Marco Antonio Barrera proved his detractors wrong Saturday night by cautiously and methodically taking out former super bantamweight champ Paulie Ayala in the 10th round.

The focused Barrera did most of his damage when a game Ayala was intent on pressing the action, and opened himself up for Barrera's dangerous left hook to the body. Ayala was dropped twice in the 8th round, and finally put away in the 10th when he took a knee after another Barrera left hook, at which point the referee stopped the bout.

Although Barrera was impressive in stopping the smaller Ayala who'd never been knocked out before, questions still remain about whether or not the fiery Mexican can compete at an elite level. This was not the same Barrera we saw against Manny Pacqiuao, but neither was it the same Ayala. Many would say that Ayala was damaged goods after his fight with Erik Morales, and all Barrera did was finish him off. Still, the hard-hitting Morales was unable to finish Ayala off or even drop him, something Barrera did three times.

Barrera's promoter Golden Boy Promotions wants to get him a marquee fight against a big name. A third fight with Morales seems unlikley, but a fight against pound-for-pounder Juan Manuel Marquez makes perfect sense. If Barrera could get by Marquez, then a rematch with featherweight king Pacquiao would be justified. If Barrera can't defeat the fellow Mexican, then there'd be no reason for a rematch with the Filipino, who fought to a draw with Marquez. However, Pacquiao and Marquez have some unfinished business to attend to, and it's unlikely either one of them have Barrera on thier minds.

Unfortunately, Barrera's dominance of Paulie Ayayla not only proves that he's not a shot fighter- it also make clear he's not in the same league as the Pacqiuao's and Marquez's anymore.