Contenders are showcase fighters.

[Left2body]

Look at the Contenders who have fought top guys and decent opponents.

Manfredo-Calz: One sided fight with showcase opponent in an horribly overmatched fight which made Calz look good. Looked like they didn't belong in the same ring.

Bundrage-Joel Julio: One sided fight with showcase opponent in an horribly overmatched fight which made Joel look incredible. Looked like they didn't belong in the same ring.

Norberto Bravo-Andre Berto: One sided fight with showcase opponent in an horribly overmatched fight which made Berto look very good. Looked like they didn't belong in the same ring.

Gomez-Cotto: One sided fight with showcase opponent in an horribly overmatched fight which made Cotto look good. Looked like they didn't belong in the same ring.

Forbes-DLH: Made a paper mismatch look competitive and held his own. Although it was a clear win for Oscar, Forbes looked like he belonged in the same ring with DLH.

Against Contender opponents everyone else had one sided fights. Oscar is gonna make a lot of money vs PBF but he no longer belongs in the same ring with guys like PBF, Margarito, Cotto.

[Texanballer]

what about forbes-bojado and lee-vera?

[Left2body]

what about forbes-bojado and lee-vera?

And thats my point.

I also intentionally left out Lacey-Manfredo which was competitive and Gomez-Gatti which was competitive. When guys make Contender stars looked good and competitive or even lose to them its a clear sign.

If your a young fighter it probably means your not as good as thought and your probably heading towards the journeyman, stepping stone status yourself. For older fighters it probably means your close to the end and should probably retire.

[MikeBrew328]

I don't think that Forbes is a good example. He didn't lose tonight based on skill. Gomez will always just be a "Contender", just like Manfredo. Forbes is a former champion and has the attributes of a champion, he's just fought at a weight way over his own...

[Left2body]

I don't think that Forbes is a good example. He didn't lose tonight based on skill. Gomez will always just be a "Contender", just like Manfredo. Forbes is a former champion and has the attributes of a champion, he's just fought at a weight way over his own...

At this weight he is were talking about the Forbes that fought tonight at the catch weight of 150lbs. At this weight he would be a showcase fighter for any top WW or jrMW.

Fairly slow output, not really elusive but fundamentally sound but also very orthodox, no power, no real reach, not very strong.

[MikeBrew328]

At this weight he is were talking about the Forbes that fought tonight at the catch weight of 150lbs. At this weight he would be a showcase fighter for any top WW or jrMW.

Fairly slow output, not really elusive but fundamentally sound but also very orthodox, no power, no real reach, not very strong.

True, but that's why he fights at 140... look what he did to D-Hop

[frankpaganini]

what about forbes-bojado and lee-vera?

exactly.

about the other fights you are basically right...but lee-vera especially was not a showcase fight...it was INTENDING to be but the result makes it look like a showcase for the other fighter.