What does everyone think of "the contender"

josh fg · Post by **josh fg** » 11 Sep 2006, 17:12

I was watching it today and can't decide weather I like it or not. On the one hand its good that there is a show like it which shows reasonable boxers and some of there personalities (I think boxers tend to be good ambasidors for the sport cos they are generaly working class lads who have made good). However I prefered the UFC version simply because you got to see more of the training and also the way they show the fights is fcuking irratating not just the music but the way they cut up the rounds, also all of that cutting away to some irratating girlfriend/kid gets on my wick.

Am I being a mysreble purist or do others share my view.

bradinho · Post by **bradinho** » 11 Sep 2006, 17:22

Would also like to see more training, and less irritating families, praying, crying etc

How about a facts and figures for the boxers during the fights.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 11 Sep 2006, 19:43

Can't be arsed getting into it.

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 12 Sep 2006, 03:42

Yesterday's episode was the shitest of a shitty bunch. Sugar Ray reading some crap, all of them getting suits and stupid hats, talk about how well they have all done and how they are doing it for their families and wait hold up, we've got to fit a fight into here somewhere!! It's 5 f*cking rounds surely they can find time to show it all. They spend more time showing us who Sergio Mora thinks is winning than actually showing us the fight itself. Also is Steve Forbes supposed to look up to Sergio Mora?? I can't wait for Taylor to get hold of him.

Show us some training, show us some backround into each fighter and actually talk a bit more about their boxing careers not just how hard they had it growing up. Have they mentioned Stewart has shared a ring with Hatton and Mitchell? Why not tell us who are the prospects and who are the ones trying to turn around from being journeymen? Why not ask some of the guys why they haven't fought in 2/3 years? Even then they should have 20 minutes free to show us the fight and a bit of Sugar Ray wincing and Tommy Gallagher telling his fighter to work.

I don't know why I watch it really as I only end up moaning about it. Roll on next week

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 12 Sep 2006, 03:43

I think you are right to be disillusioned with the format/editing of the show.

The intensity of the training an fights are diluted by too much time spent on the family ties, too much cut aways to crowd reactions during the fights and off course there are the sound effects and slo mo sequences during the rounds.

There is a good 2 part peice over at maxboxing.com discussing the problems thrown up by The Contender, and whilst it goes too far in my eyes, it is well worth reading.

I agree that the Ultimate Fighter is a superior, less sickly sweet show. More time is spent focusing on the training and the fights are show, minus the sound effects, in their entirity. I certainly look forward to TUF more so then I do The Contender.

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 12 Sep 2006, 04:43

The show is OK, but it would be alot better if it wasn't so americanised.

The fight footage is infuriating, half the time is spent looking at the crowds reactions, the slow-mos are annoying as well. All the praying and "I'm doing this for abetter life for my family" bollocks gets right on my tits.

The show is very much targetted to casual & non boxing fans and it seems to work, I know a couple of women who don't watch boxing, but they watch contender each week, so I suppose the show raises the profile of the sport.

Its not much kop for us obsessives, but it could be if they'd only show the fights in full, even if its on another half hour show. The 5 round distance is abit of a novelty for us and it guarentees action, some of these fights LOOK to be real crackers

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Sep 2006, 06:18

Can't be fucked with it, load of tripe, and why 5 rounds? Why not 4, or 6? Is it so there aren't draws?

However, I'm happy if it brings people to the sport.

Excellent article on Jason Probst about why it's bad for the sport, not sure I agree with the thrust of the article, but it's well written.

bradinho · Post by **bradinho** » 12 Sep 2006, 11:33

I watch it all the time it has many plus points I suppose.

Women watch it (at least the ones I know do) and they cant dont like too much family stuff cos the they dont know who to root for!

Us Brits get to really know some up and comers/journeymen from the US, makes ESPN fight nights even more watchable, added references etc.

josh fg · Post by **josh fg** » 12 Sep 2006, 16:22

Chambers2 wrote:The show is OK, but it would be alot better if it wasn't so americanised.

The fight footage is infuriating, half the time is spent looking at the crowds reactions, the slow-mos are annoying as well. All the praying and "I'm doing this for abetter life for my family" bollocks gets right on my tits.

The show is very much targetted to casual & non boxing fans and it seems to work, I know a couple of women who don't watch boxing, but they watch contender each week, so I suppose the show raises the profile of the sport.

Its not much kop for us obsessives, but it could be if they'd only show the fights in full, even if its on another half hour show. The 5 round distance is abit of a novelty for us and it guarentees action, some of these fights LOOK to be real crackers

YOu are right it is for the non/casual fan and the reason they show the slow mo bits are because such people will generaly not be sure in fast action what the key moments are, so I guess it educates and as everyone has said it brings people to the sport.

I thought Steve Forb's mrs. was quit attractive untill I heard her talk... god she has an annoying voice. There are just the odd things that annoy me. Your right about the 5 round thing.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 12 Sep 2006, 16:23

Its gash.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 12 Sep 2006, 16:30

nickd wrote:Its gash.

Sums it up perfectly!

el tigre del sur · Post by **el tigre del sur** » 13 Sep 2006, 11:55

Lenny Albert wrote:I don't know why I watch it really as I only end up moaning about it. Roll on next week

I thought like this in the first series and so haven't watched the second installment. Having read these reviews I feel justified.

It's one of those situations where it's so bad you can't stop watching because you can't believe it will get any worse. . . until it does. . . . bit like an Audley Harrison fight really.

Boxingmad · Post by **Boxingmad** » 13 Sep 2006, 18:15

I think it's OK. The main thing for me is that my friends who aren't boxing fans are coming up to me and talking about the show. They especially like Steve Forbes, and the fact that he was world champion. I guess that apart from Joe Calzaghe & maybe Ricky Hatton, that Forbes will be the only other champion they've now heard of. They think the fights are great too, and so do I.