1) Applicant 2) Candidate 3) Challenger 4) Champ 5) Comer 6) Competitor 7) Contestant 8) Finalist 9) Hopeful 10) Opposer 11) Rival 12) Semifinalist 13) Tilter 14) Vier 1) Boxing hopeful 2) Challenger 3) Champion wannabe 4) Competition 5) Competitor 6) Contestant 7) He fights, but not for money 8) Money in prison 9) Prison guard 10) Pugilist seeking a title 11) Rival 
[dinghy] The International Contender is a single-handed high performance sailing dinghy, designed by Bob Miller, latterly known as Ben Lexcen, (Australia) in 1967 as a possible successor to the Finn dinghy for Olympic competition. The Contender is recognized as an International Class by the International Sailing Federation, the governing bo...
• (n.) One who contends; a contestant.
[Noun] The people taking part in a contest or competition
Con·tend'er noun One who contends; a contestant. 
contender 1. A competitor; especially, someone who has a good chance of winning. 2. Any competitor in a contest who is seeking a prize or a title.
A fighter in a position to perhaps challenge for a championship.
This is a qualified opponent who has worked his way up the ranks in order to challenge for the world title.