I've never watched an episode apart from the season with Sylvester Stallone in it, because I'm not a fan of reality tv. What is the appeal? Is it addictive or something?
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I've never watched an episode apart from the season with Sylvester Stallone in it, because I'm not a fan of reality tv. What is the appeal? Is it addictive or something?
My take on it is; any positive publicity boxing receives from the media is a benefit. Thats why i tolerated it at first, and then i grew to like it. Don't get me wrong it can be unrealistic in the way it presents the fight game, from the shortened fights through to the constant interviews, emotional reactions and the silly challenges. But i kinda love boxing, so as a result i like the Contender.
CC,thats good enough reason for me. :D I may try and watch a few more recent episodes I guess,see if I enjoy it more.Quote:
Originally Posted by hitmandonny
Its a sort of a funny show, yano one of thos e tv programs thats a lot easier watch when ur just in the door from work or trainin and the brain wants something easily digestable :) The first series was very "dramatic," with Stallone n even Sugar Ray overacting a bit. But like i said it's ok. I haven't seen much of this series.
Well its not like im spoilt for choice G.
I dont have Sky so i'll happy watch any free boxing that Terestial TV throws at me :)
I started watching Oscar De La Hoya's The next great champ.
I enjoy reality tv (Not all of the shows but some)
For example, I have never watched dancing with the stars but I will watch it because Floyd is going to compete. (I did not watch when grandpa Holyfield was on) I don't like heavy weights of any kind anymore. But I will watch season 4 which will feature the gorditos of 200+
Anyway..
Boxing disappeared from main stream ages ago.
These reality shows brought back memories of the days when boxing was talked about and the networks ran fights on weekends including ABC's Wide World of sports
Here is a clip promo :)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1KJ1o45RmuY
Anyway, I liked the first show because, it gave for the most part, complete nobodys a chance to fight, make some decent money, attain a little fame and a chance to better their situation in life. The show did gain some fans for boxing. I remember going to a family dinner and when I got there, everyone young and old were talking about the Contender season one. I was like WTF. lol
I will watch the show to it's bitter end.
I was also a huge Sugar Ray Leonard fan and who isn't a Rocky Balboa fan? Even though I can't stand Sly today, Rocky the original movie was pretty damn good in her days.
Boxing as a business is very tough. No secret about the corruption involved and not everyone can get a chance at some of the opportunities that the Contender has to offer the fighters who compete in the tournament.
Anything that helps fighters in anyway, is fine by me.
The show got me to pay more attention to boxing. I will admit, this is a very hard sport to follow IMO but some people are just amazing at how they can keep up with everything in this sport and my hats off to them.
This season actually has some good fighters.....Sakio Bika and Sam Soliman and so onQuote:
Originally Posted by El Gamo
They still don't show the entire fight which is quite possibly the worst idea ever in reality tv.....(until the kids from Kid Nation turn into cannibals)
Fair enough bro,.I'd probably be the same!Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimboogie
I totally see what you mean Danny. You make some very valid points,same as Donny and it is good for boxing for sure. I think I'll download the latest season so far,see what it's like!
Wow,I thought they just had complete unknowns on it. Interesting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lyle
If you ask me nothing much. I think it's a poor show, to be honest. If there were some characters on it that made for entertaining TV, then I'd be all for it as a positive for boxing.. As it stands though, I don't find it exciting whatsoever and I love boxing.. I can't see how anyone is going to be turned on to the sport watching it.. I've only seen roughly an episode and a half of this season, and I really don't like that they still edit the fights.. There is also little substance other than the fights to the show, yet they still manage to force us to listen to these fighters talk about themselves or each other for the majority. It's mostly very boring imo. And realistically, it won't do anything for the sport almost guarenteed. The best fighters this season are still nowhere near the top of the SMW ladder, not that they have to be... but they are also boring as hell. Jaidon Codrington and Sakio Bika is my pick for the final.. and both of those guys have 0 star quality..
Its boxing and its on TV. ;D
to see guys tring to make it to the top
plus it the only thing that comes on O0
I agree, nothing of substance for me to really get into. I watched the 1st episode and was bored to tears; the most exciting part was watching SRL jump rope and left me thinking he could kick all those dudes butts. It's too pasteurized for me, so I guess other than the big fights this year, I'll have to wait for Teddy and Joe next season!!Quote:
Originally Posted by p4pking
I like it but this 5 round crap is lame...The show would be too long I guess, but I would rather just see the fights in full drop the extra crap(drama soap opera shit). Its a little too "Real World" in that way.
I understand the 5 rounds: Odd number makes it really hard to get a draw and too many rounds would take too much out of the fighters and drag things out too long.
I do like watching the training and sparring. It's interesting to hear the pointers from Sugar Ray and the trainers.
As for the edited fights, I'm just going to always stop watching and wait to watch the fights on "The Contender Uncut".
The big one is that its boxing on free tv, as someone above said. Also I think its good for creating fans by giving you a bit of drama and letting you know the characters a little more. Watching two mediocre boxers you've never heard of go five rounds is usually only appealing if you really like boxing. If the show does its job though you're likely to have learned a little bit about each fighter's personality and background and then the casual fan can pick one to root for and maybe enjoy the fight a little more.
I like Soliman and Bika, and the guy from last season, but I don't like that they're mixing in established pro boxers as it seems to get away from the idea of discovering new talent. I do like that they seem to be moving away from some of the cheesier parts of the first season though. Showing the full fight afterwards is cool too, but the problem there is if you watch the show the fight is spoiled.
CC Gutbuster, good point.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gutbuster
Ive always wondred if the fights were edited to correspond with the verdict. At least this gives you a chance to see for sure :PQuote:
Originally Posted by Gutbuster
The one thing about the contender that i found dubious was the way they pushed Manfredo. He didn win the show, he wasn't the best boxer in the show, but for some reason he's the one that got a second chance and all the promotion.
Its really not that great, it could be better but its boxing even with all the silly editing so I usually watch it.
For the most part you're right about the mediocrity, and maybe that's partly why they feel the need to try to edit the fights into a Rockyesq look and feel.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gutbuster
I play upright bass and one method book I went through said that you could tell a great deal about a musicians ability just by hearing them play a C major scale; which is one of the first, easiest, and most foundational scales you learn. When I was watching the Taylor/Pavlik HBO preview and saw them both killing the speed bag, a picture of Donny McCrary's pathetic efforts as seen on the show, flashed in my mind. That seemed to really put things into prospective for me as to the average level of talent there.
I always thought the idea of the show was both as a launching pad for new talent and as chance for a veteran to get their career back on track.Quote:
I like Soliman and Bika, and the guy from last season, but I don't like that they're mixing in established pro boxers as it seems to get away from the idea of discovering new talent.
Ways to fix The Contender
#1: SHOW THE ENTIRE FIGHT DURING THE EPISODE!!!!
#2: Use young undefeated fighters that no one knows
#3: Perhaps we need some heavyweights sometime soon
1.- will never happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lyle
2.- would be nice but not many managers/promoters want to let their fighters go because of contract issues imposed by Contender.
3.- Season 4 will be heavies.