Sly may step in 'Contenders' ring
Tue Feb 24, 7:00 PM ET
MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
(Variety)
A "Rocky" boxing match on NBC? Sylvester Stallone
(news) hinted he might just suit up and get into the ring himself
for the Peacock's upcoming reality show "The Contender."
Stallone and Mark Burnett
traveled to downtown's Los Angeles Boxing Club on Tuesday
to reveal details behind the boxing-themed series.
According to Burnett, contestants will be put through
a variety of challenges, leading up to a fight at the end of
each episode --- with the loser going home. The ultimate "Contender"
will receive a $1 million prize and will likely emerge
as the marquee star behind a new boxing federation created especially
for the show.
Stallone said he partnered
with Burnett and DreamWorks partner Jeffrey
Katzenberg to create "The Contender" after
getting fed up with the state of pro boxing.
"I think there is a great
deal of mismanagement in boxing today," Stallone
said. "I think the finest talent does not rise to the surface.
Quite often the compromises that a fighter has to make through
his managers to get in a position of competition is not quite
worth it for them. So we have been I think, deprived of some
new fresh talent."
Stallone called the system
Burnett and Katzenberg worked out "revolutionary."
"We welcome (fighters) to step forward who believe they
have not been given a fair shake, who believe they do have the
talent," he said.
Burnett said he planned
to cast a wide net for "The Contender," and
would even welcome non-English-speaking contestants. "We'll
use subtitles," he said. "I think that's interesting."
The producer said he'd even be willing to include contestants
with criminal pasts, as long as they've "paid their dues."
Contestants will also
technically become professional boxers by participating
in the show, because they will be paid during the show and will
be fighting. Also, Burnett and Stallone said the
contestants will all come from the same weight class, but the
producers haven't decided whether that will be heavyweight,
welterweight or lightweight.
As part of the deal, NBC
is giving up six 30-second spots to producers, who will then
sell the spots and split any profits with the network. Burnett
said he would work closely with NBC's sales team to market
the spots and strike product integration deals, but had no plans
to link with a media buyer.
NBC honcho Jeff Zucker
introduced the producers; also in attendance was Stallone's
brother Frank, who may also work on the show.
As for hopping into the ring,
Stallone said "definitely" - and recounted
the time he got into the ring with Joe Frazier. "I
would say including the count, the fight was 14 seconds,"
he said. "I considered him the hardest puncher in the world."
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- Craig Zablo
