Fight 6 Contender Episode 6by carpesomediem
Last episode, we saw Miguel Espino ousted by Peter Manfredo, Jr., the new comeback kid and affectionately known as "the real Rocky" by Sylvester Stallone. Finally, East Coast won a fight in the ring after many failed attempts before them.
For their first reward, the East Coast team went to watch a live taping of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno They get all dressed up, while West Coast whines about losing their first challenge. "You're going to go have some fun Gallagher style," Tommy tells them. They travel to NBC Studios, unbeknownst that they are going to get to hang out with Jay Leno after the taping of his show. "It's all you brother," Tommy tells Peter, who won his match to give them the chance to go to the taping.
They sit in the audience, to watch the show, with Reese Witherspoon and Tim McGraw. Brent says Tim McGraw is his favorite artists. After the show, they all get to meet Jay. "He's a great individual," Jesse beams. They pose for photos together, Jay joking, "Don't hit me in the chin." He wishes them all luck. "It's the best time I've ever had," Peter grins.
For this week's challenge, both teams will be required to carry medicine balls to a bag, place them in the bag, and then hoist them up in the air to the top of a bridge where one of their teammates will fill a Toyota Tundra. The first team to get all their medicine balls in the Tundra wins. After getting an early lead, West Coast stumbles when their bag gets caught at the top of the bridge and aqueduct, Jesse has to try and climb up the wall – which he ends up doing repeatedly, because it's steep – until he gets it, which costs the West valuable time. East Coast gets considerably ahead, but eventually, begins to lose medicine balls as they begin coming down the aqueduct back at them. "Those balls are going to come back to haunt you!" Sugar Ray shouts at them. West Coast manages to not only get their bag, but catch up and eventually overtake East's lead. West Coast wins the challenge.
Before the fight, Sugar Ray takes the ring to talk directly to the crowd. He's announced as a champion and Olympic gold medalist by announcer Jeff Connor. He comes into the ring to applause, applauding himself, before speaking. "Thank-you all for coming," he says. "I really wish you had a chance to be at the previous fights here. These young warriors display so much heart and soul to be the winner of The Contender. This fight here should not be any different."
He explains how the competition works, and how the teams made a deal to fight the best fighter of each team. Anthony chose to disregard that, and Sugar Ray details this, and how Anthony decided to fight Brent. "He threw a wrench," he says. "This is what Anthony feels in his heart. He made that decision. All the guys were upset. Then again, this single father of two beautiful kids are fighting for his kids. Naturally, he's doing what's best for his family."
Sugar Ray then introduces the East Coast team led by Peter; next comes the West Coast led by Sergio. Vin Diesel is in the audience that night as the boxers get ready to take the ring in their respective lockerooms but shadowboxing. East Coast's Brent comes out, praising the Lord, and praying for strength. West Coast's Anthony comes out reflecting on his thirty-three years, "This opportunity is my one shot at making my family secure," he says.
Round 1: Anthony comes out swinging; Brent is very defensive, reaching for shots as opposed to coming in. Anthony locks in on his head, gets a good shot in, ducks under Brent's punches to throw in a few abdominal shots. They both step back, going for specific hits as Anthony lands a punch to Brent's chin and they lock-up once more. Anthony keeps swinging as Brent ducks and defends his head. Anthony shakes his head at the East's boxer. Anthony gets him to the ropes and lays into him repeatedly, there's nothing Brent can do. He lands another sharp punch to the face that hurts Brent. Round goes to Anthony.
Round 2: Once again, Anthony comes out swinging, and Brent tries to make up for the horrible first round. However, Anthony is much faster and knocks into him, causing him to stumble. He lands two more punches to Brent's face and gets him into the corner, continuing to lay into him. Anthony circles the ring, puts his hands down and then goes in to land another punch to the face. Brent is tired, it's showing, and he can't keep up with Anthony's punches. He goes on the defensive again, running away and defending his face. Round goes to Anthony.
Round 3: Anthony hits Brent in the face, again and again. Brent ducks one punch and gets thrown into the ropes. Brent's finished as Anthony tears into him. Ishe starts yelling that the fight should be stopped. They referee pulls them apart, within thirty-eight seconds, calling the fight as a knockout for the West Coast team. Round goes to Anthony by default.
Referee calls the match: Anthony Bonsante wins by knock-out.
"Hopefully, the West Coast team will see what I've done," Anthony says, "I had the chance to take somebody out, and I did. With my two kids by my side, I am unstoppable. If you dare stand in my way, I'm taking you down."
Brent heads back to the lockeroom. "I'm sorry," he tells Sly, crying and Stallone hugs him. "It just happens," Sly says, "It' a rough sport, but I'm sure you can handle it."
"I felt weak," Brent says on his way to the lockeroom, where he sits, crying. "I'm sorry I let everybody down. It just wasn't the Lord's will for me to win," he says, with a visible black right eye. He's in the shower now, crying, as his wife comes in to comfort him. "I couldn't do nothing," he sobs. "I couldn't do anything." She tells him it's ok. "It's 'God's plan,'" he cries more as she tells him she loves him. She leaves him to his thoughts. "You've got to learn to lose before you've got to learn to win," he says his mom advised him when he was a kid. "
Cooper, the sixth contender to be defeated, saying as he leaves the lockeroom, "This is where the cowboy rides away." He hangs up his gloves and takes his leave of The Contender gym.
Carpesomediem is an aspiring freelance writer from Lancaster, Pa. who enjoys music, movies and writing about the way the world works; you can contact her at carpesomediem@realityshack.com to talk about this week's episode or anything at all.
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