Beating the champ in a non-title match is a fairly common way of buiilding up a new challenger for the belt. They need to build up SOMEONE to compete...
I think is more like he wanted to develop a proper mythology for Green Arrow and to be honest, and despite that Lemire barely touched the surface, it...
" I've learned that free will isn't a gift-it's muscle that needs to be exercised-and only when it's in peak condition-is a man truly awake" TONY STARK