The Contender (2005–2018)

1. S01E01Gomez/ManfredoMarch 7, 2005—Sixteen of the best middleweight fighters in the United States arrive in Los Angeles at the Contender Gymnasium. Each week, the boxers will
2. S01E02Brinkley/ReidMarch 10, 2005—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
3. S01E03Smith/KaddourMarch 13, 2005—The tension between Ishe and Ahmed reaches a boiling point when West wins the third challenge, a dodgeball game, and Ishe challenges Ahmed t
4. S01E04Mora/TurpinMarch 20, 2005—The teams reconvene after the fight between Ishe and Ahmed, and everyone seems glad that Ahmed was outed. Jeff begins to feel ill, and afte
5. S01E05The Best Fights*March 27, 2005—The first four Contender fights are recapped as Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard host, pointing out what went wrong about the fight,
6. S01E06Espino/ManfredoMarch 27, 2005—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 a
7. S01E07Bonsante/CooperApril 3, 2005—After feeling their first loss of the game, the West Coast team set lineups for the next three weeks - beginning with Anthony (West) versus
8. S01E08Salamaci/De La RosaApril 10, 2005—Tensions are still surrounding the West Coast from last week's "betrayal" with Anthony choosing not to fight Jimmy Lange. Ishe Smith opts n
9. S01E09Lange/GilbertApril 17, 2005—After his tough fight the week before, Juan De La Rosa feels terrible. The show must go on, however, and the remaining two contestants who
10. S01E10Mora/SmithApril 24, 2005—After returning home from Las Vegas, the fighters are forced to vote someone back into the competition. In order to throw Ishe off, a new a
11. S01E11Gomez/KaddourApril 24, 2005—Things take a turn to the good in the house when everyone is able to see their family during the next challenge of the competition. The cha
12. S01E12Manfredo/GilbertMay 1, 2005—Since he beat Ahmed in the last challenge, Alfonso was able to choose someone for his reward. He picked Sergio (because Sergio picked him l
13. S01E13Brinkley/BonsanteMay 8, 2005—Despite being shaken up and being forced to lose ten pounds, so as to qualify for his weight range, Jesse goes through with his fight with A
14. S01E14Manfredo/GomezMay 15, 2005—The stakes are raised when the Stallone and Leonard announce that the last three fights will be seven rounds instead of the usual five, and
15. S01E15Mora/BrinkleyMay 22, 2005—Jesse, who knows that he has a big fight to win against Sergio if he wants to be a part of the finale, an amazing opportunity to win $1 mill
16. S01E16Gomez/BrinkleyMay 24, 2005—In Las Vegas at Caesar's Palace, Sergio Mora and Peter Manfredo Jr. arrive to slug it out in a seven-round fight for $1,000,000. Preceded by
17. S01E17Mora/ManfredoMay 24, 2005—In Las Vegas at Caesar's Palace, Sergio Mora and Peter Manfredo Jr. arrive to slug it out in a seven-round fight for $1,000,000. Preceded b

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

1. S02E01The First Will Be the Last and the Last Will Be the First/Clark/BundrageJuly 18, 2006—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 b
2. S02E02Power of Choice/Cisneros/BravoJuly 18, 2006—Part two of the season premiere, this episode features an all out boxing war between Norberto "El Gallito" Bravo and Rudy Cisneros.
3. S02E03First in the Kitchen/Balletto/TorresJuly 25, 2006—Week 3 of The Contender found plenty of tension among the competitors. After harsh words between boxers, it was finally decided that Aaron
4. S02E04Let 'Em Sweat/Wright/EasonAugust 1, 2006—More drama is brewing between Grady Brewer and Vinroy Barrett, but Walter Wright steps up for an "easy" fight, and challenges a dtermined, b
5. S02E05Old Rivals/Barrett/BrewerAugust 8, 2006—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
6. S02E06Friendly FireAugust 15, 2006—
7. S02E07Be The Man, You Have Got To Beat The ManAugust 22, 2006—Coming Soon!
8. S02E08The Elite EightAugust 29, 2006—Coming Soon!
9. S02E09Dog FightSeptember 5, 2006—Coming Soon!
10. S02E10Por La RasaSeptember 12, 2006—Coming Soon!
11. S02E11Final FourSeptember 19, 2006—Coming Soon!
12. S02E12Championship BoutSeptember 26, 2006—Coming Soon!

