(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
After a much-hyped but mediocre 12th round win over Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is back in the elite Pound for Pound list at Number 2.
After almost 2 years of non-activity in the sport, some quarters find Mayweather's sudden placement at Number 2 too much, overtaking Shane Mosley who won a great victory over the disgraced Antonio Margarito early this year.
Never mind that there are issues before and even after the fight, Mayweather is back in the spotlight, while Marquez is contemplating on fighting either Brit Ricky Hatton in England for a less-lucrative paycheck, or comply with the mandatory WBO title defense against the recently victorious Michael Katsidis.
One thing is certain for Marquez, he lost his ticket for his much-desired third fight against the reigning P4P king Manny Pacquiao for now, with whom he fought twice in the past - first fight ending in a draw, and losing the latest on a split decision.
Personally, I believe Marquez must reside to where great competition is, and that is at the Jr. Welterweight division if he wants to retain his greatness. He can pick a fight with the rest of the 140 pound division, and try to dominate much of it.
Currently, the most appealing fights weigh no less than 140 pounds. Marquez can settle a bout against Hatton, Amir Khan and even Timothy Bradley.
Mayweather on the other hand, have better options. During an interview right after the Marquez fight, Mayweather was cornered by Shane Mosley who was close to bullying him for a fight right there and then. Mayweather can choose to either accept the challenge, fight Paul Williams, or await the victor on the yet to be held Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto bout on November.
With regards to the most appealing fight, the rest of the world salivates on the thought of seeing Pacquiao and Mayweather, two of the best fighters in this generation together on the same ring. This fight is so appealing regardless if Pacquiao loses to Cotto come November. If Mayweather so rightly believes that he is the best, then he must have that put in paper and reclaim his spot by defeating the one regarded as a thrill-a-second fighter in Pacquiao. There is no other way.
Despite worldwide appeal however, Mayweather chooses to make his case - without the gloves on and outside the ring. Granting interviews here and there all the while claiming to be the best is no way to be crowned top dog. Not even with the backing of any known promoter in the sport. They're only firing dud bullets that way. All form and no substance.
Whatever Mayweather does next, I can only hope that he truly delivers what his mouth issues. If he takes on anybody other than the four mentioned - Pacquiao, Cotto, Mosley or Williams, then it will be a confirmation of his fraud, accusations that linger on him even before he "retired" from the sport.
If he chooses to call on somebody 2 divisions lighter than him and come into the fight extra-large, then he's really living up to his tag - "Money". And if that doesn't wake up a lot of people, I don't think anything else can.
If he chooses to face strong oppositions, that's cementing the legacy.
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