Irish boxer John Cooney has passed away a week after sustaining a brain injury during his super-featherweight championship fight, his promoters confirmed.
The 28-year-old was rushed to intensive care after his bout against Welsh fighter Nathan Howells at Ulster Hall last Saturday. The fight, which was Cooney’s first defense of the Celtic super-featherweight title, was halted in the ninth round when he showed signs of distress. He was later diagnosed with an intracranial hemorrhage.
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MHD Promotions, his promoters, issued a statement expressing their heartbreak, saying, “After a week of fighting for his life, John Cooney has tragically passed away.” They also acknowledged the efforts of medical staff at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital and expressed gratitude on behalf of Cooney’s family and fiancée.
Cooney won the Celtic super-featherweight title in November 2023 against Liam Gaynor but spent much of 2024 recovering from a hand injury. He made a successful non-title comeback before facing Howells. Tributes poured in from the boxing world, with Conrad Cummings describing him as a “warrior” and Gaynor, who retired after their fight, sharing his deep sadness over the news.
