It really is too bad this show was canceled. It was by far one of the better shows on tv this year. It really got me interested in the boxing world again.

If Anthony is the guy from Mn.....I couldn't have been happier when someone was KO'd....I hated that guy.

Anthony's constant whining and crying about his kids really bugged me. It was like "Enough already" and I was happy that Jesse put "Hairy" to sleep. I really disliked Ahmed (though his girlfriend was hot, especially in person) and really grew to dislike Ishe Smith.

The show never focused on Jimmy Lang and in person, he was extremely nice. He was walking back from the arena and heading for his hotel room with one of his twin sons in his arms (and looking rather beat up from his fight) and struck up a conversation with me. Very nice and very personable.

I didn't talk to Joey Gilbert but he really seemed to be lapping it up in the spotlight. Manfredo seemed really personable as well, as was his father and wife. But by far the most personable and friendly was Jesse Brinkley (though his wife had a sour look on her face all evening). Jesse took pictures with anyone and everyone who asked for hours on end, even after losing in the Bronze medal round. He was just super, super cool.

I never got that Sergio was talking smack from the show or his bouts, with the exception of the Finale in which Manfredo's wife and father instigated it. His mother was very nice, and it was very apparent by her hands (they were extremely rough and calloused) that's she hasn't had an easy life.

All in all, I think that Jesse, Alfonso, Peter and of course Sergio all benefited the most from the show, and I think we'll be seeing them in future, whether it be boxing, or in Jesse's case, maybe even acting. He's got quite a bit of personality.

Joey didn't need the show (he's a practicing lawyer) and neither did Tarick (who's in Real Estate). Ishe Smith could have benefitted, but I think he came off as a two faced jerk. The rest of the guys weren't talented enough as boxers or not entertaining enough as people to really boost their respective careers, at least IMO.

Dane

To me its obvious that the show needed some work because at times it was absolutely ridiculous! The old guy that always wore shades and had the collars of all his shirts turned up...bad. He was a neat guy but he seemed too fake or made-for-tv. What was the deal with having the old ugly lady around AT ALL? At the very end when they are all sitting around and discussing the fight that just happened...WHO CARES what Sly Stallone (an ACTOR) thinks about boxing/fighting...he doesnt know SQUAT! And occasionally during an episode SLY was trying to give some of these guys pointers and training tips.....come ON, ACTING like a fighter is NOT the same thing. All this being said I DID like the show overall because they did one thing very very well: they chose fighters with great personalitys, the chose a couple with big egos, they chose a few that were humble...and when they were all mixed together it created a good guy vs. bad guy matchup OR a good guy vs. good guy matchup that you HAD to watch. Nobody really mentiond Joey Gilbert very much but he was my favorite. When he stopped short of the finish line in the one contest and let Manfredo win the toyota truck that was COOL as heck. And when he pulled his hamstring and re-injured it DURING a fight and STILL won, that was impressive. He ALMOST won his last fight too...it was very close. All in all the show was good but if they decided to bring it back it needs some cleaning up.

That "Old Guy" is none other than legendary boxing trainer Tommy Gallagher. The "Ugly Woman" is Jackie Callan, the first female manager of a world champion (James Toney, who just won the Heavyweight Championship but had to give up the belt because of steriods). here was also a movie starring Meg Ryan out in 2003 that was about Jackie. And whether you like him or not, the show would not be the same without Sly Stallone. I think that 3 bonafide boxing experts (Ray Leonard, Jackie Callan & Tommy Gallagher) along with Stallone make a fine team.

The reason you didn't hear much about Joey Gilbert is because there's not much hardship there. It's tough to become emotionally attached through a boxing TV show to a guy who's parents are doctors, while he's a lawyer. The other contestants had more to gain from the show.

Dane

Sergio's on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights as a guest, for those who are interested