I remember there was once a time when I used to get together with friends to watch boxing matches on Showtime or HBO. It is was a good time. But then something happened, and I'm not quite sure what. Maybe it was that there was suddenly a lack of great fighters in the sport or what not, but MMA popped up and quickly stole the show.

Now I sit around with friends and watch UFC or Elite XC with the same anticipation I once had for big time boxing matches.

But the truth is that tonight we really should be paying attention to boxing, even though Elite XC is on TV for free tonight.

Tonight's tilt features one of the best young boxers in the game with Miguel Cotto. Cotto (32-0, 26 KO) probably won't save boxing, but he could certainly help make it relevant again.

What's unfortunate is that because Floyd Mayweather "retired", we have yet to get the dream Mayweather/Cotto matchup that in all honesty really could save boxing. Some people actually think Mayweather would prefer not to jeopardize his legacy by fighting Cotto. Mayweather was accused of not taking on tough challengers after becoming the welterweight world champion.

Fortunately for us, even though Mayweather's gone, Cotto hasn't backed away from challenging fighters and should he beat Margarito tonight, he will have defeated four of the top five welterweights in less than two years.

Margarito (36-5, 26 KOs) won't be easy to get past. He never stops throwing punches, his shots are heavy and accurate, he’s seemingly impossible to hurt, and he never backs down.

Still, I expect Cotto to win this fight and cement his place as the best current boxer on the planet.

Then maybe, just maybe, we'll see bags of money thrown at Mayweather to come out of retirement to fight Cotto. We - and boxing - can only hope that it happens.