The Condender hasn’t lost its punch

The ep started with a comprehensive wrap-up, so anyone who hasn’t been on board from the get-go is in good shape. The rest of us can feel free to visit the bathroom and raid the fridge for a few minutes…

Good thing Forbes and Acevedo weren’t cut, because we learn that they are due to face off against each other just three days after their winning outings…

Tuesday Sept. 26th is the finale, in case you didn’t know. Visit the Staples Center Bo for tix or your nearest service charge I mean Ticketmaster outlet…

SRL addresses the remaining crew. Acevedo and Forbes get necklaces from SRL. “Digest where you are right now, you are the elite eight,� he tells them. Teams are finito, it’s every man for himself…

The gang heads out for some fish out of water action; they visit a clothing store to get an outfit of their choosing, on the house. Gallagher tries to get everyone to pick up a cummerbund but they are all dubious. They all look sharp…

The crew prowls the city in their new finery and then it’s off to the strip club. Just kidding—they hit a restaurant and SRL tries to put it all in perspective. SRL does a voiceover and it’s edited to seem like he’s sizing up each matchup for the boys. Newsflash: this is reality TV but it ain’t all reality—the magic is often found in the editing room…

SRL has each of the boys pick who they think should get a mystery gift, based on who showed the most heart and soul. Bravo picks K9, Stewie picks Forbes, Vinroy chooses Bravo, Forbes goes with Stewie, K9 picks Bravo, Walter goes with Stewie, Ace picks Bravo, Balletto goes with Stewart—so SRL breaks the tie and goes with Bravo. Gallagher concurs. What’s the gift dammit? I’m like a 5-year-old at his birthday party.drumroll please…SRL hands him a set of car keys, Outside is a brand spankin’ new red TOYOTA TUNDRA! They certain that Gallagher wasn’t tooling around in it while the boys ran and Tommy hurled insults?

A masseuse works on Ace, who refrains from asking for a happy ending…or was that cut out in the editing bay? I’m joking, he seems like a perfect gentleman…

Ace runs and we hear how his pop brought him to the gym to keep him off the streets. He left the game for a spell, but he’s 31, and this is his last chance…

Balletto watches Forbes and calls him “Too Slick.� His nickname is actually Two Pound ‘cause he was born a 2 pound preemie. He was born a fighter in other words…

The weigh-in is on. I miss Marc Ratner. Ace is 150, Forbes is 149. We have a fight…

SRL thinks they’ll fight their hearts out and will rise to the occasion…

I’m watching this live so you readers get this report first because I care about you all dammit and I want you to know we’ll have it first, and that our writing is of a higher level than some other sites that shall remain nameless. I don’t want to name names because I respect everyone’s game but it must be noted…And we don’t put an !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! here there and everywhere which you have to respect. And if we talk to a fighter we don’t label every damn thing we do an EXCLUSIVE. Rant over…

Gallagher trains Forbes and recommends working off the jab. Always a smart building block…

Jeremy is with Acevedo and he says Ace and Forbes are the two slickest fighters in the tourney…

Mrs. Forbes shows up and chats with her man….

Mrs. Acevedo and her kiddies visit. The five of them live in a two bedroom apartment but he wants to get them a house. I live in NYC too, I know it ain’t easy. All that Wall Street money has made the real estate scene ludicrous…But I digress.

Hey, Mark Burnett is in the house. No sign of Burt Reynolds, though.

It’s fight time…

In the first round, both guys commit to the body attack. Ace looks a little stronger and Forbes should move more. Gallagher tells Forbes to get busier…

In round two, Forbes starts moving more; I guess he got his legs warmed up. He gets Ace with a nice right upper. But he stops moving as much towards the end of the round, but still took the round, Williams tells Ace…

In the third, Ace lands a one-two and Forbes is damaged. He holds and then Ace pours it on. You knew it was coming because the action slowed right before the telling combo. Forbes’ wife makes the sign of the cross. But her man weathers the storm and perhaps Ace has punched himself out. Gallagher says he needs the last two. “In his face,� he tells Forbes.

On to the fourth. Ace is leaning in, he looks beat. Forbes takes the round with more energy, but where are the uppercuts? Both trainers agree it is all even…

In the fifth, Forbes sends a message that he wants it more. “Empty that tank,� Gallagher tells him and he does. He flurries with a hardcore intensity and then we go the judges. Two of the three judges see Forbes as the victor so the winner, by split decision, is Steve Forbes.

“He outhustled me in the last round,� Ace admits afterwards. “Just fatigued.�

The Acevedo crew tries to cheer up papa. “I let myself and everybody down,� he says. “I gave it my all, just came up short.�

Next week, K9 and Walter keep jawing and then get it on…

Overall, another solid ep, another solid fight. Has there been a stinker yet?