Already in only its fifth week, season 2 of the Contender has shown boxing fans just about everything. There have been upsets, split decisions, and some nasty knockdowns. Episode 5 continued this trend when veterans Ebo Elder and Mike "No Joke" Stewart faced off in the first round. Stewart, who represented the Blue team,  was able to pick his opponent based on teammate's Grady Brewer's win the prior week. Stewart had to choose between the remaining three Yellow team players which were Elder, Steve Forbes and Jeff Fraza. Surprisingly to most, including Elder, Stewart chose Elder, citing the reason behind it was because if he had an off night and lost, he would want it to be to Elder. For the first three rounds, it looked like it was going to be an off night for Stewart.

     Round four came around and the fireworks began. Stewart down 3-0 easily caught Elder with an overhand right which stunned Elder.  But, later in the round as both fighters broke from a clinch, Stewart landed a beautiful left hook which dropped Elder hard, face first, to the mat. Elder narrowly beat the count, but had trouble walking to referee Jack Reiss, and Reiss waved off the fight, giving Stewart a dramatic come from behind victory. Already season 2 of the Contender has delivered some big upsets. The odds would have been very good that Ebo Elder and Michael Clark would make it to the second round, but both got caught with big shots and got upset.

     Season 2 got off to a similar start as season 1, when highly favored Michael Clark, a former world title challenger got upset by little known Cornelius "K9" Bundrage, who was the last fighter taken when the teams were chosen. However, "K9" turned a lot of heads when he upset "Cold Blood" Clark. Later that night, on the opening broadcast, veteran Norberto Bravo chose Rudy Cisneros to fight, a decision based mainly on the fact that Cisneros was having trouble making weight. Cisneros was game, but in a war, Bravo pulled out a majority decision. Already season 2 was off to a bang with Bundrage and Bravo into the second round. Another advantage to winning on this season is that you get to choose when you fight next and possibly who you fight next as well. Bravo, wanting to give himself some healing time, chose the third fight in the second round.

     The next week saw another action packed fight between one of the hardest hitters and one of the biggest talkers, when Gary Balletto met up with Aaron Torres, who had said before the fight that he would retire if he lost to Balletto. Torres talked like he was one of the favorites, despite his 14-2 record against limited competition. This fight was a war, decided in the final round and Balletto squeaking out a split decision win. After the fight, Balletto also chose to fight Norberto Bravo in the third fight of round 2. Balletto suffered a cut over his eye, so by taking the later fight, he hopes to allow his eye time to heal.

     The next two weeks saw slightly less competitive fights as Walter Wright called out Andre Eason and pitched a shutout that included dropping Eason hard in round one with a left hook. Cornelius Bundrage, who was good friends with Eason had a lot to say to Wright after the fight, which caused Wright to choose to fight Bundrage in the second fight of round two, setting up two of the quarterfinal matches. The fourth episode saw a grudge match between experienced veteran Grady Brewer and lesser known Vinroy Barrett. Barrett had called Brewer a coward earlier in the show and their rivalry had been escalating up to this point. Despite a late rally, Barrett fell short as Brewer won a unanimous decision. Brewer still does not who he will fight in the quarterfinal round, he just knows it will be one of five fighters.

    Next week's Contender episode will conclude the first round of fights with a doubleheader. Each team has two participants left. The Yellow team has former world champion Steve Forbes, and Contender season 1 dropout Jeff Fraza remaining. While the Blue team has 15-1 Nick Acevedo remaining along with Freddy Curiel, who is 15-5-2. With Stewart's dramatic victory, the Blue team will get to choose, which should be interesting, because it seemed during the teaser that Curiel would like to avoid Forbes. The drama will continue next Tuesday night.

8-17-2006