The
rabble-rousing president of the Ultimate Fighting
Championship is slapping boxing aficionado Sylvester
Stallone across the face with a $5 million challenge.
Dana White, who oversees the mixed martial arts
fighting league and its new Spike TV reality show,
"The Ultimate Fighter," wants the
winner of his series to fight the winner of Stallone's
boxing show, "The Contender."
"Boxing is in shambles," White told The
Post yesterday. "Back in the day, whoever the
heavyweight champ was, was considered the baddest man on
the planet, and that's just not the case anymore — not
by a long shot — and we're willing to put our money
where our mouth is."
The proposed match would be televised on cable or
pay-per-view or held privately. "However they want
it," White said.
NBC officials, Stallone and "Contender"
creator Mark Burnett declined to comment yesterday.
On "Ultimate Fighter," debuting Jan. 17, 16
contestants will be split into teams. They will live and
train together, and ultimately fight in a Las Vegas bout
live on Spike.
Fighters will be ejected until only two fighters in
separate weight classes remain — and they'll be
offered six-figure contracts with the UFC.
On "The Contender" — a new NBC series
from reality show guru Burnett, "Rocky" star
Stallone, Jeffrey Katzenberg and boxer Sugar Ray Leonard
— 16 boxers square off each week in the ring. Losers
face elimination.
The two finalists square off in the finale for a $1
million prize.
The show is slated to debut Feb. 21.