The Contender - Season 3 starts tonight! Very strong list of SMW's

Tonight on ESPN at 10pm. The list of fighters, much improved over seasons 1 and 2, below. Who ya got? Im going for P. Smith (underdog) vs. Bika in all international final.

• Max Alexander (26, Camden, N.J., 14-1, 2 KOs).
• David Banks (24, Portland, Ore., 14-2-1, 2 KOs).
• Sakio Bika (28, Sydney, Australia, via Cameroon, 22-3-2, 14 KOs).
• Henry "Sugar Poo" Buchanan (28, Capital Heights, Md., 14-1, 11 KOs).
• La Farrell Bunting (27, Las Vegas, 16-3-1, 16 KOs).
• Jaidon Codrington (23, New York, 16-1, 12 KOs).
• Miguel Hernandez (32, Chicago, 20-5, 10 KOs).
• Wayne Johnson (29, Lyndhurst, N.J., 16-1, 9 KOs).
• Donny McCrary (24, St. Joseph, Mo., 23-5-2, 13 KOs).
• Les Ralston (25, Buffalo, N.Y., 16-2, 9 KOs).
• Danny Santiago (34, Ocala, Fla., 29-3-1, 19 KOs).
• Paul Smith (24, Liverpool, England, 20-0, 12 KOs).
• Sam Soliman (33, Melbourne, Australia, 33-9, 13 KOs).
• Brian Vera (26, Austin, Texas, 14-0, 9 KOs).
• Rhoshii Wells (30, Las Vegas, 18-2-2, 10 KOs).
• Rubin Williams (31, Detroit, 29-2-1, 16 KOs).

fully expect Bika to win this... good news for kessler 'coz he will have a name to fight when he starts to make his comback after his novemeber loss;)

I did not see Bika-Calzaghe, but by all accounts he gave him a run for his money. I did see him vs. Bute, and he had him in a bad place before Bute started to wear him down in the later rounds.

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Originally Posted by mikey100

I did not see Bika-Calzaghe, but by all accounts he gave him a run for his money. I did see him vs. Bute, and he had him in a bad place before Bute started to wear him down in the later rounds.

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the thing with bika is he is the type of fighter whom, when he knows he isn't going to win will just spoil and turn it into a dirty fight to try and keep it close... calzaghe does fight down to his apponents when they are not a real threat...

I think bika has to much ring exp and sparred with kessler, fought calzaghe, fought bute, pretty much the three ebst SMW in the world hes been in the ring with this year...

He should walk this to be honest.

you never know. A long fighter like Codrington and Alexander may be able to keep him at bay.

I dont think that bika has a style suited to the short 5 round fights, im picking codrington, quite looking forward to this series.

sounds kool!~!!

Bika vs Codrington is my pick for the finals... Course one never knows but I think they are a step above basically all the rest. Gally you make a good point though Bika may not be as suited to 5 rounds , maybe Banks could be a major force in this, he's fast and reasonably slick.. Never seen Alexander, is he good?

Ive seen Banks in his last 4 or 5 fights and he is very good for 5 or 6 rounds, it after that he starts to slow. If these fights are 5 rounds like before hell do well.

I hope Bika gets DQed early, he's a dirty son of a bitch

I'm actually pulling for Sam Solimon. Don't think he's the best, but I would love to see
a journeyman make it for once.

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Originally Posted by killersheep

I hope Bika gets DQed early, he's a dirty son of a bitch

I'm actually pulling for Sam Solimon. Don't think he's the best, but I would love to see
a journeyman make it for once.

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He has fought the best though.

I agree BoomBoom, if these are 5 rounders I'm picking Banks too, I said that awhile ago, so dont think I'm jumping on your pick ;). My second pick is Codrington, he may do well training with these 2 trainers.

When does this start in the UK ??

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Originally Posted by No Contest

I agree BoomBoom, if these are 5 rounders I'm picking Banks too, I said that awhile ago, so dont think I'm jumping on your pick ;). My second pick is Codrington, he may do well training with these 2 trainers.

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Good to know i aint the only one pullin for him ;) Codrington should do well but i dont see him making it to the final fight. Bika and Soliman are the most seasoned guys on the show so I think they can do ok but Solimans career is winding down and hes coming of a bad loss, and Bika is coming off some immpressive losses and is still in his prime so he is more likely to do well, plus hes akward so by the time some of these guys figure him out it the fight may be over.

anyone know if theres a stream to watch this show tonight im in the UK and would love to see it.

I, for one, am loving this Rocky 4 vibe. I also am cool with people getting cut. You don't show up in shape, bye Son. You're not as fast as the next guy...see ya. Boxing finally catchign up with the times. Looks a lot more like modern football recruiting than boxing. But still psyched to see the action soon.

Really good first episode, Paul Smith looks like a real dark house, us Brits have someone to get behind, he ranked the highest for power out of the 16 guys, which surprised me. For the first time I'm really looking forward to seeing some good fights, it definitely imporves the show actually knowing who some of the guys are.

Spoiler on the cuts dont read below if you dont wanna know....





















































Rubin Williams- too out of shape
La Ferrell Bunting- had a cut
Miguel Hernandez- too short was getting hit alot sparring
Les Ralston- scored bad on tests was a little undersized
Danny Santiago- the guy came into the gym at 198...no way he was losing 30 lbs in a week....
Roshii Wells- scored bad on reaction test had 2 1/2 years layoff and was rusty

I was just gonna ask who got cut, cc.

