The Contender

Sixteen of the best middleweight fighters in the United States arrive in Los Angeles at the Contender Gymnasium. Each week, the boxers will train at this gymnasium and, with the support of their families who are now living close by, will vie to win $1,000,000 if they win a fight at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Teams are divided into East and West and in the first challenge, the winner of which decides the matchup for the fight that week (one fighter from each team), the players must haul three logs up a steep hill. West comes out victorious, and choose Alfonso Gomez and Peter Manfredo as the contenders of the night. In a suprising fight, Alfonso, with help from his father, mother and family, beats Peter, who has his wife and daughter to cheer him on.

The West once again wins the second challenge, a puzzle using flags, they again are allowed to decide the matchup for the week. Ishe Smith wimps out and the team reluctantly allows Jesse Brinkley to challenge veteran Jonathan Reid to the second round of fighting of the show. Tempers flare when Jesse accuses Ishe of betraying his team by rooting for Jonathan instead of himself. Later, in the second surprising upset of the game, Jesse Brinkley defeats Jonathan Reid in a close match of fighting.

The tension between Ishe and Ahmed reaches a boiling point when West wins the third challenge, a dodgeball game, and Ishe challenges Ahmed to the third boxing match. Though Ahmed starts out strong with a heavy barrage of punches in the first round, Ishe gets the last laugh when he wins the very personal match and gets the third spot into the quarter finals.

The teams reconvene after the fight between Ishe and Ahmed, and everyone seems glad that Ahmed was outed. Jeff begins to feel ill, and after consulting a doctor, he finds out that he has chicken pox and that he must leave the entire tournament. In his place, Stallone tells the remaining contenders to vote one person back into the game. Peter Manfredo, jr. from Episode 1 is voted back in with a vote of 8-4 (the other votes being for Jonathan Reid). Later, at the challenge, the East Coast pulls their car to the finish line the fastest, and they choose Najai Turpin to fight Sergio Mora. At the boxing match, Najai gives it all he has but is defeated by a surprisingly strong Sergio.

The first four Contender fights are recapped as Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard host, pointing out what went wrong about the fight, and what the winner did right.

Peter Manfredo, after being let back into the game, begins to feel "off." He has tasted his first defeat when Alfonso beat him, and he is afraid to lose again. At the challenge, which tests versatility, West wins again, and is able to choose the matchup for that night. Miguel Espino chooses to fight Manfredo. At the fight, Manfredo conquers his fears of losing and wins the match, sending an ashamed and sad Miguel packing.

This is the first episode of "The Contender: Season 2". It introduces 15 new boxers and one familiar boxer from season 1, all competing to become the next Contender Champion. This episode features the first fight of the season between Cornelius "K-9" Bundrage and Michael Clark.

Part two of the season premiere, this episode features an all out boxing war between Norberto "El Gallito" Bravo and Rudy Cisneros.

Week 3 of The Contender found plenty of tension among the competitors. After harsh words between boxers, it was finally decided that Aaron Torres would fight for the Blue team, and he called out Gary Balletto.

More drama is brewing between Grady Brewer and Vinroy Barrett, but Walter Wright steps up for an "easy" fight, and challenges a dtermined, but ultimately not in shape Andre Eason.

Trouble is brewing between K9 and Walter, as Walter decides to fight K9 next round. Vinroy calls out Grady, and in a close fight Grady takes it home by Unanimous decision.

Sixteen super-middleweight boxers vie for a $1 million purse as the bell sounds for Season 3 of this reality show, hosted by Sugar Ray Leonard and produced by Mark Burnett ("Survivor," "The Apprentice"). Each episode ends with a five-round elimination bout. Buddy McGirt and Jose Correa are trainers.

Conflict erupts between two old rivals; the fighters receive a visit from Oscar de la Hoya.

The second first-round bout is on tap, with the Gold team owning the "power of choice." Sugar Ray Leonard hosts.

One fighter gets bad news from home while another looks to prove himself against a tough foe in the third elimination bout. Seven boxers will remain. Sugar Ray Leonard hosts.

The last two first-round matchups are determined as the boxers feel pressure to advance to the semifinals. Sugar Ray Leonard hosts.

The final first-round bout is held, after which four semifinalists will be determined. Host: Sugar Ray Leonard.

Sixteen cruiserweights arrive in Singapore; first elimination.

The first elimination causes a shift in power; fighters clash over who should compete next; and an injury could end one contestant's dream.

Team Gold receives a wake-up call; trouble brews between fighters during training; and a boxer takes on a slugger in the tournament.

Team Gold learns a tough lesson; a rivalry brews between two fighters; and harsh words are exchanged in the loft.

One fighter battles injury, while another struggles with his weight.

Fighters get their first taste of traditional Chinese medicine when an Asian Master visits. Also: two friends square off in the ring.

Sixteen boxers move into a training facility to compete in the Contender tournament; two fighters have a verbal altercation outside the ring; the two teams choose fighters to represent them in the first fight of the tournament.

A passionate fighter steps up and is gunning for a major threat from the opposing side; another fighter is determined to stir up trouble as tension between the teams escalates.

The winning team is riding high from their victory and is hungry for another; one fighter plays mind games with the other team, while another focuses on his faith to maintain peace while in the Contender house.

One team continues to reign while the other remains discouraged; observant behavior initiates a guessing game of who will be called out next, frustrating members of the losing team, who are waiting for their chance to prove themselves.

Tension between the teams rises as one fighter continues his antics, keeping the opposing team on edge; one fighter gets to spend time with his family; two hometown rivals step into the ring to face off.

One team is livid after being stripped of a victory, and the three remaining fighters are out for blood; after feuding since day one, a heated rivalry between two fighters is settled in The Contender ring.