In a previous era a heavyweight could be built into a contender through "creative" matchmaking.

Is there an active heavyweight contender who is now a ranked contender as a result of manipulative matchmaking?. . . Though not ever getting close to a title fight the last one I remember was David "Nino" Rodriguez 36-0 (34 KOs). Rodriguez' problem was the brutal throat slashing that he experienced and then after two years of recovery the poor management in his comeback.