Irish boxer John Cooney dies a week after Celtic Title defeat

Irish boxer John Cooney has died a week after being taken into intensive care after his Celtic Super-Featherweight title defeat against Nathan Howells in Belfast.

The death of 28-year-old Cooney was announced on Saturday in a statement published by his promoter Mark Dunlop on behalf of the Cooney family and his fiancé, Emmale.

“After a week’s struggle for his life, John Cooney is unfortunately dead,” the statement states. “He was a very beloved 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 match with Howells was stopped in the ninth round of Ulster Hall.

Cooney subsequently underwent surgery after it was discovered that he had an intracranial bleeding.

“Mr. and Mrs. Cooney and his fiancé Emmale would like to thank the staff at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital, who have worked tirelessly to save John’s life and for anyone who has sent messages about support and prayers,” the statement states.

The match with Walish Boxer Howells was Cooney’s first defense of the Celtic Super-Featherweight title.

Cooney won the title with a win over 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 win over Tampela Maharusi.