When Does ‘The Contender’ Premiere? Meet the Fighters of EPIX’s Boxing Reality Show (PHOTOS)

Meaghan Darwish June 28, 2018, 12:00 pm

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EPIX/Frank Ockenfels 3

The Contender Season 5; The Return of The Contender — EPIX/Frank Ockenfels 3

John “Apollo Kid” Thompson

**Age:** 29
**Rank:** 70
**Hometown:** Newark, N.J.

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Mark Burnett‘s latest TV venture is EPIX’s boxing competition series The Contender, a revival of the series that originally aired on NBC, ESPN and the now-defunct Versus network from 2005-09.

The series will feature 16 fighters who will compete for the title of “The Contender” and will see them participate in hardcore clashes that will result in eliminations. Hosted by boxing champ Andre “Son of God” Ward, the series will make its debut on the premium network Friday, August 24.

Among the coaches for the fighters are trainers Freddie Roach and Naazim Richardson, Roach is known for training famous fighter Manny Pacquiao while Richardson is known for training “Sugar” Shane Mosley.