The Contender, Episode 5: The Comeback Kid

Previously:

• Jeff was eliminated when, after feeling ill, he was diagnosed with chicken pox.
• To replace Jeff, both teams voted to return one of the three previously eliminated Contenders.
• Receiving the most votes, Peter Manfredo, Jr., returned to the gym.
• Team East won their first challenge, earning the right to decide who would fight.
• Najai stepped up to the line, and called out Sergio.
• The winner: Sergio Mora!

Reveling in his victory, Sergio is grateful that he won the match, and that both he and Najai emerged uninjured. Back in the loft, Alfonso muses that his team is “on top of the world.” With four straight losses, Team East is looking a bit dejected.

Sergio joins his family and girlfriend in a restaurant across the street. He’s excited that everyone got to see him win, and feels that his team is just taking the East apart. He tells us that he wants to do well in this competition so that his girlfriend’s family will respect him, as well as for his own family.

In the loft, Miguel tells Peter that he wants to fight him, and that he told his team he would fight whoever came back (looking for an easy way out?). Peter is still upset about his defeat by Alfonso, and plans to make a comeback and win the show.

In the morning, it’s back to work for all the contenders, and Peter’s getting a few pointers from Sly on working with resistance training. “Resistance, like in life, builds strength,” Sly says. Peter still doesn’t feel like he’s “on,” and Team West also notices that perhaps he’s not “all there.”

Miguel shows us an uncut key that was given to him by his coach, to symbolize the opportunities that can be unlocked by success. Miguel spars for a bit, and tells us that while he might not be the most skilled, he feels he is in peak shape, mentally, physically, and spiritually.

It is time for the awarding of this week’s golden glove to Sergio for winning his fight. For their reward, Team West is told to be ready to go out in their new suits that night. “If we don’t have a reward after a fight, it’s gonna feel weird,” says Jesse. Their mystery destination is described as “a desolate area in downtown L.A.,” but looks can be deceiving! Inside the plain, brick-fronted building is the home of Antonio Tarver, the current light-heavyweight world champion. The contenders instantly recognize Tarver and are all in awe of this man. Sergio tells us that Antonio Tarver has achieved what they are all striving for.

After some brief introductions, Antonio and the guys sit down for a poker game. During the course of conversation, Antonio advises them that if they keep winning in the ring, doors will open for them. Before the team departs, Antonio congratulates Sergio and awards him two round-trip airline tickets to the destination of his choice. Sergio is blown away!

While Team West enjoys the poker night, Team East stews back in the loft. Peter tells us that he thinks both teams should be getting rewards, because everyone is fighting their hardest. He hopes that he can win a great reward for his team when he wins his next bout.

The following day brings this week’s challenge, which takes place on Grant Avenue in front of the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Sugar Ray tells them it is an urban obstacle course. The teams will have to run through a “traffic jam” of parked cars, traverse several hurdles, and then collect tires from along the road until they reach a dumpster, where they will have to throw in all the collected tires. On the way back, they must push the filled dumpster back to the hurdles, complete the hurdles again, then search the parked cars for ten keys each. Back at the starting line, the keys will be used to unlock ten ladder rungs that will be used to assemble a ladder to the top of a tractor trailer. The first team with a member on top of the truck wins the challenge. Those who have already won their bouts for the West - Alfonso, Jesse, Ishe, and Sergio - will sit out. This leaves Miguel, Anthony, Tony, and Tarick from the West against Juan, Peter, Brent, and Jimmy from the East. Peter hopes that his team can win so that he won’t have to fight this week because he doesn’t feel ready yet.

At the start, Juan sprints out to an early lead for the East, but his teammates are lagging a bit. While all of these guys are in excellent shape, I’m surprised that Anthony and Tarick, two of the older contenders, can keep with Tony and Miguel. Team West builds a good lead while collecting tires and loading their dumpster. They are pushing the dumpster back to the hurdles as East is just arriving at the dumpster.

The West keeps their lead through the hurdles, quickly finds their ten keys, and have unlocked 2 or 3 rungs by the time the East arrives to the traffic jam. Although the East never gives up, Team West’s lead is insurmountable at this point. Miguel triumphantly climbs atop the truck, securing a victory for his team. The West Coast will decide the matchup for the next fight, and all the East can do in the meantime is wait.

The news comes quickly enough. In the gym, Miguel steps forward, and calls out Peter. Anthony feels that psychologically, Peter is already beaten. Still, Peter knows that if he must fight, he’s going to give it his all.

Peter visits his family in their Contender housing, and he doesn’t sound as pumped up as he used to. Perhaps the other contenders are correct in thinking that Peter’s previous loss to Alfonso - the first loss of his professional career - has taken a toll on him. His wife also notices that he’s lost some confidence, and while she wishes she could help get him psyched up, she acknowledges that this is something her husband will have to do on his own.

Once again, there is no press conference this week. Perhaps with Ahmed out of the picture, Ishe has no one to rail against, and the press conferences are consequently no longer entertaining enough to air! In their respective locker rooms, Peter and Miguel visit with their families before getting taped up. Sugar Ray Leonard stops by to wish each contender luck. Sugar Ray also tells Peter that when he lost to Duran, that was his own first loss, but he came back from it to win the world championship.