How does the decision affect Pacquiao's legacy?

Yeah, pretty much agree with consensus here. It affects him in the here and now. His legacy will see two wins over a hall of famer. Few people will remember the nature of the win - similar as noted to others who have had the same happen to them most notably Ali and Norton.

I just hope JMM gets the credit he deserves in future years.

 

:-( I had Mayweather edging both fights. They were both close, to say Mayweather dominated Castillo is beyond a joke.

 

Thing is, the general consensus/public perception is not really the 'real' answer.

The historians will hopefully do the research (um, watch the fights objectively) and realise that Pacquiao, shock horror, was not unbeatable!

Just like anyone who says Julio Cesar Chavez earned a draw with Sweet Pea is rightly scorned. The Ring Record, okay, will be the thing hacks and 'mainstream' fans of the sport will see, and that's fair enough. But it's not the truth.

Looking at how many guys between 18-30 are still painstakingly researching everywhere from 1880-present day, I would hope that Marquez still gets credit for the performances he put in. Just as anyone with half a brain can do for Norton.

There's a difference between crediting a fighter with a win (Pacman) and discrediting a fighter for losing against another top fighter (Pacman)

Reason this fight has shocked so many is because we're used to cherry picked dead' cert' fights. When one that looked like one on paper turned out the other way it's 'how **** really is Pacquiao'?

All the 'greats' were up against it throughout their careers. If you fight the best fighters around it's impossible not to be.

 

Is interesting. If Whitaker had got the decision over Chavez would people still have rated him below him in lists such as this by ESPN in 2007?

Whitaker, Charles and RJJ seem most unfairly treated here...

1. Sugar Ray Robinson
2. Muhammad Ali
3. Henry Armstrong
4. Joe Louis
5. Willie Pep
6. Roberto Duran
7. Benny Leonard
8. Jack Johnson
9. Jack Dempsey
10. Sam Langford
11. Joe Gans
12. Sugar Ray Leonard
13. Harry Greb
14. Rocky Marciano
15. Jimmy Wilde
16. Gene Tunney
17. Mickey Walker
18. Archie Moore
19. Stanley Ketchel
20. George Foreman
21. Tony Canzoneri
22. Barney Ross
23. Jimmy McLarnin
24. Julio Cesar Chavez
25. Marcel Cerdan
26. Joe Frazier
27. Ezzard Charles
28. Jake LaMotta
29. Sandy Saddler
30. Terry McGovern
31. Billy Conn
32. Jose Napoles
33. Ruben Olivares
34. Emile Griffith
35. Marvin Hagler
36. Eder Jofre
37. Thomas Hearns
38. Larry Holmes
39. Oscar De La Hoya
40. Evander Holyfield
41. Ted "Kid" Lewis
42. Alexis Arguello
43. Marco Antonio Barrera
44. Pernell Whitaker
45. Carlos Monzon
46. Roy Jones Jr.
47. Bernard Hopkins
48. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
49. Erik Morales
50. Mike Tyson