Mayweather vs. Cotto Results: Power Ranking Best Possible Opponents for Money

Floyd Mayweather was able to take care of Miguel Cotto on Saturday night, though the fight was a lot closer than anyone expected it to be. With that rather large piece of business out of the way, Money can focus on where he wants to go next. 

Rather than let Mayweather make the decision on his own, we thought it would be fun to give him a push in the right direction. Of course, when you make $32 million for one fight, he could just say "to hell with this boxing thing."

Somehow we doubt that will happen, so we have to start looking forward. Here are the top three fighters we would like to see Mayweather challenge when he steps in the ring again. 

No. 3 Saul Alvarez (40-0-1, 29 KOs)

Golden Boy's next golden child, Alvarez was featured in the semi-main event of the Mayweather-Cotto card, defeating Shane Mosley by unanimous decision. That win gave him a nice name to put on his resume, but doesn't really tell us how good he is. 

There is no doubt that at some point Golden Boy Promotions wants Alvarez to lock horns with Mayweather. The only question is, do the powers that be feel that Alvarez is ready for that kind of spotlight?

Despite 41 professional fights, Alvarez is just 25 years old. His biggest fight was the victory over the 40-year-old Mosley. He is probably the most likely candidate right now, but hardly the best one. 

No. 2 Sergio Martinez (49-2-2, 28 KOs)

Mayweather would likely have to fight at 154 pounds again to make this fight work, but it would be one of the biggest fights in recent memory because Martinez is so well-regarded in the boxing community and has been able to back it up with dominant performances since a 2009 loss to Paul Williams. 

Plus, Martinez's style would match up very well with Mayweather and make for an entertaining fight. He does not waste time attacking, coming out right at the bell and establishing the tempo with his speed and punches. 

He can get a little reckless in the ring, but the idea of these two speed demons locking horns would be too much to pass up. 

No. 1 Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs)

How can anyone pretend this is the fight we don't want to see and the best potential one for both Mayweather and Pacquiao?

Obviously, a lot of things would have to go right to get the boxing super fight to go down--chief among them, Pacquiao has to get by Timothy Bradley in June--but there is no reason to delay this anymore. 

No fight that either Mayweather or Pacquiao takes from here on out is going to mean anything. We tune in because we are fascinated by them in the ring, but when the fight is over, it's over. No one cares about Mayweather beating Cotto. 

Boxing needs this fight to happen. Everyone and their grandmother is tired of talking about the fight potentially happening. It is time to make it official. 

Follow @adamwells1985