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It’s Tuesday!
Hello, Curse and Coffee friends,
Today, we look at Mayweather-Pacquiao II (on Netflix).
Hit reply and let us know what you think (we read all of your kind words).
Coffee at the ready…
The Big Sip
Mayweather-Pacquiao
The take: Mayweather-Pacquiao II has nothing to do with boxing. Netflix needs 325 million subscribers to stay subscribed through September, and two famous pensioners are cheaper than making a good TV show.
What happened: Netflix confirmed on Monday that Floyd Mayweather (50-0) and Manny Pacquiao (62-8-3) will fight a professional rematch on 19 September at The Sphere in Las Vegas, streamed globally at no extra cost.
Why it matters: The 2015 fight made $600 million in total revenue. This time, Netflix is giving it away free because keeping you subscribed is worth more than selling you a ticket.
What to watch: Weight class and round count are still unconfirmed. Mayweather weighed in at 161 pounds for his last exhibition. The welterweight limit is 147. Nobody's calling this "professional" (with a straight face).
Two retirements, one shoulder excuse. The most expensive screensaver in streaming history.
Analyst Receipt
[Analysis] Variety, 21 January 2026
Background: Netflix reported Q4 2025 earnings of $12.05 billion in revenue, crossing 325 million paid subscribers globally. Ad revenue hit $1.5 billion for the full year, up 2.5 times over 2024.
Key quote: Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos: "We're now serving an audience approaching one billion people globally."
Strategic timing: This announcement lands five weeks after Netflix said it plans to double ad revenue in 2026. A global spectacle at The Sphere is an ad-sales grab dressed in silk shorts.
Sponsor Break
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