Viva Las Vegas - The Contender, Episode 10 by carpesomediem
Last week, we saw two fighters go home: Jimmy Lange, who lost in the ring against Joey Gilbert, and Juan de la Rosa, who instead of fighting hurt decided to leave the competition. We leave off with the remaining boxers having to once again choose who will come back and take a fellow contender's place.
"We got to see a trunkful of a million dollars today, the stakes are high here at Caesar's Palace," Joey says of who they bring back. Sugar Ray reads the votes. First vote goes to Ahmed, next goes to Jimmy, Ahmed, another one for Jimmy, next one is for Ahmed and the final vote is for Ahmed, who will be reintroduced to the group. "There is definitely something going on," Sergio says, unaware of what happened, as nobody wanted him back. "I'm proud of you. Nobody here took the easy way out," Sly praises them before they head back to Los Angeles to continue the competition.
"Vegas was great," Sugar Ray notes. "I think the nerves now will be much more difficult for them." He reflects on how Caesar's Palace is where he became an undisputed champion. They come into the gym and find boxing banners of each of them hanging in the gym. "It's gotten real," Jesse says. "First thing I noticed was the new banners hanging up," Peter notes. In the suite, they found a bunch of pictures on the walls of them doing different things in order to chronicle the history of their journey. "To see the pictures on the wall, wow, we're here," Joey says. They created a "hall of fame" area with their pictures on the wall in the suite, too.
They sit around that night, discussing what happened, and talking about how Ishe is disrespectful. "They're all picking him to win this damn thing," Anthony says. "We brought him back so that Ahmed could get under Ishe's skin," they admit. He confronts Peter and Jesse in the kitchen, and they're just ignoring him as he talks. Ishe just ignores him. They confront him, but he shakes his head. Jesse calls out Ishe, but he takes it back. "The way you say things sounds like a diss," Peter says. Ishe begins yelling, "That's how I say things." Jesse challenges him, but Ishe blows him off. "They know he's the strongest fighter in the competition. They want him out by any means necessary," Sergio explains. Jesse and Ishe go up against it, with Ishe going crazy and yelling. Alfonso pulls Jesse away so that they didn't do anything stupid. "It's every man for himself," Jesse says, "But four of us are gunning to get Ishe out because of his ways."
The next day Ahmed comes back. "I've never even thought about being a loser," he says, "Because I'm a winner." He moves back in, already being loud and obnoxious as ever. "Welcome home, honey," Jesse hugs him. Ishe says the only reason he didn't vote for him back was because their personalities don't clash, but he admits, he's a great fighter. "Ahmed's going to be a problem for everybody," Sergio says, not understanding why they voted for him to come back.
Sugar Ray comes back and explains the new set of challenge for the second round. This time it's down to individual tests. Basically, the winner of the new challenges will either choose to fight or choose the two fighters who will fight the match for the timeframe. "Winning this challenge gives you a commanding strategic challenge," he says, "The stakes have never been higher." They are blown away, finally realizing that they're in it for real now.
They head out to a field to meet up with Sugar Ray and Tommy. For their challenge, it's about agility and speed, two attributes needed for boxing. They will be wearing boxing gloves for the three legs. The first four guys to cross the finish line with two medicine balls move on to the next leg of the challenge. Alfonso and Anthony are out because they didn't get to pick up a ball; everyone else beat them to them. They keep dropping the balls, but eventually, Peter and Ahmed are also eliminated for not being the first four to make it to the finish line. Now, onto the second leg, they must run across tree stumps and then tires, with three medicine balls. The first two to cross the new finish line move on to the third leg. Joey and Ishe had to restart; Jesse almost had to start over, but in the end, he takes the lead. Sergio ends up off course and has to go back while Jesse is the first to cross the finish line; Ishe and Joey are still in contention and they both collide. Ishe gets eliminated, he argues, but Sugar Ray sets him straight. For the final leg, Joey and Jesse are up; they must carry three balls through a punching bag maze and then play a game of basketball with two of the medicines, then, smash an opponent punching bags head with the final medicine ball to win. It's very, very close, Jesse is the first one to make it to the baskets, makes the two and then smashes his "opponent" to win. Jesse wins the first individual challenge. "Takes some time to think about this," Sugar Ray tells him about his choice as to whether to fight or pick others to fight.
Back in the gym, they meet up with Sly, and they both note the anxiety amongst the boxers. Jesse steps up to make the match. He calls Ishe out right away to toe the line. "I argued irrationally with Ishe Smith the other night. I don't apologize for him for acting like that, but I apologize for acting that." He knew he wasn't prepared, so, he decided to be matchmaker. He calls out Sergio, "The Slithering Snake," to fight Ishe. The fight is set: Ishe Smith versus Sergio Mora. "I'm going to do everything you said you would do," Sergio told Jesse. "I think it's an interesting choice," Sly says. Joey says they had to do something because Ahmed coming back didn't shake things up the way they planned. "This isn't going to be a tough fight," Ishe brags. "The Ahmed fight was a lot tougher."
