BANNER PROMOTIONS FIGHTER BRANDON ADAMS TO PARTICIPATE ON THE CONTENDER
LOS ANGELES – JUNE 27, 2018 – Premium pay television network EPIX® has
announced the 16 fighters who will be facing off with one another for the
championship belt on the revival of boxing franchise series The Contender
this fall. The highly anticipated 12-episode season, from MGM Television
and Paramount Television, will premiere on EPIX on Aug. 24, 2018 at 10 PM ET
/PT.
Hosted by undefeated boxing champion Andre “Son of God” Ward, the
first-of-its-kind competitive documentary series for the network will
feature 16 fighters pushing their limits in grueling elimination-style
fights and testing their grit and determination to achieve their boxing
dreams. The fighters will be overseen by legendary boxing coach Freddie
Roach,and renowned Philadelphia trainer Naazim Richardson.
“The Contender takes unscripted TV to its grittiest. It has incredible
professional fighters and real professional fights. The edge of your seat
drama and true stories sets a tone that our audiences will be expecting and
I love it,” said Mark Burnett, President of MGM Television.
“With this new iteration of The Contender, the focus is on the gritty,
personal stories of the fighters battling for boxing glory,” said Michael
Wright, President, EPIX. “It was important for us to find individuals who
not only displayed the boxing chops and resilience in the ring, but who
also showed a depth of heart and humor outside of it. Our 16 fighters are
vivacious, tough, funny, sensitive, driven and inspiring, and we are
excited for our fans to get to know their stories and root for them inside
the ring and out.”
The 16 Contenders come from a wide variety of professional boxing
backgrounds and stations in life, bringing their unique stories,
personalities, strengths and motivations to the series.
Each fighter will be vying to be declared the new 160-pound middleweight
champion of The Contender and take home the winner’s six-figure purse – a
prize, which, for all the fighters, represents a better life for their
families and loved ones who have been there with them through all the ups
and downs of their journeys.
The 16 fighters on The Contender this season are:
– Ievgen “The Ukranian Lion” Khytrov, Age: 29, Rank: 20, Hometown:
Brooklyn, N.Y.- A Ukrainian immigrant, Olympian, Ievgen Khytrov recently
relocated to America to pursue his dream of becoming a world champion and
to create a better life for his family. A dedicated, quiet, religious man.
He’s also the one to beat.
– Eric “Babyface Assassin” Walker, Age: 34, Rank: 68, Hometown:
Plaquemine, La. – Incarcerated at 15 years old and spent 14 years behind
bars for robbery and attempted murder, Eric “Babyface Assassin” Walker
learned to box while in prison. He is now fighting for a second chance at
life, living proof that it’s never too late to live out your dreams.
– John “Apollo Kid” Thompson, Age: 29, Rank: 70, Hometown: Newark, N.J.
– After losing his mother to AIDS at six years old, this married performing
artist, painter and fighter, John “Apollo Kid” Thompson is here to prove to
the world that he can’t be boxed into a single category despite holding
impressive titles including the 2015 WBA-NABA Super Welterweight, WBO
Inter-Continental Super Welterweight and Boxcino Tournaments.
– Malcolm “The Punisher” McAllister, Age: 27, Rank: 172, Hometown: Long
Beach, Calif. -Always at the center of schoolyard fights growing up,
Malcolm “The Punisher” McAllister now channels his energy into helping
others rebuild outside of foreclosure and his young, growing family. In
boxing has built an impressive KO record and the 2014 Golden Gloves title
on his journey to take the title of The Contender.
– *Brandon “The Cannon” Adams,* Age: 28, Rank: Inactive, Hometown: Los
Angeles, Calif. – A bold fighter in the ring, Brandon “The Cannon” Adams
knows firsthand what it means to push through adversity and step up to care
for his family when there’s no one else around to. Coming from a poverty
stricken neighborhood, this larger than life father of two marks his return
to boxing after a three year hiatus, initiated by a loss to fellow
competitor, John Thompson.
– Quatavious “Cash” Cash, Age: 26, Rank: 161, Hometown: Las Vegas, Nev.
– This Atlanta native is the current record-holder for fastest KO in
Georgia, a four0time Golden Gloves state champ and Bronze medalist.
Quatavious Cash is fighting for his late mother and for the chance to prove
that a life of fighting street gangs can be channeled for good.
