Irish boxer John Cooney has tragically passed away at the age of 28 after suffering a brain injury sustained during a fight.
He is survived by his fiancée, Emmaleen, and his family, who are heartbroken and mourning his loss.
Highlights
- John Cooney underwent emergency surgery after a brain injury during his last match but tragically passed away a week later.
- Cooney left behind his fiancée, Emmaleen, and his family, who are deeply mourning his loss.
- John and Emmaleen had been engaged since July 2022 and had been in a relationship for several years before their engagement.
John Cooney was an Irish super-featherweight boxer whose career was promising and marked by challenges.
Starting his professional career in 2020, John quickly made a name for himself in the super-featherweight division.
In November 2023, Cooney won the Celtic super-featherweight title with a first-round victory over Liam Gaynor in Dublin.
After a year out of the ring due to a hand injury, he made a successful comeback in October 2024 with a win over Tampela Maharusi.
Cooney’s last fight was against Nathan Howells in Belfast in February 2025. However, the fight was stopped in the ninth round due to a brain injury.
Despite the emergency surgery, the boxer tragically passed away a week later. The boxing community has expressed their deep sorrow over his death.
John Was Rushed To The Hospital After The Ninth Round Of His Last Match
On February 8, Cooney’s management team from MHD Promotions shared a public statement announcing his death.
It is with complete devastation that we have to announce that 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.
MHD Promotions
Just four days before his death, the company had shared a GoFundMe fundraiser as the boxer was being treated for an intracranial hemorrhage.
Cooney sustained an injury during a British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) Celtic Super Featherweight title at Belfast’s Ulster Hall on Saturday, February 1.
Sad news to bring you tonight.
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) February 8, 2025
John Cooney has died after his defeat by Welshman Nathan Howells in Belfast last Saturday.
The Irish boxer underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain following the bout at the Ulster Hall. pic.twitter.com/8xl2XLh4W7
He was knocked down once in the ninth round and subsequently taken to the hospital.
At the hospital, it was discovered that John had suffered an intracranial hemorrhage and underwent immediate surgery to alleviate the pressure on his brain.
The statement from February 3 read:
John is currently in the intensive care unit, and in the capable hands of the hospital ICU team.
jborg1985
The late boxer’s opponent from the match, Nathan Howells later shared his thoughts on his Instagram, writing:
I genuinely never wanted for any of this to happen just went out there to box I wish nothing but the very best for John an his family and hope he comes home safe an sound don’t actually know him myself but he seems like a really respectful and nice man what I do know is he’s a fit and strong young man.
Nathan Howells
John And Emmaleen Had Been Together Since Long Before The Start Of His Professional Career
John Cooney’s fiancée, Emmaleen, has been deeply affected by his passing. The couple had been together for an extended period.
John had proposed to Emmaleen in July 2022 on their trip to Italy. The couple had been planning for their wedding.
He has been candid about his relationship, often sharing numerous pictures with his fiancée.
Meanwhile, Emmaleen is a more private person who prefers keeping her personal life out of the spotlight, setting her Instagram account to private as well.
They traveled together often and celebrated multiple birthdays side by side, which the boxer shared on his social media.
Their relationship remained strong over the years, with Emmaleen always supporting John through the highs and lows of his career.
Unfortunately, with the sudden passing of Cooney, Emmaleen lost not only her fiancé but also her best friend and partner of many years.
Furthermore, The GoFundMe campaign created while Cooney was in the hospital has raised £47,000 (approximately $58,300), which will now go directly to his family to support them following his untimely passing.
Irish boxer Conor McGregor contributed £20,000 (around $24,800) to the Cooney family’s fundraiser.
Additional Information
- John’s victory in the Celtic super-featherweight title was a significant milestone in his career, which helped him climb the ladder towards his rise to fame.
- John Cooney’s first professional boxing match occurred on November 21, 2020.
- He enjoyed sharing his personal life on social media and had garnered over 8,000 followers on Instagram.
