Mexican boxing legend Juan Manuel Marquez believes Saul "Canelo" Alvarez needs a big win in his next fight in order to prove that he is one of the best fighters in the world today.

Alvarez, who holds a 45-1-1 record with 32 knockout victories, will go up against Miguel Cotto on Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.

During a recent interview, Marquez said that there is still something missing on Canelo's list of accolades. According to the veteran boxer, Alvarez needs to prove his worth by facing more big-name fighters.

"People often ask me what is missing from Canelo's career and my answer is simple: fighting the best, like Cotto," Marquez said via BoxingScene. "You have to stand against a great opponent to know if you are among the best in the world."

Marquez said that Canelo's upcoming fight against Cotto will be a good test for his 25-year-old compatriot based on the Puerto Rican's résumé.

Cotto, who has racked up 40 victories, 33 by knockouts, with just four defeats in his 14-year boxing career, is a four-division world champion. He also holds the World Boxing Council middleweight title, which he won during his bout against Sergio Martinez in June last year.

The 34-year-old boxing superstar, who is being trained by Hall of Fame boxing coach Freddie Roach, successfully defended his title in June via a fourth-round knockout against Daniel Geale in Brooklyn, New York.

"Cotto is a good fighter, with experience and intelligence," Marquez said. "He's the kind of opponent that if Canelo wins, and wins well, then he deserves to be in the position that people say he's in."

Alvarez previously faced undefeated world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. Canelo took a majority decision loss to Mayweather in September 2013, and has not faced big-name fighters following the lone defeat of his career.

The former junior middleweight world champion is coming off a third-round knockout win against James Kirkland in May, but Marquez was not too impressed with Canelo's most recent victory.

"It was an opponent who was inactive for more than one year," Marquez said, referring to Kirkland. "I don't think it's Canelo's fault, but he faced an opponent without any rhythm and without any desire. Kirkland went out there to fight in the first few rounds, but it was absurd to me because he was coming forward and taking punches."