John Cooney has died after suffering a severe brain injury last weekend (Image: BBC Sport)
John Cooney has died from the injuries he suffered during his defeat against Wales’ Nathan Howells last weekend. The Irish boxer underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain after he suffered an intracranial haemorrhage.
Cooney was just 28 years old.
“It is with complete devastation that we have to announce that after a week of battling for his life John Cooney has sadly passed away,” MHD Promotions said in a statement on behalf of Cooney’s family.
“Mr and Mrs Cooney and his fiancee Emmaleen would like to thank the staff at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital who have worked tirelessly to save John’s life and for everyone who has sent messages of support and prayers.
“He was a much-loved son, brother and partner and it will take us all a lifetime to forget how special he was. RIP John ‘The Kid’ Cooney.”
The fight was stopped in the ninth round and Cooney received medical attention in the ring. He was Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast but later died from his injuries.
Cooney was defending his celtic super-featherweight title against Howells. He had won the title with a first-round win over Liam Gaynor in November 2023. That fight came on the undercard of Katie Taylor’s win over Chantelle Cameron at a sold-out 3Arena in Dublin.
The boxer subsequently spent a year out with a hand injury before returning to the ring to beat Tampela Maharusi last October.
Boxing icon Barry McGuigan was among the Irish sportnig figures to send their best wishes to Cooney while he was in hospital. “I was devastated to hear about this young man’s injury,” McGuigan told the Irish Mirror.
“Unfortunately from time to time professional boxing throws up these types of tragedies. My heart goes out to young John Cooney and his family and I pray that the next crucial few days brings him closer to recovery.”
Olympic boxing icon Michael Carruth also expressed concern, saying. “It’s horrible to hear. He’s in my prayers and I’m hoping that he makes a full recovery.
“It’s not common to hear of a boxer suffer a brain haemorrhage during a fight so it’s shocking and I just hope that he makes a full recovery. He’s a fighter and he has got a fighter’s chance in that regard and hopefully he is going to be OK and get back to his family.”
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