Tragedy struck the boxing world when Northern Irish boxer John Cooney died a week after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage during a fight against Welshman Nathan Howells at the Ulster Hall in Belfast. The incident occurred in the ninth round when Cooney fell to the canvas, prompting the stoppage of the fight and declaring Howells the winner.
Cooney, who was defending his Celtic champion title in the super featherweight division, received immediate medical attention and was rushed to a hospital for emergency treatment. Doctors performed an operation to reduce the pressure from the cerebral hemorrhage, and he was placed in intensive care.
Unfortunately, Cooney did not recover from his injuries. His promoter, Mark Dunlop, announced his passing in a statement, saying, “After a week fighting for his life, unfortunately John Cooney passed away. He was a very dear son, brother, and boyfriend and will be deeply missed. We will never forget how special he was. Rest in peace John ‘The Kid’ Cooney.”
Cooney had a promising career, having won the Celtic title in the super featherweight division in November 2023 against Liam Gaynor in Dublin. However, he spent a year on the sidelines due to a hand injury. The fight against Howells was his first title defense, following a previous bout against Tampela Maharusi in London in October 2024. Cooney’s record stood at 11-1, with three victories by knockout.