Superior Court Judge Linda Lefkowitz denied a request from producers of NBC's "The Contender" for a temporary restraining order against the Fox reality series produced by boxer Oscar De La Hoya and Endemol USA.

DreamWorks SKG and reality mogul Mark Burnett, makers of "The Contender," are trying to force Fox to edit allegedly unlawful bouts out of "The Next Great Champ" before it airs Sept. 10.

Fox should be barred from using "film of any boxing match that wasn't legally promoted," DreamWorks said Wednesday, citing a California Athletic Commission report on the reality series.

The commission is responsible for licensing and regulating boxing promoters. The judge ruled that preventing Endemol from delivering filmed material to Fox would be "tantamount to a direct prior restraint."

She agreed, however, to set a Sept. 8 hearing on a preliminary injunction. Fox called the ruling as "a significant victory."

"As the producers of `The Contender' well know, the California Athletic Commission has not made any findings or rulings. This is yet another in a series of never-ending attempts by 'The Contender's' producers to stifle competition," the network said.

The commission, which issued a memorandum raising questions about aspects of the series' fights, recently postponed a hearing on the matter. DreamWorks took heart in the judge's ruling.

"It's a strong statement by the court that they understand the gravity and legitimacy of the concerns raised by the state Athletic Commission, and both parties now will have the opportunity" to make their case, said DreamWorks spokesman Andy Spahn.

DreamWorks and Burnett allege that "The Next Great Champ" was produced on a "rushed and frenzied basis" to beat NBC's series to the air. Although "The Contender" was announced first, it's not airing until sometime in November.

In "The Next Great Champ," aspiring boxers compete for a contract with De La Hoya's company and a World Boxing Organization title fight. In "The Contender," the prize is $1 million and a shot at a boxing career.

NBC and Fox already have sparred outside court over the competing reality TV concepts.

NBC Universal Television Group President Jeff Zucker accused Fox of hijacking the boxing idea after NBC announced it planned a series with DreamWorks' founder Jeffrey Katzenberg, Burnett and Sylvester Stallone of "Rocky" fame.

Fox TV entertainment chief Gail Berman said claims that Fox is stealing reality show concepts are "outrageous" and a business ploy.