Sergio Mora a.k.a "Latin Snake" vs Jesse Brinkley

Jesse Brinkley
W 25, L 2, Draw 0, KO 17

Jesse is a loud and lovable country boy. He is the class clown - all about fun, all the time. He has an abundance of energy and a great sense of humor, even about himself. Jesse loves to have an audience laughing at his jokes.

He learned how to fight from Rocky movies and a heavy bag his stepfather hung in his garage. He soon developed a tough-guy reputation and quickly began knocking out all the kids in small-town Yerington. His amateur career was very brief, as he hated fighting with headgear, disliked the amateur point-scoring system, and just wanted the chance to knock guys out.

Jesse's dream is to fight DeLaHoya, but if that doesn't happen he would be just as happy living out in the desert, hunting, fishing, and drinking beer for the rest of his life. We'll see how this country boy fares in the big city.

Jesse lives with his long-term girlfriend, Coleen, and their two children, Steyr and Denaya.




Sergio Mora a.k.a "Latin Snake"
W 15, L 0, Draw 0, KO 3

Sergio Mora was born in a tiny apartment in East LA where he lived with his mother and three brothers until just a few weeks ago. At 24, he and his older brother have finally moved out... to the apartment downstairs. He is the first to admit that his family lives in the ghetto but bristles at being lumped into the East LA stereotype. Although he grew up without a father, his respect for his mother and the desire for a better life turned him to sports instead of gangs.

As a teenager, Sergio knocked out many of his friends just "goofing around" in the street. He started boxing at the age of fourteen and is currently undefeated as a Pro. When he isn't training, he works with kids at a neighborhood youth gym built to give boys and girls an alternative to gangs. Sergio trains at the same gym and the signage on the front bears his picture and nickname: "the Latin Snake." Sergio's dream is to make enough money boxing to allow his mother to quit her job working at a warehouse and send her traveling the world ... without his brothers.

----Source: http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Contender/boxers/

Frankly, my heart went out to both of them. They are warriors and they are friends. They goofed off, bonded and they did things they do best-- Box. Sergio won the fight but not the battle, it was Sergio's day. Jesse, a great guy, he laughs and fights and "Hey! No hard feelings.". It was Sergio's speed vs Jesse's hard punch. The contest was even, round going either way and it went till the end, no one knew how it went, it was a blade thin.

Coming to think of it, it went down to who wanted it more, and the "Snake" slithered at the million dollars. It was Sergio all along, given his humble and tough background. It was in the head that the fight was fought. Sergio got through (I wouldn't use the adjectives like "prevailing over the odds"). He had his speed working and man it was FAST.

Jesse, a great fighter, he almost had sergio on the mat. Jesse is a beautiful fighter, pure class. But he was sort of not his bubbling best. I can't say what played on his mind. Was it the cut he suffered in his previous fight with Bonsante? One will never know (was it that Sergio beat Ishe?). But something was there that did not let Jesse have the hunger for the Contender Champion belt. No sweat, Jesse is a great guy and really does not matter. I pray that he gets to fight Oscar DelaHoya and I know he will.

But to the winner goes the spoils. Sergio's got a go at Manfredo in Caesar's palace. Sergio's got speed and strategy, Manfredo's got power and Mental Strength (measured in tons). Sergio's a great guy, respects every body. Manfredo's got great heart. Its something I dont wanna miss.

I have great deal to learn about humility. Seeing these guys, though it happens to be a reality show-- a concept I detest, I realise there is so much to learn. What I like about contender is that, its really well done though I feel they can focus on the sport and tone down the Hollywood Ishtyle Drama.