Manny Pacquiao’s Ricky Hatton Tribute takes Unexpected Turn after Chael Sonnen’s Viral Reply

What was meant to be a heartfelt gesture towards a fallen friend quickly backfired for boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. The eight-division world champion shared a warm message on social media; however, attached to it was a video of “Pacman’s” devastating second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton from their 2009 super fight.

The clip immediately sparked debate online, but former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen summed up what many were thinking with one characteristically blunt response.

Chael Sonnen's Reply Steals the Spotlight

Never one to miss an opportunity for dry humor, Sonnen reshared Pacquiao's post on X with a remark that quickly began making the rounds across social media. He wrote, "If posting a tribute video to a dead guy, consider not attaching a video where you are beating the crap out of him."

The post resonated with fans, many of whom felt the tribute was undermined by the choice of footage.One fan sarcastically wrote, "We all really miss this guy. Remember when I beat the shit out of him? Good times."

Another added, "Lol, this was extremely tone deaf from Manny, RIP Ricky." Meanwhile, some reactions came from supporters of Hatton who found the post particularly difficult to watch.

Some Hatton Fans Had Trouble Watching Tribute

"As a man who trained in Ricky Hatton's boxing gym. I can kindly say we don't appreciate that video one bit," one such fan noted. Others pointed to the lasting effects that punishment in combat sports can have, arguing that a knockout wasn't the right memory to highlight.

"Well said. Concussive blows to the head probably contributed to his mental state, that ultimately led him to end his own life. Why choose footage of knocking him out to honour him?"

Hatton was found in an unresponsive state at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on September 14. During a subsequent pre-inquest review, officials stated that the provisional cause of death was hanging, with many health professionals suggesting early stages of CTE. 

Fans Question Why Pacquiao Didn't Choose a Different Memory

While few questioned Pacquiao's respect for Hatton, many believed there were countless better ways to pay tribute than replaying arguably the most painful moment of the Briton's career.

One fan suggested the video itself, not the message, was the real problem, stating, "Yea, that's crazy. He could've highlighted Hatton's highlights in the fight with him, even though there weren't many. This is distasteful. His social media people should be fired."

Pacquiao and Hatton shared one of boxing's biggest nights when they met for the IBO and The Ring junior welterweight titles in May 2009. That night, the Flipino produced one of the defining performances of his Hall of Fame career, flattening Hatton with a thunderous left hand in the second round.

2009 Knockout Still Among Best in Boxing History

17 years later, that knockout remains one of the sport's most iconic finishes. As the reaction to Pacquiao's tribute showed, many fans felt it wasn't the moment that should have accompanied a farewell message.

Whether the post was Pacquiao's own decision or the work of someone managing his social media, the conversation quickly shifted away from remembering Hatton's career and toward the choice of video itself, a twist that Sonnen's viral one-liner only amplified.