tHe CoNtEnDeR

darn it!!!... i missed the finale of The Contender... i thought it will be aired on its usual timeslot which is every monday at 10 pm.... well i'm definitely wrong... cause it was scheduled last wednesday (May 25) at 11 pm - 1 am on AXN... anyway... past is past... all i can do now is watch for its replay... but for those who doesn't want to wait for the replay... you'll definitely want to read this episode recap... although the photo below is enough for you to figured out who the winner is...

Live from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, the crowd -- filled with celebrities and regular fans alike -- roared with excitement as things got immediately underway. The 14 previous contenders were also present to cheer on their comrades.

Before the main event, the bronze match was announced. Jesse would go head-to-head against Alfonso. After a brief press conference and a crowd-pleasing recap of Alfonso and Jesse's Contender experiences, the two fighters took to the ring. And both came out swinging.

Even before the end of the fifth intense round, Alfonso was raising his hands in victory. He seemed certain he would claim the $200,000 bronze prize. Ultimately, the judges agreed and by a very close margin, Alfonso was declared the winner. Then it was on to the main event.

The Latin Snake and The Pride of Providence entered the arena to screams of adulation from the capacity crowd. The bell sounded Round One and Sergio landed the first strong punch of the fight. By the end of Round Two, Manfredo had hit Sergio after the bell, firing Sergio up even more.

Manfredo looked tired and clung to Sergio for most of the remaining rounds. When the crowd began chanting "Sergio, Sergio," Mora seem reenergized and landed some powerful blows. At the top of Round Five, Sergio got distracted in Manfredo's corner and threw out some trash talk, which surprised the commentators and crowd.

In Round Seven, both competitors dug deep and found new strength. Body punches flew. Jabs. Upper-cuts. Despite their exhaustion, neither fighter would give up. The crowd moved from the edge of their seats to their feet. After the final bell, it was time for the judges' decision, but it was clear The Latin Snake from East Los Angeles had fought the battle of his life. The decision was unanimous and Sergio Mora was named THE CONTENDER.

to know more about the history and rules of The Contender and information about its boxers... visit their website...
http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Contender/