A 28 -year -old boxer dies after suffering serious brain injuries during combat

Irish boxer John Cooney, 28, died this Saturday after being hospitalized for a week as a result of the serious injuries suffered in a fight played on February 1.

The fight, in which Cooney defended the title of the Celtic Superplama weight against the Welshman Nathan Howellswas held in Belfast. The fight was interrupted in the ninth assault, when the Irish fighter was knocked out after receiving hard punishment.

Minutes later, and due to the blows received Cooney suffered an intracranial hemorrhage and was urgently transferred Royal Victoria Hospital. After being operated to reduce the pressure of cerebral hemorrhage, it was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The fighter’s family showed his “complete devastation” after his death, in a statement published by his promoter, Mark Dunlopon behalf of the Cooney family and its fiancee, Emmaleen.

«After a week fighting for his life, John Cooney has died. Lord and Mrs. Cooney and her fiancee Emmalen want to thank the staff of Royal Victoria Hospital de Belfast, who has worked tirelessly to save John’s life, and all who have sent messages of support and sentences. He was a son, a brother and a very dear partnerand it will take a long time to forget how special it was. Rest in peace, John ‘The Kid’ Cooney, ”he added.

Cooney won the Celta title by KO in the first assault in front of Liam Gaynor In Dublin in November 2023. Then, after not being able to compete for a year due to an injury in his hand, he returned to the ring last October with a victory over Tampela Maharusi.

“He was a charming boy,” said the world -world boxing Barry McGuigan A ‘BBC Radio 5 Live’. “It’s shocking, sad and heartbreaking.”