'The Contender' moving to Versus, featuring Cruiserweights

Rafael with the word:

After airing for one season on NBC followed by two seasons on ESPN, "The Contender" will make its fourth-season debut on Versus in December with the first of 11 one-hour episodes followed by a two-hour season finale to crown the tournament winner.

...the new season will feature a 16-man tournament of cruiserweights (200 pounds), in which American fighters will face a team of international boxers.

Trainer Buddy McGirt will return to the series to coach the American fighters. The international trainer has not been determined, although series producers are interested in including Wales' Enzo Calzaghe, the father and trainer of light heavyweight champion Joe Calzaghe. Boxing icon Sugar Ray Leonard, host of the series for the first three seasons, also is expected to return.

Although the field of fighters has not been signed, show executives are talking to promoters of several notable cruiserweights, with former undisputed champion O'Neil Bell the most prominent name among them. Others in the mix include Vadim Tokarev, B.J. Flores, Darnell "Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson, Matt Godfrey, Johnathon Banks, Aaron Williams, Shawn Hawk, Emmanuel Nwodo, Ola Afolabi, Ehinomen Ehikhamenor and Mike Alexander.

Tournament of Contenders will have at least three live boxing events on Versus under the deal.

I realize this makes me a rube, but while I don't really like the way the fights are presented, I like that show exists. Hopefully they'll air uncut versions of the fights like ESPN did for some of last season.

It looks like at least relative to the division, this group is the most qualified contender class yet.