Contender Bundrage Outmuscles Wright to Advance

Underdog Cornelius "K9" Bundrage advanced to the final four of The Contender by roughing up and outhustling the less experienced Walter Wright. Bundrage was warned several times for holding but was never deducted a point. Wright has an impressive jab but didn't seem to use it enough to keep Bundrage from smothering him.

ESPN's editing of the fight was awful as usual. Countless cutaways from the action to see Wright's girlfriend complaining about K9's holding quickly went from mildly distracting to incredibly annoying. In the end, the judges awarded Bundrage a unanimous decision. It's impossible to question the scoring in The Contender series because viewers never see enough of the action to reach their own conclusions. Perhaps that's by design?

Bundrage joins Steve Forbes in the final four. Both remaining quarterfinal bouts - Gary Balletto vs. Norberto Bravo and Michael Stewart vs. Grady Brewer - will be shown in next weeks' double-header episode. The Contender tournament was taped in January and February but concludes with a live 10-round bout on Sept. 26 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. At least fight fans will get to see one fight broadcast in real time rather than in the butchered versions displayed throughout the rest of the series.

Only six fighters still have a shot at the $500,000 grand prize. Who do you think will win? Vote in our exclusive Contender poll.