After two months and sixteen competitors, The Contender tournament final is here. Steve Forbes takes on Grady Brewer for the championship while Norberto Bravo and Cornelius “K-9” Bundrage fight for the bronze medal. Other Contender fighters are on the undercard from the live event at the Staples Center.
Forbes (32-3) is a former world champion with big event experience. He’s the quicker fighter and it’s no surprise to see him in the Finals. Brewer (21-11), on the other hand, is being built as the ultimate underdog. Brewer is a 35-year-old father of 4 that worked at a tire plant to provide for his family. It’s not fair to say that Brewer wants it more than Forbes, but you can guarantee that Brewer is going to put all of his heart into this fight.
Steve Forbes vs. Grady Brewer – First Place
This fight is scheduled for ten rounds and both fighters looked to be patient in the early rounds as to not expend all their energy early. A wrinkle was thrown into this fight in that if it was declared a draw, a bonus round would take place to decide a winner. Brewer used his jab as well as feinting with it, to keep the shorter Forbes on the outside. Forbes still had the intentions of getting inside and that’s what he tried to do. Forbes landed the cleaner and crisper punches when they were in on each other.
The fight started to pick up in the fifth round. Before this round, the two didn’t throw many combinations, just jab and get out or hook and step back. Forbes and Brewer brought the crowd to their feet in the final thirty seconds of round five when they let loose with the offense. The seventh round showed that Forbes had no intentions of changing his fight plan. Forbes kept coming forward, allowing Brewer to pick him off with jabs.
The tenth round began with Brewer seemingly ahead on the cards. Teddy Atlas, ESPN’s excellent analyst, had Brewer ahead by four points going into the last round. Forbes pressed the action in the final round and Brewer leaned on the smaller Forbes during clinches. Brewer must have thought he had the fight won in the final seconds, because he didn’t engage in the usual final ten-second slugfest. The judges cards were read. 97-93 Brewer. 96-94 Forbes. And the final score was 96-94, for the new Contender champion, Grady Brewer.
Brewe’s story is certainly a heart-warming tale but I’ve been beaten over the head with it for that last two hours that I feel like I don’t appreciate it as much. Brewer fought well and he has little time to capitalize on his new stardom. At 35 years-old, Brewer is ready for pasture in the boxing world. A fight with Sergio Mora could be interesting and Brewe’s best option.
Norberto Bravo vs. Cornelius Bundrage – Third Place
Cornelius “K-9” Bundrage imposed his will on Bravo early, which included a knockdown in the second round. Bundrage showed glimpses of his jab but mostly dictated the pace with his right hook. Bravo tried to exchange with K-9 but Bundrage would clinch every time Bravo came in, preventing him from establishing a rhythm.
Bundrage fought dirty during the Contender tournament and was at it again in this fight. It caught up to him in the sixth round when he was deducted a point for throwing Bravo down to the mat. Bravo is an easy fighter to root for and K-9 is an easy fighter to root against. After throwing Bravo down, the crowd was completely against K-9.
Bravo was being worn down by Bundrage’s huge power advantage. By the seventh round Bravo was spent. Referee Pat Russell stopped the fight in the 7th round when it didn’t look like Bravo could defend himself any longer. Cornelius Bundrage win the bronze medal of the Contender tournament.
Undercard Bouts
– Walter Wright defeated Vinroy Barrett by 4th round TKO when Barrett was unable to continue because of a shoulder injury.
– Freddy Curiel earned a unanimous decision over Aaron Torres.
– Nick Acevedo beat non-Contender light middleweight Nurhan Suleyman by unanimous decision. Suleyman was down in the fifth and sixth round.
The Contender Special
On October 14th, ESPN will air a Contender special headlined by season 1 runner-up Peter Manfredo as he faces Joey Spina. Also, super middleweight Allan Green will be in action as well as Contender 1 alum Alfonso Gomez and Contender 2 alum Gary Balleto.
