John Cooney Dies At 28 After Sustaining Brain Injury In A Title Fight

An Irish boxer John Cooney has died at the age of 28 from brain injuries sustained in a fight, Mark Dunlop, his promoter announced on Saturday.

“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,” Mark Dunlop said in a post on Instagram.

“He was a much loved son, brother and partner and it will take us all a lifetime to forget how special he was,” Dunlop added. “RIP John ‘The Kid Cooney.’”

The Fight Leading To John Cooney Injury

Cooney defended his Celtic super-featherweight title against Welshman Nathan Howells at the Ulster Hall in Belfast on February 1 when the referee stopped the bout in the ninth round.

Doctors took him to Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital for treatment, where he later underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain from an intracranial hemorrhage, Dunlop said earlier this week.

“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,” Dunlop added in Saturday’s statement.

Cooney first claimed his Celtic super-featherweight title with a victory against Liam Gaynor in November 2023. He then spent almost a year away from the ring with a hand injury before defeating Tampela Maharusi in October.