On Saturday, Oct. 15, fans of "The Contender" gathered in Los Angeles' Staples Center arena to witness a card of fights involving contestants from the boxing-reality series, culminating in a rematch of the show's final bout between champion Sergio Mora and challenger Peter Manfredo Jr.

At a press conference the day before, "Contender" executive producer Mark Burnett ("Survivor," "The Apprentice") emphasized his promises that "there would be another event, and there will be a season two."

Although ratings were anemic during the show's freshman run last season on NBC, Burnett always called it a highlight of his career. At the conference, he said, "I've made a lot of TV shows and had a lot of success, but I've never made a TV show where more people come up to me all over the world, saying, 'Man, that "Contender" is incredible.' People love boxing, and they love these guys."

After NBC passed on a second season of "The Contender," Burnett negotiated its move to ESPN, where season two premieres in April 2006. Burnett continues at the helm, with partners Jeffrey Katzenberg of DreamWorks Television and "Rocky" star Sylvester Stallone (all of whom were ringside).

Over 12 weekly installments, season two will again track the efforts of 16 boxing competitors as they live and train together, and compete in reality-show challenges and weekly elimination boxing bouts.

When asked what he wants to retain or trim for season two, Burnett emphasized more boxing and less of the challenges, but made it clear that he intends to keep the family aspect of the show. Noting that Stallone has often said that "Rocky" was really the story of Adrian, Rocky's girlfriend, Burnett said, "We want to keep the 'Adrian factor.'"

Production has technically begun, since casting for season two was underway in a room adjacent to the "Contender" press conference at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

"This is a really high priority for them," said Burnett of ESPN. "At ESPN, we found a true home."

He also said there are no plans at present to do foreign versions of "The Contender" -- although the U.S. series is being sold overseas -- or for female boxers to participate, a la "Million Dollar Baby."

"We want to give full attention to America," Burnett said, "and to these fighters. ... The worst thing we could have done is to do too much too soon."

Also, since Stallone has recently signed to reprise his career-making role of boxer Rocky Balboa in a sixth installment of the long-running film series, Burnett hopes there'll be some cross-promotion opportunities down the line.

As for the rematch, Mora again bested Manfredo Jr. in a split decision, winning approval from the partisan hometown crowd (Mora is from Los Angeles), but leaving Manfredo visibly chagrined.

In contrast, after the bout just prior, also a rematch between "Contender" contestants, the crowd objected audibly to a decision favoring Jesse Brinkley (now trained by Peter Manfredo Sr.) over Anthony Bonsante. Their last meeting on the series resulted in Bonsante laid flat out on the canvas. This time, Bonsante appeared to have the upper hand through five rounds, only to have all three judges hand the win to Brinkley.

The crowd erupted in loud boos, switching to a chant of "Bulls--t" while Brinkley was being interviewed on ESPN.