By Jackie Kallen
When “The Contender” hit the airwaves in 2005, they predicted that they would change the face of boxing. They scoured the country for the best 154-pounders they could find. Through 5-round elimination matches, they narrowed the field down each week until they crowned a winner.
The finale was held at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas on May 24, 2005 and it was down to Sergio Mora against Peter Manfredo, jr. They were both fan favorites on the show and it was an exciting fight.
At the end, one man was left standing: Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora. From California, Mora won the $1,000,000 grand prize and was hoping to be the new boxing superstar. Winning the contender belt was supposed to be the first step toward becoming the undisputed, unified Champion of the World.
However, the plot did not go as planned. Last Friday night, Mora faced a 45-11 opponent named Jose Alfredo Flores at the Fantasy Springs Casino. Flores retired in the 7th to hand Mora the win, but this is probably not where Mora envisioned he’d be in 2011. The fight is at 160 pounds and Mora is not exactly at the top of the middleweight heap.
Another Sergio (Martinez) rules the roost and Boxrec.com lists Mora as #20. Peter Manfred, jr, whom Mora beat to win “The Contender” is at #15. Interesting twist of fate, but I’m sure it has a lot to do with the fact that Mora lost two out of his last four fights. In 2008 he lost to the late Vernon Forrest and in his fight last February, he lost to Brian Vera. In between those two, he had a draw with Shane Mosley. Manfredo has won his last six in a row.
Mora is under the promotional banner of Golden Boy and I know they have solid plans for The Latin Snake. He is only 30 years old and has a lot of mileage left. But with only six knockouts in his 26 fights, he has not proven to be a crowd-thriller. He usually gets the job done, but not in a spectacular fashion.
I imagine Mora would love the chance to mix it up with Martinez. That would be a big fight for him. Or is another clash with Manfredo, jr. in the future? That might be the one fight that stirs things up for Mora and advances him in the division. Fans of “The Contender” would love to see these two go toe-to-toe again. Mora’s eyes will no doubt be peeled on the Manfredo jr., /Chavez, jr., fight on November 19 in Texas.
Manfredo has a much tougher opponent than Mora just had. Chavez, jr, is 43-0 and is a hot commodity, but anything is possible in boxing. The middleweight division is a hot one with Martinez, Felix Sturm and Andy Lee in the thick of things. It will be fun to see how it all shakes out.
“The Contender” is no longer on the air, but the fans are still following the careers of the original participants. Who will ultimately be at the top of the heap? Time will tell.
Jackie Kallen is a boxing manager who has been in the business for over three decades. Her life inspired the Meg Ryan film “Against the Ropes” and she was a part of the NBC series “The Contender.” www.JackieKallen.com, www.facebook.com/JackieKallen
Kennethmek
11/13/2024 at 5:30 am
rybpharm rybelsus: buy rybelsus – semaglutide
RobertJam
11/14/2024 at 4:03 am
ED pills non prescription: best ed pills online – erepharm.com
DennisBlast
11/14/2024 at 4:52 am
lasix: cheapest lasix – furosemide furpharm.com
Curtispam
11/14/2024 at 1:21 pm
buy kamagra oral jelly Kam Pharm [url=https://kampharm.shop/#]kamagra[/url] buy kamagra oral jelly Kam Pharm
RobertdUs
11/14/2024 at 7:00 pm
http://erepharm.com/# ED meds online with insurance
LloydKnilk
11/14/2024 at 10:43 pm
http://furpharm.com/# cheapest lasix
Curtispam
11/15/2024 at 1:42 am