– Shane “Sugarman” Mosley, Jr., Age: 27, Rank: 149, Hometown: Santa
Monica, Calif. – The lone single contender, son of legendary Hall of Fame
boxer “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Shane “Sugarman” Mosley Jr. is fighting to step
out of his father’s shadow and carve out his own legacy.
– Daniel “El Chapulin” Valdivia, Age: 25, Rank: 116, Hometown: Tulare,
Calif. – A natural salesman and real estate agent by day, nicknamed “El
Chapulin” (“Grasshopper”) for his boundless energy, Mexican immigrant
Daniel Valdivia was born to step into the ring. With several titles
including the NABF Super Welterweight Champion as an underdog, he’s chasing
fame to prove giving up college for boxing was the right move.
– Michael “The Silverback” Moore, Age: 31, Rank: 252,
Hometown:Cleveland, Oh. – Reformed from a hard life on the streets, fraught
with drugs, death and family suicide, Michael Moore is a natural hustler
and leader. Married with two kids, Moore is constantly moving from state to
state with his family in tow in pursuit of the boxing dream.
– Gerald “G5” Sherrell, Age: 24, Rank: 216, Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa. –
A fan of the original Contender series growing up, Gerald “G5” Sherrell is
an undefeated and explosive fighter with a level of unrivaled and
self-proclaimed swagger. Hailing from the projects, this multiple time
Golden Gloves, Silver Gloves and Junior Olympic competitor, this local zoo
security guard by day, and young father by night, is looking to bring
boxing glory back to his hometown of Pittsburgh.
– Morgan “Big Chief” Fitch, Age: 34, Rank: 154, Hometown: Pittsburgh,
Pa. – Injury-plagued throughout his career, the Native American hailing
from Southern Louisiana is a married father of three. Knowing that he’s old
for the sport, Morgan “Big Chief” Fitch has one last shot at making his
boxing dreams come true.
– Marcos “Mad Man” Hernandez, Age: 24, Rank: 104, Hometown: Fresno,
Calif. – Having been bullied from a young age after an accident left him
with burns on 30 percent of his body, Marcos “Mad Man” Hernandez is
fighting for his young autistic son, in hopes that he won’t be bullied the
same way he was. With Junior Olympics, 2012 Blue and Gold titles and
“Mexican-go-forward” style fighting he may be overlooked and underestimated.
– Tyrone “Young Gun” Brunson, Age: 33, Rank: 39, Hometown: Philadelphia,
PA – At a time when he needed to sell drugs to support himself at the age
of 13, a stepfather’s ultimatum: be grounded or go to the boxing gym was
his saving grace. Now a humble father of two, and sitting with one of the
best rankings in the competition, his 24 KO’s send a signal that he will
not fight silently but his cocky attitude has beat him more than just once.
– Lamar “Omega” Russ, Age: 31, Rank: 115, Hometown: Wilmington, N.C.
-One of four kids raised by a single mom and the first person in his family
to graduate college, Lamar “Omega” Russ takes pride in being the underdog,
and beneath the loud exterior is a boxer that needs to prove he can put his
money where his mouth is. HBO, ESPN and a first round KO on Showtime do all
the talking.
– John “The Rock” Jackson, Age: 29, Rank: 63, Hometown: St. Thomas, U.S.
Virgin Islands – A divorced father of two, this slick and agile boxer,
Virgin Islander John “The Rock” Jackson started fighting at 12 years old,
following in his world champion father Julian Jackson’s footsteps at the
Pan American Games and 2008 Olympics. He comes from wealth but cares for
the underprivileged and dreams of making his island proud bringing
visibility to those struck by recent natural disasters.
– Devaun “Unique” Lee, Age: 30, Rank: 82, Hometown: Jamaica Queens,
N.Y.When one of his friends was shot and killed at 16, Devaun “Unique” Lee
knew he needed a way out from the mean streets of Queens. Boxing keeps him
straight. So do long hours fueling airplanes and caring for his five year
old daughter. The real love of his life. Fatherhood and the sport are the
motivation to take his NY State Middleweight championship to the next level.
The original Contender series ran for four seasons (2005-2009) and launched
multiple fighters into contention for world titles, including title winners
Sergio Mora, Cornelius Bundrage, Sakio Bika, and Sam Soliman.
Eric Van Wagenen serves as executive producer and showrunner of the revived
franchise alongside Mark Burnett. The format is owned by MGM Television and
Paramount Television.
EPIX is available nationwide through cable, satellite, telco and streaming
TV providers including Charter Spectrum, Cox, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-verse,
Dish Network, Sling, PlayStation Vue and, as of June 13, Comcast.
