Mark Burnett’s 12-Episode Boxing Competition Series
From MGM Television and Paramount Television Set to Premiere on ఆగష్టు 24
LOS ANGELES – JUNE 27, 2018 - Premium pay television network EPIX® has announced the 16 fighters who will be facing off with one another for the championship belt on the revival of boxing franchise series పోటీదారు this fall. The highly anticipated 12-episode season, from MGM Television and Paramount Television, will premiere on EPIX on Aug. 24, 2018 వద్ద 10 PM ET/PT.
Hosted by undefeated boxing champion Andre “Son of God” Ward, the first-of-its-kind competitive documentary series for the network will feature 16 fighters pushing their limits in grueling elimination-style fights and testing their grit and determination to achieve their boxing dreams. The fighters will be overseen by legendary boxing coach Freddie Roach, and renowned Philadelphia trainer Naazim Richardson.
“The Contender takes unscripted TV to its grittiest. It has incredible professional fighters and real professional fights. The edge of your seat drama and true stories sets a tone that our audiences will be expecting and I love it,” said Mark Burnett, President of MGM Television.
“With this new iteration of పోటీదారు, the focus is on the gritty, personal stories of the fighters battling for boxing glory,” said Michael Wright, అధ్యక్షుడు, EPIX. “It was important for us to find individuals who not only displayed the boxing chops and resilience in the ring, but who also showed a depth of heart and humor outside of it. మా 16 fighters are vivacious, tough, funny, sensitive, driven and inspiring, and we are excited for our fans to get to know their stories and root for them inside the ring and out.”
ది 16 Contenders come from a wide variety of professional boxing backgrounds and stations in life, bringing their unique stories, personalities, strengths and motivations to the series.
Each fighter will be vying to be declared the new 160-pound middleweight champion of పోటీదారు and take home the winner’s six-figure purse — a prize, ఇది, for all the fighters, represents a better life for their families and loved ones who have been there with them through all the ups and downs of their journeys.
ది 16 fighters on పోటీదారు this season are:
- Ievgen “The Ukranian Lion” Khytrov, వయసు: 29, Rank: 20, పుట్టినఊరు: బ్రూక్లిన్, N.Y..– A Ukrainian immigrant, ఒలింపియన్, Ievgen Khytrov recently relocated to America to pursue his dream of becoming a world champion and to create a better life for his family. A dedicated, quiet, religious man. He’s also the one to beat.
- Eric “Babyface Assassin” Walker, వయసు: 34, Rank: 68, పుట్టినఊరు: Plaquemine, ది. – Incarcerated at 15 years old and spent 14 years behind bars for robbery and attempted murder, Eric “Babyface Assassin” Walker learned to box while in prison. He is now fighting for a second chance at life, living proof that it’s never too late to live out your dreams.
- John “Apollo Kid” Thompson, వయసు: 29, Rank: 70, పుట్టినఊరు: నెవార్క్, ఎన్.జే. – After losing his mother to AIDS at six years old, this married performing artist, painter and fighter, John “Apollo Kid” Thompson is here to prove to the world that he can’t be boxed into a single category despite holding impressive titles including the 2015 WBA-NABA Super Welterweight, WBO Inter-Continental Super Welterweight and Boxcino Tournaments.
- Malcolm “The Punisher” McAllister, వయసు: 27, Rank: 172, పుట్టినఊరు: Long Beach, కాలిఫోర్నియా. –Always at the center of schoolyard fights growing up, Malcolm “The Punisher” McAllister now channels his energy into helping others rebuild outside of foreclosure and his young, growing family. In boxing has built an impressive KO record and the 2014 Golden Gloves title on his journey to take the title of The Contender.
- Brandon “The Cannon” Adams, వయసు: 28, Rank: Inactive, పుట్టినఊరు: లాస్ ఏంజిల్స్, కాలిఫోర్నియా. – A bold fighter in the ring, Brandon “The Cannon” Adams knows firsthand what it means to push through adversity and step up to care for his family when there’s no one else around to. Coming from a poverty stricken neighborhood, this larger than life father of two marks his return to boxing after a three year hiatus, initiated by a loss to fellow competitor, జాన్ థామ్సన్.
- Quatavious “Cash” Cash, వయసు: 26, Rank: 161, పుట్టినఊరు: లాస్ వేగాస్, Nev. – This Atlanta native is the current record-holder for fastest KO in Georgia, a four0time Golden Gloves state champ and Bronze medalist. Quatavious Cash is fighting for his late mother and for the chance to prove that a life of fighting street gangs can be channeled for good.
- Shane “Sugarman” Mosley, జూనియర్, వయసు: 27, Rank: 149, పుట్టినఊరు: శాంటా మోనికా, కాలిఫోర్నియా. – The lone single contender, son of legendary Hall of Fame boxer “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Shane “Sugarman” Mosley Jr. is fighting to step out of his father’s shadow and carve out his own legacy.
