| The Contender Challenge: UK vs. USA | |
|---|---|
| Starring | Sugar Ray Leonard, Barry McGuigan |
| Country of origin | United States, United Kingdom |
| Production | |
| Running time | Varies |
| Original release | |
| Network | ESPN (USA), ITV4 (UK) |
| Release | 10 April – 17 April 2007 |
| Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) | |
The Contender Challenge: UK vs. USA is a series of boxing matches on 30 March 2007, held at Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England. Six boxers from the US reality television shows The Contender and The Contender 2, in a team coached by Sugar Ray Leonard, took on six boxers from the UK, all promoted by Frank Warren, and coached by Barry McGuigan. The winning team was awarded the "Sugar Ray Leonard Cup", not unlike the Ryder Cup in Golf[1]
The bouts was the basis of a TV series broadcast in the US by ESPN and in the UK by ITV4, with six episodes, beginning on 10 April 2007, with commentary by the well-known ESPN team of Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas, with the British boxing commentator John Rawling joining. Leonard and McGuigan provided some analysis through the fight as well.
The master of ceremonies throughout the tournament was Michael Pass.