Meet The Contenders

Mark Burnett's "The Contender," now airing on ESPN, follows 16 professional boxers as they vie for the title of Contender Champion. The series, hosted by boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard, premiered July 18 and concludes with a finale from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sept. 26, 2006, which will air live on ESPN.

Eliminated on Aug. 15

Name: Ebo Elder
Age: 27
Hometown: Atlanta
Pro Record: (22-2), 14 KOs
Fast Fact: Elder is ranked as a top 10 contender by all major boxing organizations.

Eliminated on Aug. 8

Name: Vinroy Barrett
Age: 30
Hometown: Negril, Jamaica/Nashville, Tenn.
Pro Record: (21-4), 11 KOs
Fast Fact: Since turning pro, Barrett has won the World Boxing Federation Americas Welterweight title.

Eliminated in Week 4

Name: Andre Eason
Age: 30
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Pro Record: (15-4), 6 KOs
Fast Fact: During his brief time as an amateur, Eason won a New York Golden Gloves title.

Eliminated in Week 3

Name: Aaron Torres
Age: 26
Hometown: Philadelphia
Pro Record: (14-2), 6 KOs
Fast Fact: Torres had an impressive career as an amateur, winning 90 of 100 fights.

Eliminated in Week 2

Name: Rudy Cisneros
Age: 24
Hometown: Chicago
Pro Record: (8-1), 7 KOs
Fast Fact: Cisneros was a bronze medal recipient at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Eliminated in Week 1

Name: Michael Clark
Age: 32
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Pro Record: (35-3), 16 KOs
Fast Fact: Clark is a former International Boxing Council world champion.

Name: Cornelius Bundrage
Age: 32
Hometown: Detroit
Pro Record: (21-1), 13 KOs
Fast Fact: In 2005, Bundrage won the United Boxing Association (UBA) Intercontinental Light Middleweight title.

Name: Freddy Curiel
Age: 30
Hometown: Vernon, N.J.
Pro Record: (15-5-2), 6 KOs
Fast Fact: Curiel left boxing in 2002. "The Contender" marks his comeback to the ring.

Name: Grady Brewer
Age: 34
Hometown: Lawton, Okla.
Pro Record: (18-11), 12 KOs
Fast Fact: Brewer started boxing at age 11 and went on to become a state Golden Gloves champion.

Name: Michael Stewart
Age: 28
Hometown: New Castle, Del.
Pro Record: (38-4-2), 22 KOs
Fast Fact: Stewart works as a union construction laborer by day and aspires to become a general contractor.

Name: Nick Acevedo
Age: 30
Hometown: New York
Pro Record: (15-1), 9 KOs
Fast Fact: A former International Boxing Association (IBA) Interncontinental champion, Acevedo is back in the ring after three years of retirement.

Name: Norberto Bravo
Age: 34
Hometown: Tucson, Ariz.
Pro Record: (20-10-3), 12 KO's
Fast Fact: Bravo (aka El Gallito) says he is willing to fight till death, if necessary.

Name: Steve Forbes
Age: 28
Hometown: Las Vegas
Pro Record: (29-3), 9 KOs
Fast Fact: Forbes is ranked 11th in the world and holds an International Boxing Federation title.

Name: Walter Wright
Age: 24
Hometown: Seattle
Pro Record: (10-1), 5 KOs
Fast Fact: Wright, aka "2 Guns," was an alternate for the U.S. boxing team at the 2000 Olympics. He's won 90 of his 102 fights.

Gary Balletto from 'The Contender' on ESPN. — ESPN

Name: Gary Balletto
Age: 30
Hometown: Johnston, R.I.
Pro Record: (29-2-2), 25 KOs
Fast Fact: Balletto witnessed the death of his friend Bobby Tomasello, and it prompted him to help unionize the sport.

Name: Jeff Fraza
Age: 28
Hometown: Boston
Pro Record: (17-2), 10 KOs
Fast Fact: "HellRaza" Fraza dropped out of competition during season one of "The Contender" after coming down with the chicken pox.

Information courtesy of ESPN.

Meet The Contenders

<b>Eliminated on Aug. 15</b>

<b>Eliminated on Aug. 8</b>

<b>Eliminated in Week 4</b>

<b>Eliminated in Week 3</b>

<b>Eliminated in Week 2 </b>

<b>Eliminated in Week 1</b>