Andy DehnartThe Contender 4 debuts tonight, and the show is on its third network in four seasons. The 12 episodes will air on Versus, formerly known as the Outdoor Life Network, on Wednesday nights at 10.
But networks aren’t all it’s changed: the show has a new host, Tony Danza (who replaced Sugar Ray Leonard); new trainers; and a new location, Singapore. Two teams of eight cruiserweight boxers will compete in five-round fights.
Danza says that, for season one when Sylvester Stallone hosted, Danza “was supposed to be the host, but they decided the big movie star would be a better host than me.” He’s not shy about criticizing that first season: “There were a couple things I didn’t like, I didn’t like the host. I didn’t like the fact that the families were so prominent.”
He also says that the distant location means “the families aren’t present,” although “The guys’ stories are still filled with [family] stuff.”
Former club boxer Tony Danza does a bout face as host of ‘The Contender’ [New York Daily News]