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Super-featherweight boxer John Cooney, 28, has died following his defeat by Nathan Howells in Belfast last Saturday. The Irish boxer suffered an intracranial haemorrhage after the bout at Ulster Hall and underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain. Cooney, from Galway, was assessed by the medical team in the ring before being taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
"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 on behalf of the Cooney 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 contest was stopped in the ninth round in what was Cooney's first defence of his Celtic super-featherweight title.
The Galway boxer won the Celtic title with a first-round win over Liam Gaynor in November 2023 at a sold-out 3Arena in Dublin, on the undercard of Katie Taylor's revenge win over Chantelle Cameron. Cooney then spent a year out of the ring recovering from a hand injury before returning to beat Tampela Maharusi of Tanzania in October 2024 in London.
Many people have been paying tributes to Cooney on social media.
Former double WBO European champion Conrad Cummings said on X: "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 strength."
Olympic medallist Michael Conlan said it's a "very sad day for the Irish boxing community, my thoughts and prayers go out to John's family and friends".
