Bika stops Codrington in thriller

By Scott Shaffer

06/11/2007

Bika stops Codrington in thriller

Sakio Bika TKO8 Jaidon Codrington... Sakio Bika claimed the $750,000 first prize by defeating Jaidon Codrington to win  the third season of competition on The Contender reality show.  The bout, held in Boston, was non-stop action all the way through, showing that a winner-take-most format produces exciting fights. The first round was nuts. Codrington got decked early, and Bika took the liberty of landing two punches while his opponent was down. His fouls went unpunished, but in the end it made little difference. But Codrington stood up and connected with a compact hook later in the first that floored Bika. The remaining rounds featured many big exchanges, with Bika getting the better of the action. Through seven rounds, Codrington  stayed with Bika, landing severalk big shots of his own, but in the eighth round, the punches caught up with him. Codrington did not go down in the eighth, but the fight ended with him staggering around the ring. Bika is now 25-3 with two losses coming against world title holders (Joe Calzaghe and Lucien Bute) and the other (Sam Soliman) avenged last week. To Codrington,  the loss meant his potential winnings were reduced by $650,000, but in time he will take solace knowing he is now a certified warrior who has proved he is completely recovered from his 2005 first-round KO loss to Allan Green.  source: espn

Sam Soliman W6 Wayne Johnsen... Veteran Sam Soliman was too awkward and too experienced for Wayne Johnson in The Contender's third place bout, a six rounder. Soliman improved to 35-10 by scores of 60-54 (twice) and 59-55. source: espn