SYLVESTER STALLONE - STALLONE'S SHOW SUFFERS A BLOW AS CONTESTANT DIES

SYLVESTER STALLONE's upcoming reality TV boxing show THE CONTENDER has been dealt a severe blow a month before its debut in America - one contestant has committed suicide.

Promising young boxer NAJAI TURPIN, 23, who was expected to become one of the stars of the new show, was found dead in his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Monday (14FEB05).

Stallone and show co-creator MARK BURNETT are refusing to discuss the details of the boxer's death, but Burnett insists he will not edit Turpin's scenes out of the show.

Instead, TV bosses are planning to pay tribute to Turpin with a written message after one of the upcoming programmes.

The series will premiere as scheduled on 7 March (05).