Could you list the best contender's who were later successful in the world championship fights? I have nothing really against Ross but the world is full of nice contenders who look sharp and fit and box pretty well in comparison to the average boxing Joe with record 10-10-10. However just a few of them reach the opportunity to fight for a title and even less is capable to win it. Adamek pass the test and proved his skills a few times against other guys who were top contenders. At this point Ross is not proved and he may end same as Alexeev in his very next fight. Lets Ross fight first some live body untill anyone put him even in the mythical title fight.
It's not as simple as that. Ross has the ability, much of his career has been wasted. The raw materials are all there, and now he needs to be developed. He needs to do 10 rds vs a durable fighter before anything. You never know, the right opportunity may come up. If they fought right now, naturally Adamek would kill him. Contender fighters are normally veyr average. Ross is a very able fighter with some power and with some nice southpaw skills. Much of the good cruisers are a bit blown up and flabby. Ross seems to average 194 and seems fit and fast. A lot of the top prospects - Aaron Williams, Matt Godfrey, Alexeev, Eric Fields - are falling like flies. The cruisers need some more talent, some personality...there is room and a fighter like Ross can do things.
That's true. But because guys like Aaron Williams, Eric Fields, Matt Godfrey, Alexander Alexeev, Marco Huck & Yoan Pablo Hernandez have been beaten, cruiser needs a fresh face. Ross definitely needs some seasoning. Contender kept him active, and he did fight determined guys which can be tough in short duration fights. 5 rounder fights often give lesser fighters a chance, so Ross has been operating undr pressure i.e. you have to do your good work pretty quickly. If he could settle in a 10 or 12 rounder I think he would do better be more comfortable. Honestly, if Jon banks somehow beats Adamek tonight, would you think that Troy Ross has no chance? Ross just needs to get away from the short fights in which you have to score straight away. Longer fights where he uses the southpaw jab, and doesn't lean in slugging where he is vulnerable to uppercuts.
Winning a tv show stocked with marginal fighters does not automatically make you a contender. Ross has a lot to prove. Right now you have to think Adamek would ko him. Beat someone near the top 10 then we can start talking.
I have a feeling that the people discrediting Ross are the ones who didn't watch the show. As for the fight itself, Adamek throws straighter punches while Ross seems to throw a lot of hooks and loops his. I see Adamek being first in certain exchanges but Ross' hand speed would allow him to have success in other exchanges. I think it would be a war. Both guys come to fight.
The question is right now,and like you said right now(or anytime) Adamek kills him. Ross hasn't done anything till he was 33,just cuz he had a good tournament doesn't mean anything. It's a whole diffrent ball game.
That's the one thing that concerns me. Adamek looked completely clueless on how to handle the lanky southpaw Dawson, would he have figured it out any better by now? That said, in this last fight Ross showed he can be dragged into a war, and that would easily favor Adamek. Plus, the biggest question about Ross still hasn't been answered - how's his stamina? He used to gas out after about 5 or 6 rounds, and if that's still the case, then you can see why a format like the Contender would make him look good.
Considering that he now has a bigger name in the United States than almost any other cruiserweight, I wouldn't be at all surprised if someone lets him jump straight in to a title fight or title eliminator. If Banks wins, he'd be as good of an option as anyone for a defense. Same if Cunningham gets a belt back. It's not like the cruiserweight division is awash in money.
Ross is, in terms of p4p h2h, at least at the same level (if not half a step above) Bika, who is himself about three levels above Manfredo.