New York City is abuzz on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade, as Puerto Rican welterweight champion Miguel Cotto headlines a card at the World's Most Famous Arena against Ghanaian challenger Joshua Clottey. The undercard features junior flyweight champion Ivan Calderon against Filipino bomber Rodel Mayol.

Just wanted to give everyone a heads-up that the card will be broadcast live on Solar Sports, with a primetime showing on CS/9 after the PBA quarterfinal knockouts.

Other than a Pinoy boxer in a fight, there are a couple of reasons to watch the card:

1. Miguel Cotto, if he wins, will probably be next in line for Manny Pacquiao. Like everyone else, I am rooting for the Pacman to fight Floyd Mayweather next, but I honestly doubt that the two camps will be able to agree on the purse anytime soon.
   
   Meanwhile, a win by Cotto here will put him back on track to boxing superstardom (as well as Boricua icon status a la Felix Trinidad). Cotto's ascent was halted after a loss to Antonio Margarito last year. Questions have been raised about that loss arised earlier this year when Margarito was caught loading up his gloves prior to getting knocked out by Shane Mosely--Cotto's trainers never checked Margarito's pre-fight fist-taping. Margarito has since been suspended for a year by the Nevada Athletic Commission after the incident.
   
   The loss did unquestionable damage to Cotto's reputation--the Queensberry Rules did a bang-up job breaking down what might have been--but an impressive win against a dangerous fighter like Clottey should push Cotto back on track, not to mention being a perfect reward for his rabid fanbase.
   
   And it would make him an extremely attractive opponent for Pacquiao. While he won't be quite the mainstream draw that Mayweather would be, Cotto has a huge following that should help him carry his end of the bargain in terms of drawing money for the fight. It would also allow Bob Arum, who promotes both Pacquiao and Cotto, significant leeway to put together a fight that would make it worth Pacquiao's while financially.


2. Ivan Calderon is a top-10 pound-for-pound fighter, and obviously a win by Mayol would be a big deal, continuing a bountiful year for Filipino pugilists. But a win by Calderon would set up a big-money fight against another Filipino fighter, Brian Viloria.
   
   Mayol had previously contended twice for a world title, failing each time. His last world championship bout was against Ulises Solis, whom Brian Viloria knocked out in stunning fashion last April.
   
   Viloria's next fight is scheduled on August 22, with no opponent named yet. It's cutting it a little close for Calderon to do the bout, but if he makes quick work of Mayol, then August might not be out of the question for the two champs.