Tragedy in the Ring: Irish Boxer John Cooney Passes Away a Week After Title Fight Injury

Irish boxer John Cooney died one week after he was taken to intensive care for his injuries suffered in the ring. He had lost the Celtic super-featherweight championship to Nathan Howells.

Mark Dunlop, his promoter, announced the death of Cooney on Saturday on behalf of his family and fiancee Emmaleen.

The statement read: “John Cooney passed away after a week-long battle for his life. He was a beloved son, brother, and companion and it will be a lifetime before we forget him. RIP John ‘the Kid’ Cooney.”

Cooney and Howells’ fight at Ulster Hall was stopped after the ninth round.

Cooney underwent surgery when it was found that he had a hemorrhage in the intracranial space.

The statement read: “Mr. Cooney, his wife Emmaleen, and their fiancee Emmaleen wish to thank all the staff of Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital for working tirelessly to save John’s life. They also want to thank everyone who sent support messages and prayers.”

Dunlop’s family released a second statement on Sunday in which they said that he had “lived his dream and died chasing it” and stated that his organs would be donated.

The statement read: “Mr. Cooney and Mrs. Cooney are comforted by the knowledge that John’s untimely death will now improve the lives of others.”

Cooney was defending the Celtic super-featherweight championship for the first time in his bout against Welsh boxer Howells.

Cooney won the title in Dublin, Ireland in November 2023 after defeating Liam Gaynor. He missed a year of action due to a hand injury. In October, he won a fight against Tampela Maharusi.

Barry McGuigan, former boxing champion of the world and BBC Radio 5 Live host, said: “He was a wonderful kid.” It’s heartbreaking, sad, and shocking.

Since February 2024, at least five more boxers have been killed by injuries sustained in fights. In November last year, Fijian boxer Ubayd Haider passed away more than two weeks following his collapse after a super-featherweight title bout against Australian boxer Runqi Zhou. ABC reported that Lemuel Silosia, a boxer from New South Wales, died in July after suffering traumatic head injuries just days following his first title fight.

British boxer Sherif Lawal died in May 2024 after being knocked out by a blow on the head while making his debut as a professional in London.

According to his team, Ardi Ndembo, a 27-year-old heavyweight fighter, died in Miami three weeks after being placed in an induced coma following a knockout.

Kazuki Anaguchi, a Japanese boxer who died in February 2024 after suffering from a subdural hemorrhage during a fight in Tokyo, had been dead for more than a week.