Ishe goes home that night to visit his wife, Latoya. "My wife is the woman every man dreams about and she's going to be there through good times and bad times," he says. He bought her a purse, and she loves it. "Babe, you didn't have to buy me anything," she says. "She's my great woman," he smiles. He talks about the match and gets quiet to try to get in the zone for the match. "We already know what you're destined to do," she says. "God will perform it until the end, and we're not at the end, yet."
Later that evening, Sergio takes a trip to the ring in order to contemplate the fight. "I've always wanted to be somebody. Even when I was a little kid," he says. "You feel you're meant to be somebody. Even though you aren't, yet. That's how I feel." He shadowboxes around the ring, imagining the fight, and thinking about how they're both undefeated and one of them has to go home after this.
One hour before the fight, each boxer is in their lockeroom. "I've kind of always done what I said I've done: Win," Ishe says. "He ain't got nothing to make me respect him," he talks about Sergio. "He's a great fighter, but he has a weakness in him," Sergio notes of his competition. He's strategy is simple: He plans to let Ishe hurt himself. Latoya comes to visit him in the lockeroom with their son. "We're going to win tonight," he tells him. He begins to box around a bit while Sergio gets his hands taped up. His mom comes to visit him. "I want to get my mom out of the plight of poverty. I'm just scared to lose," he admits. Ishe and his family prays for the fight and for victory. "Do what you do," she beams.
As the banners hang, and the arena is filled, Mel Gibson can be seen in the stands. They each get a pep talk from their trainers. "Sergio's a great guy," Ishe says, "Tonight I will not be caring for Sergio anymore." Ishe comes out first. "I feel like Michael Jordan taking that last shot. Great players do great things. Great champions live up to expectations," he says as he comes out. "I'm not shared of Ishe Smith," Sergio says, coming out, like a gangster. "I'm ready for greatness. I'm ready for it." He taps hands with Sly, Sugar Ray, Tommy and Jackie before heading into the ring to face his adversary.
Round 1: They size each other up, standing still, and Sergio comes in to the abdomen. Ishe is being defensive, Sergio comes in attacks him hard. Ishe tries to duck, gets in a set of abdomen shots, but holds onto him and they are forced apart. Sergio gets in, lands a flurry of punches, Ishe just tries to defend himself. Sergio shakes his head at Ishe, when they lockup, and Sergio is against the ropes, but Sergio nails him. Round goes to Sergio.
Round 2: Sergio comes in, much quicker than Ishe, Ishe is reaching to land punches. Sergio sets in again, punch after punch, and Ishe can't keep up. He gets Sergio into the corner and lands hard punches. Sergio goes defensive, trying to get in what he can, but he can't stop Ishe. Ishe's on fire, finally catching up, they separate and Ishe gets in two more punches. Sergio drops his hands and Ishe lands a great left hook into Sergio's chin. Round goes to Ishe.
Round 3: Sergio lands punches first, and Ishe counters hard. Sergio gets lost in the corner, they get out, and they lockup hitting when they can. Ishe lands a flurry of punches to the body and is attacking like a madman. Sergio goes defensive, protecting his head, but there's nothing he can do. Ishe just keeps going at him until the bell rings. After the bell rings, Ishe lands a cheap shot and is thrown down the ground by the referee. Round goes to Ishe.
Round 4: They play safe for a few seconds before Sergio goes in and they lockup. Sergio begins a flurry of punches to Ishe's head and the latter is dazed, he can't defend as Sergio just rips into him wherever he can get. He's thrown to the ropes, they lockup again, but Sergio keeps punching and Ishe goes defensive again. Round goes to Sergio.
Round 5: Sergio gets in first. Ishe is playing defensive, getting in what he can when he can, they chase each other around the ring. Sergio lands some great punches, ducks, gets more in. Ishe is also getting them in, they're just exchanging punches in a flurry of action. Sergio chases Ishe around with punches, but Ishe isn't landing much now, they are locked up again and forced to punch out. Sergio walks away, Ishe has to chase him, and they stare each other down. Ishe can't land anything though, Sergio takes advantage and comes in punching like crazy to Ishe's head. He keeps landing punches, but there's nothing Ishe can do, he's finished. He's trying, but he can't land anything, Sergio is clearly on top. Round goes to Sergio.
The judge's scorecard is in by unanimous decision: Ishe Smith is sent packing by Sergio Mora, who advances to the next round! The crowd erupts, as do the housemates; Latoya, Ishe's wife, is devastated. "That feeling in your heart supersedes anything," Sergio says of his win. "I don't care how hurt I am tomorrow, I'm going to have a big smile on my face." Tommy comes up to him and says, "Be proud."
Ishe heads back to the lockeroom. "I gave it 110 percent, I did my best. I fought hard, and I lost," he says. "It's hard to train so hard and give it your all, and then have it taken away from you. This definitely hurts right now. I don't even want to think about boxing. It hurts so bad. Boxing has always been a part of me, but I'm just tired." He's visibly beaten up, and cries in the lockeroom as his wife takes off his gloves. Ishe is out of it, he's not even really there, and you can tell by the look in his eyes.
"I'm sad I didn't make it to Vegas," he says, hanging his gloves up, "I will cherish this moment. I'm just sorry I let my son and my wife down."
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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