Irish boxer John Cooney dies after brain injury in title fight
1. "On arrival at the RVH it was discovered that John had an intercranial haemorrhage," says his promoter
Irish Boxer John Cooney Dies at 28 After Suffering Brain Injury in Title Fight
Irish super-featherweight boxer John Cooney has tragically passed away at the age of 28 after sustaining a brain injury during his first Celtic title defense against Welsh fighter Nathan Howells last week, his promoter confirmed 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," said Mark Dunlop of MHD Promotions in a heartfelt social media statement.
Cooney had been hospitalized in Belfast, undergoing emergency brain surgery following the fight at Ulster Hall.
In an earlier statement, Dunlop detailed the events leading up to Cooney’s hospitalization, explaining that after his intense title bout, medical officials from the British Boxing Board of Control assessed him ringside and swiftly transferred him to Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital. There, doctors discovered he had suffered an intracranial hemorrhage, prompting immediate surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain.
Cooney had exited the ring on a stretcher after the ninth-round stoppage of the bout.
Former featherweight world champion Barry McGuigan paid tribute, saying, "Such a tragedy to lose this fine young boxer."
