Yeah possibly, I can't think of any of fighter in similar circumsntances who doesn't get respect.

Look at Juan Manuel Marquez. Fighting at featherweight mostly against unknowns (at least unknown to those outside of a hardcore interest in those divisions)

He has a draw in a great performance with Pacquiao, tempered with a loss albiet somewhat controversial to the at the time completely unknown Chris John.

But he comes up and beats an old Barrera and universally is accepted as one of the greatest p4p fighters by everybody.

I actually think the less is known about a fighter the easier it is to accept them. Nobody pours over old Juan Manuel Marquez fights and shows how in 2003 he struggled against a domestic opponent or something. It's just accepted he's a great fighter, like it was with his brother Rafeal, with Isreal Vazquez, with Ivan Calderon and until he got battered by Darchinyan Christian Mijares. Nobody diseccts their records in the negative way they do to fighters in higher weight classes where their opponents are better known.

Joe's career is so heavily analysed by people that they argue away all of his wins but his resume is immense!


He is without question the number 2 fighter in the world p4p now imo.