By Angel “Big Papo” Mercado
February 19, 2008

Going into the semi-finals the match-ups were set for the final 4, but first Tony took the fellas out for an excursion on a yacht.  Tony and the final 4 spoke of the fallen comrades in the competition and shared their thoughts of each individual fighter they’ve gotten to know and also had to face off against.

Of the 16 fighters, 4 are now left.  As Troy puts it, “It’s time for the best to fight the best.”  The first fight of the double header featured Troy “The Boss” Ross against the “Mighty” AK-47.

At the opening bell, both fighters came out landing hard shots going straight after one another, none of them utilizing their jabs.  Both Troy and AK were just winging their punches.  Troy trying to land that knockout right hook and AK firing back sending a message to Troy that he wasn’t going anywhere.  I had AK winning the first and fourth round.  Rounds 2, 3 and 5, I had to give to Troy.  He kept his composure and continued to box.  He exchanged only when he had to and as he grew more confident in the later rounds, boxed using multiple combinations throughout the fight, winning him the fight.  

Troy “The Boss” Ross paves his way to the finals and has a shot to win it all.  A shot he has been looking for in a long time to open the door for him to get better fights.  AK-47, a soldier with a lot of heart, fought a tough fight and didn’t back up.  He kept coming giving Troy his roughest competition, thus far.  AK kept coming forward, but didn’t let his hands go enough.  AK let his emotions get to him, trying to stand toe to toe with Troy rather than box and go ahead on points and then go all out in the later rounds.  AK will be back, I would like to see these two fighters meet again in the ring.

In the contender’s second fight of the double header, we had Rico “Suave” Hoye against “Hollywood” Hino.  At the sound of the opening bell, both fighters fought a strong first round to start off the fight fighting at a fast pace that continued all the way through the 5th round.

Rico had a great first round, Hino took over the rest of the fight.  I had Hino taking rounds 2-5.  After Round one, Rico seemed like he couldn’t pull the trigger.  Hino was beating Rico to the punch at times.  Rico fell well behind in the fight and needed a knock out in the 5th if he had any chance to advance.

In the 5th, Hino continued to land all his crisp combinations closing the round with a strong right hand to close the round and wins himself a unanimous decision.  That will send Hino into one of the fights of his life.

The Contender Finale is here!  This is the moment we all have been waiting for. This is the moment of truth for Hino and Troy.  Who will win Troy or Hino? Who will be the next Contender Champion?