Pacquiao best of strong '09 so far

In 2009 so far, TV has been the thing.

After pay-per-view bombs like Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins-Kelly Pavlik in the second half of 2008, cable TV got some gems this year. Three of the first half's best and most anticipated matches (Shane Mosley-Antonio Margarito, Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz and Miguel Cotto-Joshua Clottey) were free to premium subscribers.

This was the first time three fights that could have been bona fide pay-per-view shows aired in such close succession for years and the ratings have grown accordingly.




We also can't forget other high quality bouts such as the junior welterweight title unification battle between Timothy Bradely-Kendall Holt and a super middleweight war between Carl Froch and Jermain Taylor.

It is not to say every show on every channel has been good. There have still been some dreadful nights which initially looked fine on paper and some dreadful nights which didn't and lived down to expectation. However, the matchmaking is less erratic and the results show it.

The second half of the year may fizzle out, betraying elevated expectations. If it does not, then the stabilization of broadcast quality is likely to be a major reason why.
Here are some thoughts on the leader board for year-end honors with six full months ahead.

Fighter of the Half-Year