Irish boxer Cooney dies of head injuries sustained during fight

Irish boxer John Cooney has died aged 28 from injuries sustained in a bout on Feb.1, his promoter announced on Saturday.

The Irishman had been in intensive care after suffering an intracranial haemorrhage as he lost to Welshman Nathan Howells in a super-featherweight bout in Belfast last Saturday.

The fight was stopped in the ninth round and Cooney was taken to hospital. It was his first defence of the Celtic super-featherweight title.

“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,” said a statement issued by promoter Mark Dunlop on behalf of the Cooney family.

“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.”

Cooney’s fight with Howells was stopped in the ninth round at Ulster Hall. Cooney subsequently underwent surgery after it was discovered he had an intracranial hemorrhage.

“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,” the statement said.

The bout with Welsh boxer Howells was Cooney’s first defense of the Celtic super-featherweight title.

Cooney won the Celtic title with a first-round knock out of Liam Gaynor in Dublin in November 2023 but spent a year out of the ring with a hand injury.

He returned in October with a victory over Tampela Maharusi.