ESPN KOs The Contender

After one season on NBC and two on ESPN, it appears that the boxing reality series The Contender may be down for the count. While ESPN announced that it will not be renewing, there is a chance that the series will find a home on another network.

Many fight fans have had a love-hate relationship with The Contender but - on the whole - it has to be viewed as a positive for the sport. On the minus side, the fight coverage was usually edited for dramatic effect and the result tended to be annoying - especially to real fight fans. On the plus side, there is no question the series humanized and boosted the careers of its participants. Both up-and-comers and more seasoned pros have become headliners as a result of their exposure on The Contender. Peter Manfredo Jr. and Alfonso Gomez have received title shots, and Steve Forbes is awaiting a major payday with Oscar De La Hoya.

If the series is finished, then it went out on a high note. The season three finale in which Sakio Bika outslugged Jaidon Codrington over eight back-and-forth rounds was a legitimate Fight of the Year candidate.

Trivia Question: Who were The Contender champs in seasons One and Two?