A group of boxing champs and the networks that pay them are about to go toe-to-toe.

For the past several months, NBC's Mark Burnett-produced boxing reality series "The Contender" has trumpeted its assortment of pugilistic participation, from Sylvester Stallone to George Foreman to Sugar Ray Leonard. Now, FOX is getting in on the action, partnering with high profile boxer Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions on "The Next Great Champ."

"It doesn't get any bigger than this," says Mike Darnell, FOX's reality programming guru. "So many unscripted series include contrived competitions where the participants 'figuratively' battle it out. But this time, the battle, and the punches are absolutely real and the winner could get a shot at a legitimate title holder."

With a premise that sounds nearly identical to that of "The Contender," the tentatively titled "Great Champ" will find a dozen boxing hopefuls (weighing in between 130 and 170 pounds) facing a series of challenges and training obstacles in route to a cash prize, a "possible title fight" and a contract with Golden Boy.

Along the way, they'll receive help from one person from their real life (dubbed their "cornerman") and sometime-singer, sometime-actor and sometime-championship boxer De La Hoya.

"We're looking for talented, determined, courageous young boxers who want their chance at stardom," De La Hoya says. "Once we find them, we will push them to their limits to see which ones have the heart of a champion. And, for the first time, the audience will get to see the daily sacrifices and struggles, the joy and pain in the career of a young fighter. We'll show you how champions are made."

With "The Contender" originally aiming for a January launch and FOX's gift for swift turnaround on reality programming, "Great Champ" is likely to make it on air first, unless NBC accelerates production.

Auditions will be held over the next several weeks, beginning in Los Angeles and Miami this Friday (April 23).