kam pharm shop [url=https://kampharm.shop/#]Kamagra Kam Pharm[/url] buy kamagra oral jelly Kam Pharm
Jamiewrats
11/15/2024 at 1:27 pm
http://indianpharmacyeasy.com/# indian pharmacies safe
Jamiewrats
11/15/2024 at 6:51 pm
http://indianpharmacyeasy.com/# pharmacy website india
Bradleyboack
11/15/2024 at 6:52 pm
https://canadiandrugsgate.com/# pump for ed
LarryMex
11/15/2024 at 11:15 pm
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa: mexican drugstore online – mexican mail order pharmacies
JefferyBep
11/16/2024 at 12:07 am
best ed treatment: Best Canadian pharmacy – cheap drugs online
Jamiewrats
11/16/2024 at 6:02 am
http://mexicanpharmgate.com/# п»їbest mexican online pharmacies
LarryMex
11/16/2024 at 2:35 pm
mexican rx online: Mexican Pharmacy Gate – mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs
Bradleyboack
11/16/2024 at 4:45 pm
http://indianpharmacyeasy.com/# buy medicines online in india
Bradleyboack
11/17/2024 at 3:10 am
https://canadiandrugsgate.com/# sexual dysfunction in men
LarryMex
11/17/2024 at 5:55 pm
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa: mexicanpharmgate.com – best online pharmacies in mexico
DerekAquag
11/18/2024 at 7:33 am
prednisone 0.5 mg: Prednisone Without Prescription – no prescription prednisone canadian pharmacy
Danielbal
11/18/2024 at 10:08 am
amoxicillin brand name http://prednisoneraypharm.com/# online prednisone 5mg
Brandenbor
11/18/2024 at 2:16 pm
dapoxetine online: priligy maxpharm – dapoxetine price
Danielbal
11/18/2024 at 6:45 pm
buy amoxicillin 500mg online http://prednisoneraypharm.com/# prednisone 15 mg tablet
DerekAquag
11/19/2024 at 12:15 am
generic clomid price: can i buy cheap clomid price – can i buy generic clomid without insurance
Brandenbor
11/19/2024 at 2:03 am
amoxicillin without prescription: Amoxicillin for sale – generic amoxicillin online
Danielbal
11/19/2024 at 5:15 am
amoxicillin 500mg capsules uk https://priligymaxpharm.com/# dapoxetine online
Bradleyboack
11/19/2024 at 6:25 am
amoxicillin 500mg capsule cost [url=https://amoxilcompharm.com/#]cheap amoxil[/url] amoxicillin 500 mg online
StevenDuamb
11/19/2024 at 12:01 pm
amoxicillin over counter: amoxil com pharm – amoxicillin canada price
Brandenbor
11/19/2024 at 1:02 pm
prednisone 1mg purchase: generic Prednisone – canada buy prednisone online
DerekAquag
11/19/2024 at 4:36 pm
prednisone 475: raypharm – order prednisone online canada
Brandenbor
11/19/2024 at 11:50 pm
buy prednisone no prescription: raypharm – order prednisone online canada
DerekAquag
11/20/2024 at 6:39 am
buy dapoxetine online: dapoxetine online – buy priligy max pharm
Brandenbor
11/20/2024 at 9:02 am
max pharm: dapoxetine online – dapoxetine price
Brandenbor
11/20/2024 at 7:45 pm
prednisone 20mg: prednisoneraypharm – can i buy prednisone online without a prescription
DerekAquag
11/20/2024 at 9:51 pm
priligy max pharm: dapoxetine price – buy dapoxetine online
Bernardbex
11/21/2024 at 3:32 pm
buy plavix [url=https://plavixclo.com/#]plavix best price[/url] buy plavix
Albertjoibe
11/21/2024 at 4:46 pm
antiplatelet drug: plavix medication – plavix best price
Davidabono
11/21/2024 at 5:10 pm
mexican drugstore online http://mexicanpharmgate.com/ medicine in mexico pharmacies
Brandenbor
11/22/2024 at 12:27 am
can you buy generic clomid without insurance: buy clomid – cost generic clomid now
Albertjoibe
11/22/2024 at 7:59 am
minocycline warnings: iver fast – ivermectin price uk
Bernardbex
11/22/2024 at 12:59 pm
buy cytotec online fast delivery [url=https://cytpremium.com/#]cyt premium[/url] order cytotec online
Brandenbor
11/22/2024 at 2:03 pm
order clomid without rx: rexpharm – how can i get clomid no prescription