Paul Smith looked good, he was the biggest looking guy there, he could probably move up in weight.Smith also scored highest on the power rankings. Soliman looked in good shape he scored well on those endurance tests. Bika was getting some good sparring in and looked in great shape. Banks looked a little shakey sparring with Mora. Banks has the talent, he is self taught so hopefully working with McGirt will be good for him. Banks was the last pick so he'll be the underdog. McCrary started mixing it up with Mora sparring and Mora gave him props afterwards...I dont see him going far.Johnson was best all around on the tests. Alexander and Codrington looked solid, and Vera looked like a brawler. Buchanan they didnt show much of.

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Originally Posted by No Contest

Paul Smith looked good, he was the biggest looking guy there, he could probably move up in weight.Smith also scored highest on the power rankings. Soliman looked in good shape he scored well on those endurance tests. Bika was getting some good sparring in and looked in great shape. Banks looked a little shakey sparring with Mora. Banks has the talent, he is self taught so hopefully working with McGirt will be good for him. Banks was the last pick so he'll be the underdog. McCrary started mixing it up with Mora sparring and Mora gave him props afterwards...I dont see him going far.Johnson was best all around on the tests. Alexander and Codrington looked solid, and Vera looked like a brawler. Buchanan they didnt show much of.

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Paul's fighting weight is actually Middleweight, he has fought a couple of times at Super.

Looking for a torrent/download for this, can anyone help?

I think Smith will definately be 1 to watch, obviously he's inexperienced when compared with the likes of Soliman and Bika but i think he can really start to make a name for himself in this series. im from Liverpool and people have been talking about him here for last 5 or 6 years so im really glad he's been given this oportunity. Keep an eye out in the future for his younger brother Stephen who is being tipped to be even better than paul, think he's only a lightweight though. Im not saying Smith will win it or anything just think he will give a good account of himself, he stated in our local paper he's just really pleased to of been given the oportunity.

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Originally Posted by gally

I dont think that bika has a style suited to the short 5 round fights, im picking codrington, quite looking forward to this series.

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Could be, but maybe that's because we've not seen him fight short 5 rounders? ;) :)

He bro Stephen's an amateur and the number 1 ranked amateur at Featherweight by the way in the UK. and yes he probbalbly will be better tha n paul.

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Originally Posted by ACEA

anyone know if theres a stream to watch this show tonight im in the UK and would love to see it.

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You have to look in hidden places.
Search and you shall find.

You do realize that Soliman has already beaten Bika.
He's the damn energizer bunny. Which might make good in 5 rounds as he can be hard to hit with his crazy style.

This year does have the highest
skill level for sure. I also like the way they are doing it. With the SPARQ testing and picking of teams by the trainers. The testing quickly leveled the playing field. The picking allows the trainers to chose those people they think they can help the most.

Smith did look good due to using
both hands with good combo's while other looked to setup right hands. Plus his match with Forbes in the USA Vs UK match up.
Codrington. Saw his lost to Green.
Glad to see him alive and kicking it. It was a brutal knockout. We will see how much shit he talks now.
But really. Who has he fought?
I want to see the one guy who is self trained get some quality time with Leonard.
Watching the little bit of sparring they showed. He has allot of natural talent. Especially in the speed department. (watch his foot work)

All in all I think it's going to be a really good show.

Boxing needs a ladder system.
That way we get better match ups and less bullshit about who gets the extra million. The winner gets the extra million!

My take on the Contender 3: Banks has no chance, 2 KO's in 17 fights, he got decked by Mora sparring and Mora has no power. Bika is really tough, I can't believe he lost to Soliman. But Soliman has no power and he's old for a fighter and he can't fight and win this close together of a time period over and over so count him out. Smith is really tough but we all know those straight ahead European boxers don't beat someone with talent, I like him but count him out too. McCrary, probably he least talent of anybody in the tournament but he has heart and he's a local boy for me, would like to see him win, maybe he'll win at least one or two but count him out too. Codrington seems to have some talent but also an attitude. Wayne Johnson was the best at the skills, if he has heart and a chin he could win but my money is on Bika.

Am I the only one who doesn't expect Bika to do well? ???

He's strong but apart from that he's S***.

Over a 12 round fight he may wear a few of the down, over 5 I'd give him very little chance to progress.

I actually think he could be a shock first round casualty.

Interested to Paul Smith fight, Codrington will do well as will Soliman.

I've got a feeling Soliman will make it to the end but lose to a young up and comer in the final.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FCWC

You do realize that Soliman has already beaten Bika.
He's the damn energizer bunny. Which might make good in 5 rounds as he can be hard to hit with his crazy style.

This year does have the highest
skill level for sure. I also like the way they are doing it. With the SPARQ testing and picking of teams by the trainers. The testing quickly leveled the playing field. The picking allows the trainers to chose those people they think they can help the most.

Smith did look good due to using
both hands with good combo's while other looked to setup right hands. Plus his match with Forbes in the USA Vs UK match up.
Codrington. Saw his lost to Green.
Glad to see him alive and kicking it. It was a brutal knockout. We will see how much S*** he talks now.
But really. Who has he fought?
I want to see the one guy who is self trained get some quality time with Leonard.
Watching the little bit of sparring they showed. He has allot of natural talent. Especially in the speed department. (watch his foot work)

All in all I think it's going to be a really good show.

Boxing needs a ladder system.
That way we get better match ups and less bullshit about who gets the extra million. The winner gets the extra million!

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Jonathan Reid