BoxRec

According to Our American friends Contender series 3 is considering doing Heavyweights. Should be interesting IMO, the 5 round distance should suit the Heavyweights, with them knowing the fight can only go 5 rounds max it'll give them licence to go for the OK

I hope it comes off

Good stuff. Despite the heavyweight division perceived as being piss poor currently, there is nevertheless a huge amount of undefeated or near-undefeated American heavyweights who really need to get tested. There's a big enough pool there to make it workable and worthwhile. The winner could actually come out of it very well too.

A few KO's wouldn't do the show any harm. Been way to much shoeshining in the bouts I have caught on the 2 series!

Thing is, how many young heavyweights are free agents?
They would have to sign a contract with the TV company, and their own promoters wouldn't get a share.

If its 5rounds Tyson, Lennox and Bowe can make comebacks I think they'll struggle to find US fighters for this.

Tyson would certainly be a ratings winner if he doesn't get banged up!

nickd wrote:Tyson would certainly be a ratings winner if he doesn't get banged up!

mikey boy v bowe over 5 rds.

i wonder if any brit heavyweights get the call.

hitman_hatton1 wrote:

nickd wrote:Tyson would certainly be a ratings winner if he doesn't get banged up!

mikey boy v bowe over 5 rds.

i wonder if any brit heavyweights get the call.

I can just see Pele Reid sitting anxiuosly by the phone.....

yiddo14 wrote:

hitman_hatton1 wrote:

nickd wrote:Tyson would certainly be a ratings winner if he doesn't get banged up!

mikey boy v bowe over 5 rds.

i wonder if any brit heavyweights get the call.

I can just see Pele Reid sitting anxiuosly by the phone.....

Dont joke - with his colourful persona, back story (kung fu expert), build and helacious dig he is just the kind of fighter they should be loking to acquire (married to the fact that if he gets tagged heavy they are almost guaranteed a highlight reel KO..)

I for one think they heavies will be fat, under motivated and lay on each other..For once I will be glad of the heavy editing Contender uses!

Hey,I was only half joking! I think Pele would be ideal for the contender!!!

TerribleTerry wrote:

yiddo14 wrote:

hitman_hatton1 wrote: mikey boy v bowe over 5 rds.

i wonder if any brit heavyweights get the call.

I can just see Pele Reid sitting anxiuosly by the phone.....

Dont joke - with his colourful persona, back story (kung fu expert), build and helacious dig he is just the kind of fighter they should be loking to acquire (married to the fact that if he gets tagged heavy they are almost guaranteed a highlight reel KO..)

I for one think they heavies will be fat, under motivated and lay on each other..For once I will be glad of the heavy editing Contender uses!

.... and lets not forget that Pele Reid is the only guy to ever knock out Vitali Klitschko. Therefore he can be marketed quite well for this show

Very odd, in a boxing ring Reid wouldn't have lasted 30 seconds with Vitali yet he beat him kickboxing!

Does anyone know if he had a shocking chin kickboxing or did it just 'go'??

nickd wrote:Very odd, in a boxing ring Reid wouldn't have lasted 30 seconds with Vitali yet he beat him kickboxing!

Does anyone know if he had a shocking chin kickboxing or did it just 'go'??

Only seen one (and it was after the Orlin Norris fight). He got stopped. Quite ironic the Reid was giving him a lesson in the early sessions with his kicking. The (much smaller) opponent decided to use more of his fist and box the pro boxer and KO's him in that round.

Although of course that doesn't answer your question, cause it was after his first boxing stoppage loss.

nickd wrote:Very odd, in a boxing ring Reid wouldn't have lasted 30 seconds with Vitali yet he beat him kickboxing!

Does anyone know if he had a shocking chin kickboxing or did it just 'go'??

Pele is almost unfeasibly flexible for a man his size/weight and his kicking is technically excellent. He KO'ed Vitali with a spinning back kick I believe, hitting klitschko on the point of his chin with his heel.

Pele's kickboxing matches before he turned over to boxing were mostly points and light continuos matches - were the aim isnt to knock your opponent out.

For this reason his chin was still an unknown quantity when he turned to pro boxing.

Reid would be ok for the show, he'd make a good highlight real KO or be KO'd.
Other one i could see up for it would be Micky Steeds.

hitman_hatton1 wrote:

nickd wrote:Tyson would certainly be a ratings winner if he doesn't get banged up!

mikey boy v bowe over 5 rds.

i wonder if any brit heavyweights get the call.

They have tried to get Brits in before. Paul Smith (I think) and Matthew Macklin were approached.

Jamie Moore was very close to accepting an offer I hear, but when he saw the contract refused. Apparently they can own you lock, stock and barrel for the rest of your career whatever happens to you.

Paul and Jamie post occasionally so they might be able to tell you more.

Be no use with heavyweights. Better off getting a load of 90s fighters like Lewis, Tyson, Evander, Bowe, McCall, Mercer and Morrison then letting them have a four round competition.

I believe it was series 2 jamie was approached for, and as Mr S says, the contractual obligations were shocking.

found this as a example of the contracts offered....

(1) the 'promoter' can, under certain circumstances, claim promotional rights to the fighter for up to five years, during which time the 'promoter' shall have the sole and exclusive right to secure, arrange, and promote all bouts requiring the fighter's services as a professional boxer.

(2) During the term of the contract, the fighter must fight at least twice a year at a site and on a date designated by the 'promoter' against opponents chosen by the 'promoter' in the 'promoters' sole and absolute discretion.

