So Champion thing aside - we know, what Oenomaus and Titus mean in terms "a real Champion" - devoted for ludus and sand of the arena; best skills doesn't mean The Champion for them.

BUT! Oenomaus had to see, as Doctore, Spartacus' skills are much greater then Crixus. So why he was so sure, Crixus can beat Spartacus? It wasn't just encouragement - he truly believed, he can defeat Spartacus. How? Was he so bad as Doctore, he didn't see that gasp between their combat skills? Or he was blindsided by his "friendship" towards Crixus (I don't believe it, he was objective in GoA, when Batiatus asked him about Gannicus' skills, even that it doesn't make favor to himself).

OR - we just really underestimate Crixus here. For sure; in Vengeance and WoD, Spartacus was clearly stronger. But maybe, just maybe, Crixus was really very close to skillfulness of Spartacus. Yes - in the final battle, Spartacus was playing for time and he stalemate Crixus in that part of battle. But, Crixus was after several days without training, also after torture and eventially poisoned. And also, it wasn't the same man, as before Theokoles. Even under those circumstances, he was a dangerous opponent to Spartacus. Oenomaus believed in his victory, not as his "friend" (honestly, they wasn't so close...maybe as teacher and pupil, but not as a real friends, as was Oenomaus with Gannicus, or Barca before), but as Doctore - man, who need to be excelent in observing his men.

  
That's actually same question about Titus. As Lanista, he need a skills to see in someone potential. But he failed in that one with Crixus, and also little bit with Gannicus. Yes - I think, he never doubt Gannicus' skills, he just had a problem with his morale and attitude. But - he clearly stated, he had Auctus, or Barca above Gannicus in terms of skills. He even didn't give a probs to Crixus and his devotion to training and becoming a Champion (which was quality, he seek). In that term, he really burned as Lanista.

  
What do you think? Why was Oenomaus so confident with Crixus victory, when we have (like generally in all discussions) Crixus lower then rest of the champions? And was Quintus better...well more like more luckier(Crixus and Spartacus were sort of purchases from seeking of favors) Lanista in terms, which I mentioned above? Even he had lucky with Crixus and Spartacus, eventually, he found that potential and he developed it (same with Oenomaus as men in position of Doctore). And he clearly saw that so big potential in Gannicus, which his father overlooked.

Was Oenomaus blind, biased, or are we underestimating Crixus?