Joe Harker
28-year-old boxer John Cooney has died a week after being taken to intensive care following his defeat in his first Celtic super-featherweight title defence.
The Irish boxer had been fighting Welshman Nathan Howells at Ulster Hall in Belfast on 2 February and was stopped in the ninth round of the fight.
He was assessed in the ring and then taken out on a stretcher before being rushed to hospital.
His promoter Mark Dunlop explained at the time that John had been 'assessed by the onsite medical team of the British Boxing Board of Control and swiftly taken to Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital for further treatment'.
At the hospital, doctors found that the boxer had an 'intracranial haemorrhage' and the 28-year-old went into surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.
Sadly, a statement released last night (8 February) confirmed that Cooney had died a week after the boxing match that had resulted in him being hospitalised.
The statement, posted by Dunlop on behalf of Cooney's family, praised the work done by hospital staff and thanked everyone who had wished them well during such a difficult time.
"After a week of battling for his life John Cooney has sadly passed away," the statement said. "Mr and Mrs Cooney and his fiancée 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 Irish boxer had won the Celtic super-featherweight title by defeating Liam Gaynor in Dublin in 2023 but spent a year out of the ring afterwards with a hand injury.
Cooney had been victorious upon his return to the boxing ring in October against Tampela Maharusi.
Figures in the world of boxing have been paying tribute to John Cooney's memory, with Barry McGuigan calling him a 'fine young boxer' and said he wanted to send his 'deepest sympathies' to the 28-year-old's family.
He also told the BBC it was 'terrifying that this could happen to a 28-year-old kid who looked in the prime of his life' and was a 'just a lovely, sweet kid'.
Boxing champion Conrad Cummings said: "John Cooney the warrior gave up his fight & passed away this evening.
"I am deeply saddened, I can't begin to think of the hurt his poor fiancee & family are going through. I pray they find the strength."