BoxRec

SO much for Anthony Mundine's ambitions to take on the rest of the world - his next bout is likely to be against the winner of the Australian version of The Contender.

It's very hush-hush but we can tell you that the show's American producers are in town and the long-awaited Australian version is expected to launch soon.

They have this week interviewed prospective boxers and trainers, including Australian icon Johnny Lewis. Former light-heavyweight champion Paul "Hurricane" Briggs is also believed to be in their sights.

What interested and puzzled us the most, however, was the tip that the winner of the series would fight Mundine.

It makes a mockery of The Man's vow after narrowly beating Daniel Geale that he was about to conquer the world - starting with American superstar Kelly Pavlik.

Picture gallery: Incredible action pics from the Geale fight

The concept of the winner fighting Mundine has been mooted before. The show's Los Angeles-based executive producer Jeff Wald put the concept to Mundine's manager, Khoder Nasser, as far back as 2007.

Earlier this year, Wald challenged Mundine in this very space to fight former Contender victor Sakio Bika, who has repeatedly asked Mundine to fight him but to no avail.

Hounddawg wrote:The contender series is a great idea tho.

Liver Crusher wrote:im in contender aussie version..got the call last week.

Liver Crusher wrote:im in contender aussie version..got the call last week.

madball1982 wrote:I will be cheering for ya liver.

Is that what you were looking for toppity?

Marlin wrote:

Hounddawg wrote:The contender series is a great idea tho.

I'm not sure there are enough Australian fighters to have a genuine Contender series... Check out the BoxRec rankings and you will see what I mean.

The Herald understands that fighters selected for the Australian show include Mundine victims Shannon Taylor and Nader Hamdan, as well as knockout specialist Victor Oganov, and the undefeated Junior Talipeau.Australian legend Johnny Lewis and heir apparent Billy Hussein will train the Contender fighters.

JAMIE Pittman - the highest ranked super middleweight in the country - has inexplicably been denied a start in the upcoming Australian series of The Contender.

And he suspects Anthony Mundine is behind it.

As revealed in this space last month, the series is identical to the hugely popular version in the US. It's still very hush-hush but the winner will go on to the fight Mundine, for a purse believed to be a tidy $250,000.

Pittman, 27, was interviewed but was floored when told he didn't make the final cut of 14 boxers. He just didn't have an interesting story behind him, producers reckoned.

Which doesn't wash. Here's a proud indigenous fighter who has risen from a housing commission upbringing and last year was unlucky to lose to three-time world champ Felix Sturm in Germany. When he's not training, he's a foster carer for DOCS.

Screams reality television to us.

"I just want a shot at him,'' Pittman told us. "I want an opportunity to prove I have what it takes to beat Mundine - but he's obviously worried about handling an awkward southpaw with my style.
``It's plain not fair. I'm not depressed about it - I'm just angry.''

Pittman's people have made several attempts to fight Mundine but to no avail. Meanwhile, former Mundine opponents Shannan Taylor and Nader Hamden have apparently been given a start in the series. Alas, the show that offered so much feels like a stage production already.

Marlin wrote:Apparently Jamie Pittman wasn't in the top 14 Super Middles in Australia...

JAMIE Pittman - the highest ranked super middleweight in the country - has inexplicably been denied a start in the upcoming Australian series of The Contender.

And he suspects Anthony Mundine is behind it.

As revealed in this space last month, the series is identical to the hugely popular version in the US. It's still very hush-hush but the winner will go on to the fight Mundine, for a purse believed to be a tidy $250,000.

Pittman, 27, was interviewed but was floored when told he didn't make the final cut of 14 boxers. He just didn't have an interesting story behind him, producers reckoned.

Which doesn't wash. Here's a proud indigenous fighter who has risen from a housing commission upbringing and last year was unlucky to lose to three-time world champ Felix Sturm in Germany. When he's not training, he's a foster carer for DOCS.

Screams reality television to us.

"I just want a shot at him,'' Pittman told us. "I want an opportunity to prove I have what it takes to beat Mundine - but he's obviously worried about handling an awkward southpaw with my style.
``It's plain not fair. I'm not depressed about it - I'm just angry.''

Pittman's people have made several attempts to fight Mundine but to no avail. Meanwhile, former Mundine opponents Shannan Taylor and Nader Hamden have apparently been given a start in the series. Alas, the show that offered so much feels like a stage production already.

gerry wrote:do you know when they will be announcing the boxers

Marlin wrote: Porky would have dominated!!!