Irish boxer John Cooney has sadly passed away at the age of 28, a week after being taken into intensive care following his defeat to Nathan Howells in Belfast. Cooney’s promoter Mark Dunlop released a statement on behalf of the Cooney family and his fiancee Emmaleen, expressing their grief over the loss of their loved one. Cooney’s fight with Howells was stopped in the ninth round due to an intracranial haemorrhage, which led to surgery and his subsequent passing. The boxing community has been mourning the loss of the talented athlete, with former world champion Barry McGuigan calling Cooney “a lovely kid” and expressing shock and sadness over his untimely death. Cooney had recently won the Celtic super-featherweight title in 2023 but took a year off due to a hand injury before returning to the ring with a victory. The statement from the Cooney family thanked the staff at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital for their efforts to save John’s life and appreciated the support and prayers from fans. The boxing world has lost a promising talent, and Cooney will be remembered for his skills and spirit inside the ring. May he rest in peace.
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