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

1. S03E01The Contender TryoutsSeptember 4, 2007—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 Leona
2. S03E02We're at the Dance Now, Baby!September 11, 2007—Conflict erupts between two old rivals; the fighters receive a visit from Oscar de la Hoya.
3. S03E03Don't Tell Me Who You Are. Show Me Who You Are.September 18, 2007—The second first-round bout is on tap, with the Gold team owning the "power of choice." Sugar Ray Leonard hosts.
4. S03E04The Big GunsSeptember 25, 2007—One fighter gets bad news from home while another looks to prove himself against a tough foe in the third elimination bout. Seven boxers wil
5. S03E05There Ain't No QuittingOctober 3, 2007—The last two first-round matchups are determined as the boxers feel pressure to advance to the semifinals. Sugar Ray Leonard hosts.
6. S03E06Gunnin' For the KnockoutOctober 9, 2007—The final first-round bout is held, after which four semifinalists will be determined. Host: Sugar Ray Leonard.
7. S03E07No Turning BackOctober 16, 2007—The semifinal matchups are set; season 1 favourite Alfonso Gomez battles Ben Tackie in a welterweight bout from Staples Center in Los Angele
8. S03E08Bringing the PainOctober 23, 2007—Jaidon Codrington vs. Wayne Johnsen in an eight-round semifinal bout.
9. S03E09Nothing Will Stop Me From Winning This FightOctober 30, 2007—Australian countrymen Sam Soliman and Sakio Bika square off in an eight-round semifinal. The winner makes the Nov. 6 final in Boston. Host:
10. S03E10The Contender 3 FinaleNovember 6, 2007—Jaidon Codrington and Sakio Bika square off in the 10-round Season 3 finale in Boston. A $750,000 grand prize is on the line. Sugar Ray Leon
11. S03E11One More Step to the Big ShowFebruary 18, 2009—Troy Ross vs. Akinyemi "A.K." Laleye; Ehinomen "Hino" Ehikhamenor vs. Rico Hoye.
12. S03E12FinaleFebruary 25, 2009—Troy Ross vs. Ehinomen "Hino" Ehikhamenor; from the MGM Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut.

Season 3 ranked & reviewed

1. S04E01A Better TomorrowDecember 3, 2008—Sixteen cruiserweights arrive in Singapore; first elimination.
2. S04E02I Can't Believe I Have to WaitDecember 10, 2008—The first elimination causes a shift in power; fighters clash over who should compete next; and an injury could end one contestant's dream.
3. S04E03It's Like a Mixture of Fear and VictoryDecember 17, 2008—Team Gold receives a wake-up call; trouble brews between fighters during training; and a boxer takes on a slugger in the tournament.
4. S04E04Punches With Bad IntentionsDecember 24, 2008—Team Gold learns a tough lesson; a rivalry brews between two fighters; and harsh words are exchanged in the loft.
5. S04E05Don't Look for It...Work for ItJanuary 7, 2009—One fighter battles injury, while another struggles with his weight.
6. S04E06Brothers for LifeJanuary 14, 2009—Fighters get their first taste of traditional Chinese medicine when an Asian Master visits. Also: two friends square off in the ring.
7. S04E07The End of the BeginningJanuary 21, 2009—The first round comes to a close as the final four fighters battle for the last two spots in the second round.
8. S04E08First QuarterfinalJanuary 28, 2009—The second round begins after the remaining fighters are treated to a reward Singapore-style.
9. S04E09Second QuarterfinalFebruary 4, 2009—Alfredo Escalera and AK Laleye settle their differences in the ring; and a new grudge is formed.
10. S04E10The Third and Fourth QuaterfinalsFebruary 11, 2009—Joell Godfrey gets a second chance in the tournament; and spots in the final four are at stake.
11. S04E11One More Step to the Big ShowFebruary 18, 2009—The final four face off in the semifinal.
12. S04E12FinaleFebruary 25, 2009—Troy Ross and Ehinomen Ehikhamenor square off in the season finale.
13. S04E13Episode 13February 25, 2009—

Season 4 ranked & reviewed

1. S05E01Why Weight?August 24, 2018—Sixteen boxers move into a training facility to compete in the Contender tournament; two fighters have a verbal altercation outside the ring
2. S05E02Fighting to LiveAugust 31, 2018—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
3. S05E03Who Wants It More?September 7, 2018—The winning team is riding high from their victory and is hungry for another; one fighter plays mind games with the other team, while anothe
4. S05E04Protect Your PeaceSeptember 14, 2018—One team continues to reign while the other remains discouraged; observant behavior initiates a guessing game of who will be called out next
5. S05E05IndecisionSeptember 21, 2018—Tension between the teams rises as one fighter continues his antics, keeping the opposing team on edge; one fighter gets to spend time with
6. S05E06LegacySeptember 28, 2018—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 heat
7. S05E07No Easy RoundOctober 5, 2018—A former Olympian, a world record holder, a boxer who hasn't fought in three years and one of the older boxers in the house all fight for th
8. S05E08Heart of the FightOctober 12, 2018—It's every fighter for himself in the second round of The Contender Tournament as former teammates must prepare to battle; a special guest d
9. S05E09Poetry in MotionOctober 19, 2018—One fighter faces a doctor's evaluation to decide whether he can continue in the tournament; another fighter nearly gets into a fight with a
10. S05E10Heart and BallsOctober 26, 2018—Friends become foes in the last two quarterfinal bouts; with the semifinals just around the corner, one fighter tries to refocus, while anot
11. S05E11Friends and FoesNovember 2, 2018—The final four contenders face off in the semifinals; two season-long rivals battle, while another match involves two fighters who have buil
12. S05E12Season FinaleNovember 9, 2018—After their arduous journeys, the top two fighters go head-to-head in a battle for the $250,000 prize and the ultimate title of "The Contend
13. S05E13Fight 13February 25, 2009—

Season 5 ranked & reviewed