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“The Contender Australia” Arrives
27-Oct-09 02:12
By Paul Upham: This coming Monday night November 2 sees the arrival of The Contender Australia to the screens of FOX8 on cable television ‘down under’. The officially licensed spin off from Mark Burnett’s American version replicates the four original boxing series with one major difference. The eventual champion not only receives a title belt and large cash prize, but also a guaranteed fight with world champion Anthony “The Man” Mundine in 2010.
There were many obstacles to overcome in getting a reality program such as this off the ground. That it has reached the viewing audience intact is a testament to the foresight, ingenuity and persistence of Foxtel’s Head of Production Sally Goodman and her dedicated team.
As the television executives found out very quickly, trying to get fourteen professional boxers to do anything at the same time is kind of like trying to herd cats.
Just finding the boxers for the show was an adventure in itself. Close to fifty boxers from Australia and New Zealand were considered and approached at super middleweight, middleweight and junior middleweight. Some had no interest, while others wanted to know where to sign-on then and there.
Almost half of those initially short-listed were formally interviewed by a five member selection panel over two days in Sydney. Very early on it was made clear to those involved that this program was not just about the boxing. The stories of all of those boxers eventually selected would be told and for the drama aspect of the network, it was important to get the right personality mix amongst the most interesting boxers available.
Like the combat in the ring, the selection process was unpredictable and a number of tweaks and changes were made to the competing list of fourteen boxers, even in the final days before they entered training camp, where they would have no contact from the outside world. No mobile phones, no computers and no family or friends.
Filmed at a secret location in Sydney over a ten week period in August and September 2009, The Contender gymnasium and fight arena, which were purposely built in two of the Homebush showground pavilions, perfectly replicated the American series
The concept of boxers living together and competing in group and individual challenges, but ultimately having to defeat each other for the right to face Mundine for cash and prizes plus a pay cheque of $250,000, was always going to make for compelling viewing.
While the contents of what exactly will be seen is as closely guarded as the results of the fights themselves, one television executive told me, “I’ve been shedding tears watching some of the episodes, it is quite often so moving.”
When it comes to the sudden elimination boxing matches, held over five rounds at super middleweight, all you need to know is that the boxers are competing for big money and a once in a lifetime dream. Nothing is held back in pursuit of victory.
The Contender Australia series will screen for one hour each Monday night on the FOX8 channel at 8:30pm AEDT and will run for ten consecutive weeks leading up to the live final on Monday January 11, 2010. This will be the co-main event on an Anthony Mundine fight night, most likely to be held in Sydney.
On Friday, I will have a feature article at SecondsOut.com.au looking closely at all of the fourteen contenders in the tournament and their prospects of success in this very unique environment.
Paul Upham
Content Editor, SecondsOut.com
uppy@optusnet.com.au
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