For months, the bitterness of being handed a defeat when he knew that he deserved a better fate lingered. The only consolations for Forbes came from boxing writers, who ran the alarm on the unfair decision, and Bernard Hopkins, Demetrius' nephew and promoter, whom Forbes claims admitted to him that he believes Forbes won the fight.

Then the opportunity came to return to a Golden Boy Promotions card against another one of their prized prospects, this time against Francisco "Panchito" Bojado. Still stinging from the disappointment in his previous bout, Forbes took solace from a Golden source.

"I almost didn't do it because I had just been ripped off," Forbes told BoxingScene. "We did some homework. We knew who the judges were, who the ref is. But then I spoke to Oscar [De La Hoya] and he was really cool. He understands about being robbed, since he deserved to win the second Mosley fight. I told myself that this can't happen twice. If it does, then I'm done with boxing."

Forbes, who resides in suburban Michigan, entered the ring confidently. And why shouldn't he, for he wholeheartedly believed he had won his two previous fights despite what BoxRec says. For that matter, Forbes believes all of his five defeats "could've gone either way."

After a spirited effort by both fighters, Forbes was awarded a split-decision victory over Bojado, who many picked to win. Still leery of the judges, Forbes pushed the extra mile to ensure he'd get the just result. It paid off in the form of the biggest win of his career since he won a world title early this decade.

Yet despite Forbes' proven credentials, the big fights have eluded him in favor of other more favored Contender alums. Peter Manfredo earned big paydays against Jeff Lacy and Joe Calzaghe, while Sergio Mora recently watched a showdown with Kassim Ouma fall through. It was Alfonso Gomez getting the nod over Forbes to face Arturo Gatti that hurt the most. Forbes had to watch from outside of the ropes as Gomez picked up the lofty paycheck in dismantling Gatti, a position that Forbes had been an early favorite to earn.

After back to back fights with prospects, Forbes was upset that he was being cast as a stepping stone for young talent. "It's disrespectful," Forbes said. "It pisses me off. I told everyone that this is the last time I'm doing this. Why are they trying to make me a gatekeeper? I'm 30 years old! Now they're talking about me fighting (Andre) Berto at 147. I'm not in the business of fighting prospects. I want to win a championship at my legitimate weight. I'll even drop down to 135 if I have to. I'm not fighting welterweights and junior middleweights, because that's just dumb."

Forbes now claims that his relationship with The Contender is improving after the ill feelings following the Hopkins fight. "It got a little rocky because I was upset that they didn't come to the Hopkins fight, but yet they went to Manfredo's and Sergio's fights. After the Bojado fight, they really gave me a lot of respect. They said 'Wait a minute, this is our guy right here.' But it wasn't always like that." Though Forbes speaks more positively, he remains guarded in his optimism. "I think now they are really trying to make the best fights out there for me, atleast I hope so."

With the disappointments of some Contender fighters outside of the show, a stigma exists over the series. Some say that The Contender contestants, by and large, are only validated by network television's omnipresent hype machine. Perhaps most telling was USA Today's headline following Peter Manfredo's third round blowout loss to Super Middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe: "Reality Check". Forbes believes that it is fair to assess that the young boxers get star-struck.

Said Forbes, "Besides Gomez beating a fading Gatti, who else has done anything? Sergio Mora just fought Elvin Ayala and it was a draw. There's alot of pressure on the Contender fighters. I think the problem is that a lot of these guys really feel Hollywood. None of them ever won a title and their heads are pumped up. But now reality is starting to set in."

"Two Pounds", a nickname Forbes picked up because of his low birth weight, continued to expound on why Contender fighters fall short in primetime. "It just goes to show you how people can get strayed off of BS. Alot of these kids think they are some big thing when they haven't done anything in boxing outside of being on the show. You get a guy like Floyd Mayweather Junior, he has the right to be Hollywood. A guy that hasn't done nothing but be on a TV show, he doesn't have a right to act like that."

Yet even in spite of their bumpy past, Forbes is thankful to the program that ushered him into the public eye. "With all I've said about them, The Contender and I are at a great place. I am very grateful that I was able to be apart of such a force. Whether people like it or not, The Contender gets exposure. Anything that gets attention is a force. I'm very proud to have been part of that."

For the young fighters looking to make it big on a future season of The Contender, Forbes had the following advice. "I would tell them basically to stay true to themselves. Don't get wrapped up into thinking you're some star. Because you're on a show, that doesn't mean anything. Handle your business inside the ring. Go in there and do your work. Don't get lost in the cameras and lights."

Now, at 30 years old, Forbes feels that he is finally coming into his own as a fighter. "I won the title when I was 23 year old. I had a great time, but I knew that it wasn't my time yet. I didn't really have the time to develop like I should have. I'm a late bloomer even though I've already been a champ. I'm starting to do some of the things I wanted to do inside the ring. I'm still learning alot of different things, which helps me to be an old school fighter."

Approaching the end of 2007, a year that has featured difficult lows and ended on a positive note, Forbes looks ahead to 2008 with his head held high. Remember, Forbes began 2000 with his first defeat and ended it with the IBF Super Featherweight title around his waist.

"There's been some talk of Ricky Hatton coming down to 140 and possibly a fight with him, which I would love. I just need one of those breakout fights, like a Junior Witter, where people can say 'Wait a minute, this guy has been doing this for years.' I think it's going to happen. I just have to stay focused when I come out and perform. It took many years for Bernard Hopkins to get the respect and big fights."

Time will tell if the new year will be Forbes' big coming out party, or if time will finally begin it's slow process of wearing the resilient pug down. For now he is here, alive and well and more popular than during his brief title reign. He and his wife recently had their first child together, son Kayden, which seemed the most fitting upward note on which to close out a year. For Forbes, reality has scarcely been sweeter.

Any questions or comments? Send them to me at mc_rson@yahoo.com