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The Best Episodes of The Contender

Every episode of The Contender ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Contender!

The Best Episodes of The Contender

A reality television series that follows a group of boxers as they compete with one another in an elimination-style competition, while their lives and relationships...
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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Contender Season 3 Episode 1 - The Contender Tryouts
    7.8/10(6 votes)

    #1 - The Contender Tryouts

    S3:E1

    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 Leonard and produced by Mark Burnett ("Survivor," "The Apprentice"). Each episode ends with a five-round elimination bout. Buddy McGirt and Jose Correa are trainers.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Contender Season 2 Episode 1 - The First Will Be the Last and the Last Will Be the First/Clark/Bundrage
    7.4/10(6 votes)

    #2 - The First Will Be the Last and the Last Will Be the First/Clark/Bundrage

    S2:E1

    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 become the next Contender Champion. This episode features the first fight of the season between Cornelius "K-9" Bundrage and Michael Clark.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Contender Season 2 Episode 12 - Championship Bout
    7.4/10(7 votes)

    #3 - Championship Bout

    S2:E12

    Coming Soon!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Contender Season 1 Episode 11 - Gomez/Kaddour
    7.1/10(17 votes)

    #4 - Gomez/Kaddour

    S1:E11

    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 challenge, to haul your family member around a horsetrack, makes Peter Manfredo into a winner, and lets him choose who would be fighting that night. He chooses Alfonso Gomez and Ahmed Kaddour to fight, and Alfonso easily claims victory, putting him into the final four instantly.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Contender Season 1 Episode 1 - Gomez/Manfredo
    7.0/10(31 votes)

    #5 - Gomez/Manfredo

    S1:E1

    Sixteen of the best middleweight fighters in the United States arrive in Los Angeles at the Contender Gymnasium. Each week, the boxers will train at this gymnasium and, with the support of their families who are now living close by, will vie to win $1,000,000 if they win a fight at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Teams are divided into East and West and in the first challenge, the winner of which decides the matchup for the fight that week (one fighter from each team), the players must haul three logs up a steep hill. West comes out victorious, and choose Alfonso Gomez and Peter Manfredo as the contenders of the night. In a suprising fight, Alfonso, with help from his father, mother and family, beats Peter, who has his wife and daughter to cheer him on.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Contender Season 1 Episode 8 - Salamaci/De La Rosa
    6.9/10(19 votes)

    #6 - Salamaci/De La Rosa

    S1:E8

    Tensions are still surrounding the West Coast from last week's "betrayal" with Anthony choosing not to fight Jimmy Lange. Ishe Smith opts not to take a part in the reward for Anthony's win, saying that he doesn't feel right celebrating a win that he didn't want. At the challenge, the teams knock down graffiti-covered walls and load their debris into the back of a new car, and in the end West wins, giving them a choice of the matchup, ultimatley deciding the matchup for the next week as well, by process of elimination. Tarick chooses to call out Juan, the youngest player in the game, and in the fight, Juan surprises everyone by beating Tarick. On his way out of the Contender Gymnasium, Tarick says that he feels relieved that he finally got his shot.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Contender

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  7. The Contender Season 1 Episode 9 - Lange/Gilbert
    6.9/10(20 votes)

    #7 - Lange/Gilbert

    S1:E9

    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 have not won a fight, Joey Gilbert and Jimmy Lange, prepare for their fights. In the ring, Joey beats out Jimmy in a close fight, and Joey is given a ticket to the second round while Jimmy is sent home. After, Juan quits due to his injuries, and Sly and Sugar Ray take the remaining boxers to Caesar's Palace to give them a glimpse of what a champion's life is like - filled with girls, money, and greatness.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Contender Season 5 Episode 1 - Why Weight?
    6.8/10(6 votes)

    #8 - Why Weight?

    S5:E1

    Sixteen boxers move into a training facility to compete in the Contender tournament; two fighters have a verbal altercation outside the ring; the two teams choose fighters to represent them in the first fight of the tournament.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Contender Season 1 Episode 4 - Mora/Turpin
    6.7/10(18 votes)

    #9 - Mora/Turpin

    S1:E4

    The teams reconvene after the fight between Ishe and Ahmed, and everyone seems glad that Ahmed was outed. Jeff begins to feel ill, and after consulting a doctor, he finds out that he has chicken pox and that he must leave the entire tournament. In his place, Stallone tells the remaining contenders to vote one person back into the game. Peter Manfredo, jr. from Episode 1 is voted back in with a vote of 8-4 (the other votes being for Jonathan Reid). Later, at the challenge, the East Coast pulls their car to the finish line the fastest, and they choose Najai Turpin to fight Sergio Mora. At the boxing match, Najai gives it all he has but is defeated by a surprisingly strong Sergio.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Contender Season 1 Episode 6 - Espino/Manfredo
    6.7/10(17 votes)

    #10 - Espino/Manfredo

    S1:E6

    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 afraid to lose again. At the challenge, which tests versatility, West wins again, and is able to choose the matchup for that night. Miguel Espino chooses to fight Manfredo. At the fight, Manfredo conquers his fears of losing and wins the match, sending an ashamed and sad Miguel packing.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Contender Season 1 Episode 15 - Mora/Brinkley
    6.7/10(18 votes)

