As expected, Floyd Mayweather Jr defeated the smaller, slower but courageous Juan Manuel Marquez in their September 19 fight at the MGM Grand. Now, it’s time for Mayweather to step up the competition. Not to take anything away from Marquez because he is still an elite fighter, but he was just too small to pose a threat to Mayweather.

A lot of boxing analysts have claimed that Mayweather is back atop the boxing world and did everything right to claim back his Pound-for-Pound title but look at who he did it against. Shouldn’t Mayweather’s sportsmanship be questioned since it seemed that he deliberately didn’t make weight and chose to pay the hefty fee instead?

Marquez lost the bout even before it started, the size discrepancy between him and Mayweather was ridiculous and almost comical. To even reach Mayweather with a jab, Marquez had to take two or three steps forward. Every time Marquez charged Mayweather he would be greeted by a lightning quick jab.

Mayweather’s speed and defensive skills were on full display in his return to the ring after the 21-month long layoff. He parried shots with his elbows, shoulders and gloves. Mayweather showed tremendous footwork in slipping in-and-out of Marquez reach. Marquez could not land a clean punch to hurt Mayweather.

Mayweather’s fight against Marquez proves nothing. He fought a guy two weight classes below him. His skills are yet to be tested against a natural welterweight. There’s no doubt about the fact that Marquez took the fight because he knew it would the biggest paycheck of his career.

It’s frustrating to see Mayweather fight against fighters not in his weight class (Marquez, Hatton) or fighters on the way to retirement (De La Hoya) instead of fighting top welterweights like Mosley, Cotto, Paul Williams or even Antonio Margarito.

Mayweather handpicked Marquez as his opponent to set-up an unavoidable showdown with current Pound-for-Pound King Manny Pacquiao. He knew that fighting Marquez would give him and Pacquiao a common opponent. No doubt that Pacquiao had a hard time fighting Marquez in their two fights and Mayweather had such ease in schooling the valiant Marquez.

Welterweight champ Shane Mosley climbed the ring after Mayweather’s victory and personally challenged him. If Mayweather wants to silence doubters, a win over Mosley would be huge. He would not only prove that he can beat a top welterweight but his skills would be put to the test.