Family’s ‘devastation’ as Irish boxer John Cooney dies aged 28

The household of 28-year-old Irish boxer John Cooney person described their “complete devastation” aft his death.

His decease was announced connected Saturday successful a connection published by his promoter Mark Dunlop, connected behalf of the Cooney household and his fiancee, Emmaleen.

“After a week of battling for his beingness John Cooney has sadly passed away,” the connection said.

“Mr and Mrs Cooney and his fiancee Emmaleen would similar to convey the unit astatine Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital who person worked tirelessly to prevention John’s beingness and for everyone who has sent messages of enactment and prayers.

“He was a overmuch loved son, member and spouse and it volition instrumentality america each a beingness to hide however peculiar helium was. RIP John ‘the Kid’ Cooney.”

Cooney, from Galway, had been treated astatine Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital aft his decision to Welshman Nathan Howells astatine the Ulster Hall past Saturday.

A connection connected Monday said helium was successful intensive care.

The bout, Cooney’s archetypal defence of the Celtic super-featherweight title, was stopped successful the ninth round.

He underwent country aft it was discovered helium had an intracranial haemorrhage, besides known arsenic a bleed connected the brain.

Cooney won the rubric with a triumph implicit Liam Gaynor successful Dublin successful November 2023, but spent a twelvemonth retired of the ringing with a manus injury.

He returned successful October with a triumph implicit Tampela Maharusi.