after Clarks comments after seeing Bundrage having a bad sparring session.

I like the way we get to see the fighters family life, it gives fans an insight we don't normally get to see.

The dramatics of the fight can be bad sometime but I'm willing to put up with it because I like everything else. this is a great show. Any boxing on the tele is welcome.

Much better than watching Haye-Abdoul

Glad the first episode started with a knockdown too, something we didn't get much of in the first season.

Neri · Post by **Neri** » 26 Jul 2006, 12:47

I didn't realise that the trainer Jeremy Williams was the same man who got brutally KO'd by Samuel Peter.

E · Post by E » 07 Aug 2006, 17:38

Well, another show over. My main thought is that the series is dishonest in its editing and is obsessed with melodrama... every fight has to seem like a Rocky fight and that editing does not enable the viewers to know what really happened..........

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 08 Aug 2006, 03:40

E wrote:Well, another show over. My main thought is that the series is dishonest in its editing and is obsessed with melodrama... every fight has to seem like a Rocky fight and that editing does not enable the viewers to know what really happened..........

I've never really got into it, i love watching boxing, but i can't stand the editing of this, and the soundbites coming over during the action.
suppose it makes for good entertainment for the people who don't normally watch boxing.