Irish boxer John Cooney dies after brain injury during fight

Irish boxer John Cooney has died a week after suffering a brain injury in his super-featherweight championship fight, his promoters confirmed.

The 28-year-old was taken to intensive care following his bout against Welsh fighter Nathan Howells at Ulster Hall last Saturday.

The fight, which marked his first defence of the Celtic super-featherweight title, was stopped in the ninth round.

Cooney was later diagnosed with an intracranial haemorrhage.

His promoters, MHD Promotions, released a statement expressing their devastation.

“After a week of battling for his life, John Cooney has sadly passed away,” they said, adding that his family and fiancée were grateful for the efforts of the medical staff at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital.

Cooney had won the Celtic super-featherweight title in November 2023 against Liam Gaynor but had spent much of the following year recovering from a hand injury.

He returned to the ring with a non-title victory before facing Howells.

Tributes poured in from the boxing community, with fellow fighter Conrad Cummings calling him a “warrior” and Gaynor, who retired after his bout with Cooney, expressing his sorrow.