Irish Super Featherweight John Cooney Dies at 28, Week After Brain Injury in Belfast Bout

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

Belfast, Ireland (February 12th, 2025)– In the first boxing tragedy fatality of 2025, Irish super featherweight John Cooney lost the fight of his life, dying of a brain intracranial hemorrhage at age 28 on February 8, 2025. The featherweight Cooney’s passing was announced the same day, Saturday, February 8, 2025, a week after the injury, in a statement published by promoter Mark Dunlop of MHD Promotions, on behalf of boxer Cooney’s family, and his fiancée Emmalee.

“After a week of battling for his life, John Cooney has sadly passed away. “He was a much loved son, brother and partner, and it will take us all a lifetime to forget how special he was. RIP John ‘the Kid’ Cooney’. John’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Cooney. and his fiancée Emmalee would like to thank the staff at Belfast Royal Victoria Hospital, who worked tirelessly to save John’s life, and for everyone who has sent messages of support and prayers (for John during his hospitalization),” stated Dunlop.

“He was just a lovely kid. It’s (his passing is) shocking and sad and heart-breaking,” stated former World Boxing Association World Featherweight champion Barry McGuigan, ‘The Clones Cyclone’, after hearing of the tragedy, on BBC Radio 5 Live.

A Londoner fighting out of Belfast, Northern Ireland, the previously undefeated 11-0 Irish southpaw Cooney lost his BBBofC Celtic Super Featherweight title last week to challenger Nathan Howells in his first defense on Saturday, February 1, 2025, the bout also serving as a British Commonwealth title eliminator, at Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Howells knocked him down and stopped him at 2:38 of the ninth round, winning the regional Celtic title and British title eliminator.

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Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert is the Head Boxing Correspondent for Real Combat Media Boxing since 2013. Robert is also a photographer and ringside reporter for the RCM Tri State region which includes NJ, NY and PA. Robert conducts exclusive interviews, provides historical boxing articles and provides editorial ringside coverage of major boxing events. You can contact or follow Robert on Facebook and by email at [email protected].