- Daniel “El Chapulin” Valdivia, వయసు: 25, Rank: 116, పుట్టినఊరు: ట్యులేర్, కాలిఫోర్నియా. – A natural salesman and real estate agent by day, nicknamed “El Chapulin” (“Grasshopper”) for his boundless energy, Mexican immigrant Daniel Valdivia was born to step into the ring. With several titles including the NABF Super Welterweight Champion as an underdog, he’s chasing fame to prove giving up college for boxing was the right move.
- Michael “The Silverback” Moore, వయసు: 31, Rank: 252, పుట్టినఊరు:క్లీవ్ల్యాండ్, ఓహ్. – Reformed from a hard life on the streets, fraught with drugs, death and family suicide, Michael Moore is a natural hustler and leader. Married with two kids, Moore is constantly moving from state to state with his family in tow in pursuit of the boxing dream.
- Gerald “G5” Sherrell, వయసు: 24, Rank: 216, పుట్టినఊరు: పిట్స్బర్గ్, Pa. – A fan of the original Contenderseries growing up, Gerald “G5” Sherrell is an undefeated and explosive fighter with a level of unrivaled and self-proclaimed swagger. Hailing from the projects, this multiple time Golden Gloves, Silver Gloves and Junior Olympic competitor, this local zoo security guard by day, and young father by night, is looking to bring boxing glory back to his hometown of Pittsburgh.
- Morgan “Big Chief” Fitch, వయసు: 34, Rank: 154, పుట్టినఊరు: పిట్స్బర్గ్, Pa. – Injury-plagued throughout his career, the Native American hailing from Southern Louisiana is a married father of three. Knowing that he’s old for the sport, Morgan “Big Chief” Fitch has one last shot at making his boxing dreams come true.
- Marcos “Mad Man” Hernandez, వయసు: 24, Rank: 104, పుట్టినఊరు: ఫ్రెస్నో, కాలిఫోర్నియా. – Having been bullied from a young age after an accident left him with burns on 30 percent of his body, Marcos “Mad Man” Hernandez is fighting for his young autistic son, in hopes that he won’t be bullied the same way he was. With Junior Olympics, 2012 Blue and Gold titles and “Mexican-go-forward” style fighting he may be overlooked and underestimated.
- Tyrone “Young Gun” Brunson, వయసు: 33, Rank: 39, పుట్టినఊరు: ఫిలడెల్ఫియా, PA – At a time when he needed to sell drugs to support himself at the age of 13, a stepfather’s ultimatum: be grounded or go to the boxing gym was his saving grace. Now a humble father of two, and sitting with one of the best rankings in the competition, తన 24 KO’s send a signal that he will not fight silently but his cocky attitude has beat him more than just once.
- Lamar “Omega” Russ, వయసు: 31, Rank: 115, పుట్టినఊరు: Wilmington, ఎన్.సి. -One of four kids raised by a single mom and the first person in his family to graduate college, Lamar “Omega” Russ takes pride in being the underdog, and beneath the loud exterior is a boxer that needs to prove he can put his money where his mouth is. HBO, ESPN and a first round KO on Showtime do all the talking.
- John “The Rock” Jackson, వయసు: 29, Rank: 63, పుట్టినఊరు: సెయింట్. థామస్, U.S. వర్జిన్ దీవులు – A divorced father of two, this slick and agile boxer, Virgin Islander John “The Rock” Jackson started fighting at 12 పాత సంవత్సరాల, following in his world champion father Julian Jackson’s footsteps at the Pan American Games and 2008 ఒలింపిక్స్. He comes from wealth but cares for the underprivileged and dreams of making his island proud bringing visibility to those struck by recent natural disasters.
- Devaun “Unique” Lee, వయసు: 30, Rank: 82, పుట్టినఊరు: Jamaica Queens, N.Y..
When one of his friends was shot and killed at 16, Devaun “Unique” Lee knew he needed a way out from the mean streets of Queens. Boxing keeps him straight. So do long hours fueling airplanes and caring for his five year old daughter. The real love of his life. Fatherhood and the sport are the motivation to take his NY State Middleweight championship to the next level.
The original Contender series ran for four seasons (2005-2009) and launched multiple fighters into contention for world titles, including title winners Sergio Mora, కార్నెలియస్ Bundrage, Saki వృషభం, and Sam Soliman.
Eric Van Wagenen serves as executive producer and showrunner of the revived franchise alongside Mark Burnett. The format is owned by MGM Television and Paramount Television.
EPIX is available nationwide through cable, ఉపగ్రహ, telco and streaming TV providers including Charter Spectrum, Cox, వెరిజోన్ FiOS, AT&T U- వర్స్, Dish Network, Sling, PlayStation Vue and, as of June 13, Comcast.
