Hey, boxing fans, “The Contender” is back! The fifth season of producer Mark Burnett’s never-say-die boxing-reality show picks itself up off the mat and hits premium-cable channel EPIX on Friday, Aug. 24.
Not back are the cheesy challenges the boxers faced in an earlier incarnation of the show (which is on its fourth network and last left TV a couple of weeks before Obama’s first inauguration), but back are 16 swaggering middleweight fighters with hard-luck stories (and cute kids), ensconced in a swanky gym/loft/hangout/ultimate-mancave, fighting each week not to be voted off the ring.
Gone also are actors as co-hosts, and in comes retired undefeated boxer Andre “Son of God” Ward, who held multiple world titles in two weight classes, married his high-school sweetheart and is a devout Christian. He’s host, motivator and occasional sparring partner. Joining him are veteran trainers Naazim Richardson and Freddie Roach, coaching two teams of hungry boxers.
BTW, in the episodes I saw, there isn’t overt faith content, and there is lots of rough language (this is pay-cable). But there are some inspiring family stories. Unfortunately, unlike the NBC version many years ago, this is not viewing for youngsters.
A few months ago, I went down to “The Contender’s” location in an industrial section of South Los Angeles, a chunk of a furniture warehouse transformed into living and training quarters, production facilities and a small boxing arena.
Among the celebs on hand was former Green Beret Nate Boyer, a longsnapper who trained briefly with my team, the Seattle Seahawks, and has been instrumental in trying to broker peace among the NFL, its fans and players determined to protest during the national anthem (good luck, Nate!)
As for the contenders, most of the names won’t be known to anyone who doesn’t follow boxing, except for Shane “Sugarman” Mosley Jr., son of Hall of Fame boxer “Sugar” Shane Mosley. He’s had ups and downs in his career, and it’s evident from the first episode that his famous father has put him on everyone’s radar.
Naazim Richardson also sits him down for a serious chat to say just that.
During my visit, I had a sit-down of my own with Mosley. Here are some highlights:
What do you hope “The Contender” does for the sport as a whole?
Well, I hope … it could show the fighters in a different light. That we’re not beasts or animals. Everybody fights for something. You know what I mean?
No matter if it’s physically or with your work ethic, you’re still fighting for something. That we show, and that’s why people watch boxing or fighting in general, because even MMA, people like to watch somebody express that fighting spirit. They wanna see that as much as they wanna call it brutal or barbaric or what have you, it is still that hunger and that fight for something.
It’s you against really your fears. You against your preparation because it’s really not the other guy; it’s really all of the work that you put in, and he’s just there to test you.
That’s resilience. That’s all of the pain, all of the struggle, all of the happiness. And that’s everything that has gone on in this man’s life, or woman, before they get into that ring, and they bring that with them.
Maybe not completely in all the fight but in their intention, in their spirit and things like that. And people wanna see that and they love that. And so hopefully that this can shine on the fighters a little bit more and can bring more passion and more insight into our world and bring a big audience.
Because of your father’s success, boxing was only one of many options available to you. Why did you choose it?
It was a choice by me, and, ultimately, my environment played a lot in that. I was able to see the inside of an elite athlete. I see the mindset; I see the passion; I see all the hard work that goes into it, that it is dedication. I think that that was infectious to see and to learn from. So I think that when I got in the ring I was able to express that myself. I can’t say that it’s in my blood, I would to say that it’s more environmental.
But I love what I do. I love that fight. I love proving people wrong. I love that it’s only me. Yes, I have coaches, I have people that help me out, mentors, what have you. But when I get in that ring I have to bring it out. I have to improv. I have to do all of the things necessary for me to win.
So with that being said, I chose that and I think I realized that I could do anything that I wanted to do, but I loved to do this. I think everybody has a choice. I don’t think there’s not a person that, oh, just because they grew up in a bad neighborhood.
I’m a firm believer in that you always have an option. It is always up to you. Of course there are things that help you lean certain ways, and certain things that are stacked against you, but it doesn’t mean that you don’t have a choice. You always have a choice. And I chose this. This is the struggle I chose.
What’s it like to live in your father’s shadow — not just as a fighter but as someone who’s also coached you?
Realistically, I have myself to live up to. The only person I have to face in the mirror every day is the person in the mirror. That’s one of the reasons why I chose to not have my father as my coach anymore, because I didn’t want people to … every single time, when I went to a boxing match, he was my trainer, people would try to do an interview with him. “Oh, let me get a picture.” They’re not there to see me. They’re there to see him.
So that’s fine, if you guys don’t wanna see me, cool, but he’s not gonna be here as my trainer. Maybe he’ll be there in the arena or things like that, and you guys can bug him out there. But you won’t be bugging him by me. And if you guys don’t show up because I’m not that exciting to you, or I’m not that important to you right now, cool.
Me and him will still have our relationship. Me and him will still love each other, and it won’t be about boxing. And if I’m very lucky, I’ll be able to speak well, I’ll be able to have a career afterwards, whether it in whatever I chose it to be in. Business, modeling, TV, whatever, whatever I chose. Or if I wanna go become a psychologist because I actually think that it would be a good choice.
What’s the value in boxing?
One of the things that make boxing worthwhile is that it’s almost like creating a masterpiece in front of a whole bunch of people … It’s hard to explain, but it’s just like art in motion right now. And there’s something beautiful about that.
You don’t know what’s gonna happen but you’ve prepared. I’m gonna make this great art, and I’m gonna figure it out in front of everybody. And there’s something cool about that when it all goes your way. And when it doesn’t …
It hurts.
But you crave that. Anybody that loves to create their own story, anybody that loves the passion of just fighting for something, will understand how great of a feeling it is to do that improvisation in front of everybody. Because, when it happens, it is amazing. When you make magic it is amazing; there is no feeling like it.
Does faith play a role in your life?
Absolutely. I can’t say I committed to a religion, but I do pray every single day. And I do believe that there is a higher calling to life. Whether it be in here, further or from my family or what have you, I feel like there is a higher calling in my life and I’m grateful for it. I was fortunate. I’m definitely blessed.
“The Contender” premieres Friday, Aug. 24, at 9 p.m. ET/PT; official Website here.
Here’s the teaser trailer; more videos here.
Image: Courtesy EPIX/Kate O’Hare
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