A Los Angeles judge declined Wednesday to issue an emergency order barring Fox Broadcasting Co. from proceeding with its planned boxing reality series "The Next Great Champ" because of alleged violations of California boxing regulations.

The four-page decision by Judge Linda Lefkowitz marked only a partial victory for Fox because the proposed injunction, which is being sought by producers of rival boxing show "The Contender," will be taken up in depth at a hearing Sept. 8 -- only two days before the debut of "The Next Great Champ."

"This is yet another in a series of never-ending attempts by 'The Contender's' producers to stifle competition," Fox officials said. "They are simply trying to impede Fox's First Amendment rights by inserting themselves into a procedure in which they have no legitimate role. In an effort to protect themselves from fair competition, it is particularly disingenuous that they are using the guise of 'protecting the public,' when in fact what they are really attempting to protect is their pocketbook."

The temporary restraining order sought by "Contender" producers DreamWorks Television and Mark Burnett was denied because the judge felt that blocking Endemol USA and Lock & Key Prods. from delivering "The Next Great Champ" to Fox was "tantamount to a direct prior restraint."

Still, Lefkowitz said the case had enough merit to permit limited discovery ahead of the preliminary injunction hearing, which will give both sides "a full opportunity to be heard upon the constitutional issues" raised by DreamWorks and Burnett.

"This is a significant victory for us and the athletes involved in the sport of boxing," DreamWorks spokesman Andy Spahn said. "We are pleased that the court has set this matter for a hearing on an expedited basis prior to the premiere of the show. The court's ruling recognizes the seriousness of the issues raised by our lawsuit and the commissioner's report."

The plaintiffs sued Fox, Endemol USA and Lock & Key on Tuesday, saying that California regulations governing the promotion of boxing matches were violated in the rush to get "The Next Great Champ" on air before NBC debuts "The Contender" in the fall.

The plaintiffs' concerns mirror those raised by an independent investigation from California State Athletic Commissioner Stanford Michelman. Fox maintains that the commission has not made any formal findings or rulings regarding "The Next Great Champ."

"We think justice was done today and hopefully will be done on Sept. 8," said Patty Glaser, attorney for Endemol. "We are firmly of the view that when either the California State Athletic Commission or the court is presented with the truth and the facts, they will see that there was absolutely no violation of any of the commission's rules or regulations. We dotted all the i's and crossed all the t's."

Fox and the other major networks engaged in a bidding war for "The Contender." The plaintiffs claim that after NBC prevailed, Fox hired Endemol to create a copycat series with Oscar De La Hoya's boxing promotions company Golden Boy Prods.

Because of the alleged violations uncovered by Michelman, DreamWorks and Burnett want a court order barring Fox from receiving or broadcasting the fight footage that was allegedly obtained in violation of state law.

Kimberly Speight contributed to this report.