Boxing can be brutal, but no one expects it to be their last fight.
John Cooney, a rising star in Irish boxing, has tragically passed away a week after suffering a severe head injury in the ring.
The 28-year-old was rushed to intensive care following his Celtic super-featherweight title defense against Nathan Howells at Ulster Hall last Saturday.
Cooney Suffered Severe Injury During Fight
The fight was stopped in the ninth round, and Cooney later underwent emergency surgery for an intracranial hemorrhage.
Despite a week-long battle, he couldn’t pull through.
His promoter, Mark Dunlop, shared a heartbreaking statement on behalf of the Cooney family: “It is with complete devastation that we have to announce that John Cooney has sadly passed away.
He was a much-loved son, brother, and partner, and it will take us all a lifetime to forget how special he was.
”Cooney captured the Celtic title in November 2023 but was sidelined for a year due to a hand injury before returning last October.
