BoxRec

new format for the show a one off fight night, with the US team of Alfonso Gomez , Walter "Two Guns" Wright , Grady Brewer , Jerson Ravelo , Freddy Curiel , Cornelius "K9" Bunderage and Miguel Espino.

British team is Wayne Alexander , Ross Minter , Paul Smith , Anthony Small , Paul Buchanan , Martin Concepcion and Nigel Wright .

Not to sure how this works out on the night, wether its one fight each , and then its a team victory.

Some good match ups on there. Like to see Smith/Small face off with K-9 and Wright.

Alexander vs Bundredge will the the main event the taller Alexander to do a number on bundredge al la Takaloo

do you know all the pairings Lee?

Article from todays Guardian:

John Rawling
Wednesday February 7, 2007
The Guardian

Sugar Ray Leonard is to lead a team of seven Americans, including fighters from the US television show The Contenders, to take on seven British boxers at Newcastle's 10,000-seat Metro Radio Arena for the inaugural Sugar Ray Leonard Cup on March 30. The tournament will be the basis of a new series to screened on the US television network ESPN and in Britain on ITV. Earlier series attracted up to 20 million US viewers, with broadcast rights sold to more than 100 countries worldwide.

"I am really excited by this idea," said Leonard last night. "In my era, the fans knew who the fighters were. There was Tommy Hearns, Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran and me, and the fans all knew our stories. The Contenders has humanised boxing and helped today's public understand the fighters involved in the programme, and what sacrifices they make in pursuit of their dreams."

Barry McGuigan, the former world featherweight champion, captains a British team which will include rising stars such as Liverpool's undefeated middleweight, Paul Smith, and the English welterweight champion, Ross Minter, along with Nigel Wright, the English light-welterweight champion, and the former WBU light-middleweight champion, Wayne Alexander.

The promoter allegedly, who is hoping to make the competition an annual event, said: "This series shows the pain these guys have to go through and the sheer effort they have to put in. The idea is that the cup will become a regular on the sporting calendar and that next year we will be taking a team to the US."

One of The Contender's first stars was Peter Manfredo, who was the beaten finalist in the launch series. That performance kick-started his career, and he is to challenge the WBO super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe for his world title at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on April 7. Already in excess of 20,000 tickets have been sold and a crowd of more than 35,000 is anticipated.

Paul Smith is fighting Miguel Espino.

I actually like the sound of this tournament.

Its sounds brilliant, of course I hope they are matched well. Alfonso Gomez is now back at Welter - so matching him with Wayne Alaxander (a big Light Middle) might be a tad unfair.

But still what ever the combination (if they are actually fighting each other) then its sounds like an excellent venture and can only do the boxers and the fight game in general here the power of good.

These are now fairly well known fighters in the states, but not only that - they are meaningful opponents even if they hadn't had the TV exposure.

This looks good - hopefully we'll get to see the whole 8 rounds, rather than rocky style highlights...

Going to be a long show to at, seven fights at 8x3 , so each fight would be about 30 mins + time for ring entrance and post fight interviews , you'd be looking at a 7 hr show.

Warren has said it will be 10,000 sell out,

I'm all for this, could breathe some real life into our domestic scene, giving these boys some big paydays, and even title shots. Great stuff.

Although we all gripe, Warren does have a flair for this type of promotion.

topper123 wrote:Going to be a long show to at, seven fights at 8x3 , so each fight would be about 30 mins + time for ring entrance and post fight interviews , you'd be looking at a 7 hr show.

Warren has said it will be 10,000 sell out,

But not every fight will last the full 30 mins... (even incl. interviews).

This is a great coup to help promote boxing on TV!!

Is the whole event live?

leforge wrote:Is the whole event live?

I doubt it will be, each fight will be shown in a series , running a couple of weeks after the fight night.
So if its an 1 hour show then i also doubt you'll get to see the fights in full, they will be edited with sound effects and highlights of each round shown.

Lot of questions on this. Is there going to be an individual winner, or is it just like international boxing meets.

It's a one off isn't it? Two teams, two captains would suggest that it's like an international amateur meet.

yes its all on 1 night.
Warren thinks this will be a 10,000 sell out, he will have to do some overtime on the promotion to get that.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:It's a one off isn't it? Two teams, two captains would suggest that it's like an international amateur meet.

As the article says, think Ryder Cup. A team event where the final points total decides the winning team.

A very interesting proposition, providing the line up s are maintained.

Its a shame its all teh way up in newcastle or I would definitly look to go. If I can convince a mate to drive I may still get a ticket.

topper123 wrote:yes its all on 1 night.
Warren thinks this will be a 10,000 sell out, he will have to do some overtime on the promotion to get that.

Im not so sure, Ive heard from loads of people that they're interested in going up for it, even people who aint usually boxing fans. The contender has made the likes of Manfredo and gomez house hold names to non-hardcore boxing fans. I know people who've heard of those two (and morra) but dont have a clue who mayweather and hopkins are.

Do you think the viewing audience will be affected by the results being known beforehand?

TerribleTerry wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:It's a one off isn't it? Two teams, two captains would suggest that it's like an international amateur meet.

As the article says, think Ryder Cup. A team event where the final points total decides the winning team.

A very interesting proposition, providing the line up s are maintained.

Its a shame its all teh way up in newcastle or I would definitly look to go. If I can convince a mate to drive I may still get a ticket.

I know, why are there never any fekking events in London, I mean, it is the capital and all. Bloody newcastle!

It's like the new gaming licences, why only grant them to Manchester? It's ridiculous. Manchester gets a super casino, and London has to wait it's turn. They should have developed the dome into the super casino they were proposing for before the olympic games, think of the money London could have robbed from tourists who came pouring in.

Do you think the viewing audience will be affected by the results being known beforehand?

Not by that much, I don't think this is being aimed at people who use boxrec, buy BN etc but sports fans through the whole UK v US angle. The fights will probably end up as Rocky style highlights when all is said and done and we will all hate it outside of the fact some decent prospects will be getting some decent exposure

Exactly, it's not about the 'anoraks' as Maloney called us.

Meh, the Brits on offer aren't exactly those you'd put forward to represent you..I expect the best of each will be paired with the worst of the other and in between will be one or two competitive bouts...

I'm on bloody holiday on March 30th i hope to god it's on the box week later.
I've gootta watch that.