Mark Burnett’s The Contender Boxing Franchise Revived

EPIX is working with MGM Television and Paramount Television on the revival of the boxing competition series The Contender.

The series, produced by Mark Burnett, has launched multiple boxers into contention for world titles. The Contender previously ran for four seasons, from 2005 to 2009.

The upcoming 12-episode series will feature 16 fighters in an elimination competition that pushes their skills, strength and endurance to the limit. It heads into production shortly with a debut planned for later this year.

Eric Van Wagenen is executive producer and showrunner alongside Burnett.

“The Contender has launched the careers of many fighters, with some Contenders taking world titles—but this new iteration of the series will also showcase the heart, spirit and dramatic personal stories of these fighters as they fight in and out of the ring to realize their dreams,” said Michael Wright, the president of EPIX. “This is not only real boxing, but real, raw human storytelling from the best unscripted television production team in the world.”