(3) the 'promoter' can lie to the fighter about "any and all topics of every kind and nature whatsover." More specifically, the contract states that, among other things, the 'promoter' may lie to the fighter about "the other [fighters] in the series . . . any purse . . . the conditions applicable to any purse . . . and the choices and decisions [the fighter] may be required to make that may affect [his] ability to compete for any purse."

(4) The fighter must waive his right to challenge any decision rendered against him in the tournament, including his right to challenge a decision under the Rules and Regulations of the California State Athletic Commission.

(5) the 'promoter' , in his sole discretion, may abandon the project at any time. If he does so, the fighter will be allowed to keep the money earned for fights he has already participated in. For example, the winner of each first-round fight will receive $1,000 and the loser will receive $500. But the 'promoter' is under no obligation to actually hold the final fight for which the winner is supposed to receive $1,000,000.

(6) Even if the fighter wins all of his preliminary fights, the 'promoter' can still choose two other fighters to compete for the $1,000,000 prize.

(7) If the fighter loses a fight, the 'promoter' may terminate his services.

(8) If the fighter is unable to fight or retires from boxing before fulfilling all of his obligations under the contract, he cannot engage in any other form of athletic competition without the 'promoter' permission.

(9) the 'promoter' can require the fighter to participate in forms of unarmed combat other than boxing such as mixed martial arts competition and professional wrestling.

(10) The fighter must live and train at training facility provided by the 'promoter' . He may bring a maximum of two pieces of luggage to training camp and may not bring a cell phone, pager, computer, credit card, cash, or any other form of currency. the 'promoter' may search the fighter's person and room whenever he chooses to make sure that the fighter has not brought prohibited items with him.

(11) At any time, the 'promoter' may advise the fighter that he has decided to require the fighter to engage in conduct that involves new "risks." If the fighter refuses to accept these risks, he forfeits his right to fight for future purses.

(12) The fighter assumes all risk of personal injury or death. Neither he nor his estate can sue the 'promoter' , the 'promoters' employees, the 'promoters' licensees, the 'promoters' successors in interest, or the 'promoters' assignees for negligence, even if their negligence was the direct cause of the fighter's injury or death.

(13) the 'promoter' has the right to obtain life insurance on the fighter or insurance against the failure of the fighter to participate a bout with the 'promoter' as the beneficiary. However, the 'promoter' is under no obligation to provide insurance for the fighter. In fact, the contract states that the fighter is "solely responsible for maintaining health insurance to cover any bodily injury . . . as well as any insurance to cover any short-term or long-term disability from injury."

(14) the 'promoter' will provide the fighter with a "reasonable supply of food." However, at the 'promoters' discretion, "in some circumstances," such food must be "earned" by the fighter.

(15) the 'promoter' may record the fighter on video and audio-tape at any time with or without the fighter's knowledge. This includes "actions in bedrooms and bathrooms" when the fighter is "partially clothed or naked."

(16) the 'promoter' gets the sole and exclusive rights to the fighter's life story in perpetuity. This includes, among other things, motion picture rights, theatrical stage presentations, and books. In exploiting these rights, the 'promoter' may reveal information that the fighter believes is "false, misleading, disparaging, defamatory, embarrassing, or of an otherwise unfavorable nature."

(17) the 'promoter' may assign any or all of his rights under the contract to any other person or business entity. In the event of such assignment, the 'promoter' will have no further obligation to the fighter.

(18) If any person or corporation sues the 'promoter' , his employees, his licensees, his successors in interest, or his assignees, and that suit is based on a claim that conflicts with representations made by the fighter in his contract with the 'promoter' , then the fighter must pay all of the 'promoters' expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees) in defending against the lawsuit. For example, if someone claiming to have a promotional or managerial contract with the fighter pops out of the woodwork and sues the 'promoter' , the fighter will be responsible for the expense of defending the 'promoter' against the lawsuit whether or not the claim is valid.

(19) the 'promoter' will establish and maintain a pension plan for the benefit of the fighter. However, the 'promoter' , in his sole discretion, will determine how much money is contributed to the plan.

(20) the 'promoter' can require the winner of the tournament to move to any location in the United States that the 'promoter' chooses. The fighter will be solely responsible for any and all expenses associated with relocation and moving.

(21) The fighter may not give an interview to any member of the media without the 'promoters' prior authorization

I would like to see Mike Mollo involved. Chris Arreola would be a nice addition as well. Two you can realistically hope to appear.

Apparently there is talk of the third series being US vs UK

TerribleTerry wrote:

nickd wrote:Very odd, in a boxing ring Reid wouldn't have lasted 30 seconds with Vitali yet he beat him kickboxing!

Does anyone know if he had a shocking chin kickboxing or did it just 'go'??

Pele is almost unfeasibly flexible for a man his size/weight and his kicking is technically excellent. He KO'ed Vitali with a spinning back kick I believe, hitting klitschko on the point of his chin with his heel.

Pele's kickboxing matches before he turned over to boxing were mostly points and light continuos matches - were the aim isnt to knock your opponent out.

For this reason his chin was still an unknown quantity when he turned to pro boxing.

Yes I believe that's correct. Pele told me this himself when I bumped into him - it was a big kick.

2 things to remember:

1. Kicks, though harder to land and going to have more power.
2. Boxing really toughens up your chin - as you take more shots to the chin, it gets better (at least in the early days!) KIckboxers are not so used to taking headshots and are often chinny. Vitali would have developed his chin as he got into boxing.

Brian Minto would be another decent addition.

Dominque Guinn and maybe a couple of older Heavies - like Immanu Mayfield, Cley Bay, Oliver McCall etc.

ButterBean King of the four rounders