Jay, you were correct it appeared to be a UD on the telecast. They announced that it was 77/75 & 78/74 twice all for the winner Sakio Bika. Yet I saw at least two different reports that said it was a split decision.
Someone screwed up and I'm sure it wasn't that wonderful ring announcer that they have.
I thought Bika looked pretty good in the first half of the fight and if he could sustain that strong jab he could keep Codrington from controlling the fight. Jaidon should win this thing but hopefully Bika comes fully conditioned to make it through the whole fight and keeps this competative.
As far as the undercard, it looks like Paul Smith is no longer part of it. After the fight for the championship this card pretty much flat out sucks. I have some mild interest in seeing Alexander and Banks each fight but I'm not really impressed with their opponents at all.
Here is the press release...
Quote:
Super Middleweights Jaidon Codrington And Sakio Bika Set To Fight In Championship Bout On Live Finale Of ESPN's "The Contender" - November 6th - In Boston
The third season of ESPN’s critically acclaimed boxing reality series hosted by Sugar Ray Leonard, The Contender, which premiered September 4, will duke out its final episode and crown the new Contender Champion on Tuesday, November 6 LIVE at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, MA. The series is produced by Mark Burnett Productions and Dreamworks Television under the ESPN Original Entertainment (EOE) banner.
The Contender which chronicles the lives, fears and hopes of 10 boxers as they compete for the chance to become Contender champion, airs every Tuesday night at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.
New York native Jaidon “The Don” Codrington will battle African born turned Australian resident, Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika, for the Contender Champion bragging rights and $750,000 in ten rounds of boxing between two of the tournament’s fiercest competitors. Former Olympian, Bika, has exceptional speed and agility to go along with his impressive resume, including stepping into the ring with some of boxing’s current champions. Codrington, the youngest fighter in the tournament, has proven he is a force to reckon with, knocking out Wayne Johnsen in just seventy-five seconds.
In the battle for the Bronze, Sam “King” Soliman and Wayne Johnsen, two of the best conditioned fighters in this year’s Contender Tournament, will showdown for six rounds of Middleweight boxing action. An Australian native, Soliman was formerly ranked by the International Boxing Federation as the number one Middleweight fighter in the world. Johnsen a standout college athlete from Lyndhurst, New Jersey impressed Sugar Ray Leonard early with his athletic ability, ranking at the top of the SPARQ fitness test.
Opening the night of exciting boxing action, fan favorite Miguel Hernandez will take on Moscow’s Aslanbek Kodzoev in the first undercard matchup. Next super middleweights Brian Vera and Max Alexander will face-off for six rounds. And rounding out the undercard fights, Missouri’s Donny McCrary and Seattle’s own self proclaimed pretty boy David Banks will battle it out in a six-round middleweight brawl.
Contender Co-Executive Producer, Jeff Wald said “This is the most exciting and rewarding season so far. We have ten great young men, with tremendous skills and fascinating stories. It’s very exciting to have this Season’s Finale in Boston.”
Tickets for The Contender finale are on sale now at TD Banknorth Garden Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations (Ticketmaster) or by calling 617-931-2000. Ticket prices range from $47.50 to $302.50 for premium seats. Last year’s Season 2 Contender Finale at Staples Center in Los Angeles was sold out. Doors open at 6pm, with the first undercard fight starting at 7pm and main event begining at 9pm.
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Super Middleweights Jaidon Codrington And Sakio Bika Set To Fight In Championship Bout On Live Finale Of ESPN's "The Contender" - November 6th - In Boston - Pound4Pound.com - P4P Number 1