In this era of the internet and YouTube in particular, it has become commonplace to not simply share opinions good and bad about the merits of a particular fighter and his record but to actually go back and effectively attempt to and/or revise history by evaluating the tapes of past fights. That is not a value judgement. It is a fact.

Many if not most of us do it. Or have at some time. 

The Pacquaio fights with Marquez, the Mayweather fights with Castillo have all been analysed, criticized and exorcised ad infinitum; possibly for edification and thus in good faith but arguably not. In most cases these observations have become cudgels to bludgeon the reputations of what were previously deemed to be impressive records accomplishments.

Now sometimes there is indeed merit to legitimately question a record of what would otherwise be an exceptional career. But most often we see posts which do more. The use them to demean.

I have always believed Oscar de la Hoya has not been given the respect he deserved for having fought every prime opponent put in front of his path already paved in gold. He could have chosen otherwise..but he didn't. And thus Oscar gets my props.

Manny and Floyd have both been accused of reaching the pinnicle of the game but having done so with a fair amout of 'cherry-picking' or, more accurately, choosing their matches carefully. I think these critiques are not totally unfair.

I'm not offering any other examples. I think you get my drift. My question to you all is who do you think has the most distinguished records of having fought the best when they were at their best?