这个单词字面意思为星号,我理解的引申义为“未被证实”,参照的依据是下面的第2条释义。
asterisk
n.(名词)
A star-shaped figure (*) used in printing to indicate an omission or a reference to a footnote.
星号,星标:印刷中用以表示省略或参见脚注的星号(*)
Linguistics An asterisk used to indicate an unattested sound, affix, or word.
【语言学】 星号,星标:用于表明未被证实的音,词缀或词的星号
关于翻译的顺序问题:
But something tells me Pacman won't duck. As his career gets close to the finish line, too many have (rightfully) questioned his recent choice of opponents, and he knows
但是有些事实告诉我,吃豆人不会逃避。因为帕奎奥的职业生涯已经接近触碰底线,已经有太多的人在(正当地)质疑帕奎奥近期的对手选择,并且他很清楚,
前面这半句遵照了原文的顺序。
if he wants to be fully accepted by the American boxing scene -- which still counts for something huge in terms of crowning true champions -- he must face Mayweather or risk a permanent asterisk on his record.
美国拳击界仍然在为加冕真正的冠军进行着一些大型赛事的衡量,如果他想赢得美国拳击界对他的充分认可,帕奎奥就必须面对梅威瑟,否则在他的战绩表上将可能永远标记着带有未被证实过意义的星号。
后面这半句,因为有非限制性定语从句,因此采用了逆译法,将定语从句提前译了,然后将句子的主干部分按原句顺序进行翻译。