    #11 - Mora/Brinkley

    S1:E15

    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 million, feels exhausted after his fight with Anthony only days before. Despite support from both family and friends, Jesse gets beaten up badly by Sergio; Jesse comes out of the fight scarred and bruised. Sergio wins the seven-round fight, ensuring him a position in the prestigious final fight at Caesar's Palace.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Contender Season 1 Episode 2 - Brinkley/Reid
    6.6/10(23 votes)

    #12 - Brinkley/Reid

    S1:E2

    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 wimps out and the team reluctantly allows Jesse Brinkley to challenge veteran Jonathan Reid to the second round of fighting of the show. Tempers flare when Jesse accuses Ishe of betraying his team by rooting for Jonathan instead of himself. Later, in the second surprising upset of the game, Jesse Brinkley defeats Jonathan Reid in a close match of fighting.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Contender Season 2 Episode 3 - First in the Kitchen/Balletto/Torres
    6.4/10(6 votes)

    #13 - First in the Kitchen/Balletto/Torres

    S2:E3

    Week 3 of The Contender found plenty of tension among the competitors. After harsh words between boxers, it was finally decided that Aaron Torres would fight for the Blue team, and he called out Gary Balletto.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Contender Season 4 Episode 10 - The Third and Fourth Quaterfinals
    6.4/10(6 votes)

    #14 - The Third and Fourth Quaterfinals

    S4:E10

    Joell Godfrey gets a second chance in the tournament; and spots in the final four are at stake.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Contender Season 1 Episode 14 - Manfredo/Gomez
    6.3/10(18 votes)

    #15 - Manfredo/Gomez

    S1:E14

    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 that the matchups will be decided by the four boxers themselves - and all of the fighters would have to agree. A rematch is decided between Peter Manfredo Jr. and Alfonso Gomez Jr, who fight in their match at the end of this episode. Manfredo comes out the winner, sending him to the finals, and sending Alfonso packing.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Contender Season 1 Episode 5 - The Best Fights*
    6.2/10(16 votes)

    #16 - The Best Fights*

    S1:E5

    The first four Contender fights are recapped as Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard host, pointing out what went wrong about the fight, and what the winner did right.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Contender Season 1 Episode 12 - Manfredo/Gilbert
    6.2/10(16 votes)

    #17 - Manfredo/Gilbert

    S1:E12

    Since he beat Ahmed in the last challenge, Alfonso was able to choose someone for his reward. He picked Sergio (because Sergio picked him last time) and the two went on a shopping spree. With injuries abound, Anthony did not compete in the challenge, which Jesse won. Jesse, who makes sure he has the easiest fight the next week, matches up Peter Manfredo and Joey Gilbert, leaving Anthony and Jesse to fight next week. After a lot of training and some more inspiration from their families, Peter and Joey fight a good fight, but the two accidentally headbut, cutting Joey's face and ending the fight midway through the fifth round.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The Contender Season 2 Episode 4 - Let 'Em Sweat/Wright/Eason
    6.2/10(6 votes)

    #18 - Let 'Em Sweat/Wright/Eason

    S2:E4

    More drama is brewing between Grady Brewer and Vinroy Barrett, but Walter Wright steps up for an "easy" fight, and challenges a dtermined, but ultimately not in shape Andre Eason.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Contender Season 2 Episode 5 - Old Rivals/Barrett/Brewer
    6.2/10(6 votes)

    #19 - Old Rivals/Barrett/Brewer

    S2:E5

    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 it home by Unanimous decision.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Contender Season 2 Episode 6 - Friendly Fire
    6.2/10(6 votes)

    #20 - Friendly Fire

    S2:E6

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The Contender Season 2 Episode 8 - The Elite Eight
    6.2/10(6 votes)

    #21 - The Elite Eight

    S2:E8

    Coming Soon!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The Contender Season 2 Episode 9 - Dog Fight
    6.2/10(6 votes)

    #22 - Dog Fight

    S2:E9

    Coming Soon!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. The Contender Season 2 Episode 10 - Por La Rasa
    6.2/10(6 votes)

    #23 - Por La Rasa

    S2:E10

    Coming Soon!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. The Contender Season 1 Episode 7 - Bonsante/Cooper
    6.0/10(22 votes)

    #24 - Bonsante/Cooper

    S1:E7

    After feeling their first loss of the game, the West Coast team set lineups for the next three weeks - beginning with Anthony (West) versus Jimmy. When West wins the challenge, Anthony chooses not to pick to fight Jimmy because Jimmy's arms are too long, and that challenges him. He does what is best for him, not for his team, and chooses to fight Brent Cooper, a former Alcoholic who turned to religion. That night, all of the other fighters - even Anthony's team - exclude him and wish Brent all the good luck in the world, leading to an explosive pre-fight press conference and an even more explosive fight - Anthony's determination results in a quick win, and only three out of the five rounds need to be fought. Brent is sent packing by Sly, and Anthony's team wishes bad luck upon him.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. The Contender Season 1 Episode 13 - Brinkley/Bonsante
    6.0/10(14 votes)

    #25 - Brinkley/Bonsante

    S1:E13

    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 Anthony, who has been training harder than ever in order to make his children proud. At the Pre-Fight Press Conference, Jesse and Anthony have a falling out, but at the fight, Jesse has the last word. He knocks out Anthony and becomes the final Contender player to make it to the Final Four.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Contender Tryouts" is the best rated episode of "The Contender". It scored 7.8/10 based on 6 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/4/2007. This episode scored 0.4 points higher than the second highest rated, "The First Will Be the Last and the Last Will Be the First/Clark/Bundrage".