The combat sports world is devastated after undefeated Irish boxer, John Cooney passed away due to injuries he sustained in a February 1 boxing match. According to reports, Cooney suffered a brain injury and went down in the ninth round of his first Celtic Super Featherweight title defense against Nathan Howells at the Ulster Hall in Belfast.

After the fight, Cooney was rushed to a local hospital, where he passed away, reportedly due to a brain hemorrhage. “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,” a statement from his promoter read in part.

Of course, this isn’t the first time a boxer has died due to injuries taken in the ring, and serves as a reminder of how dangerous combat sports, especially boxing could be.  Another featherweight champ by the name of Davey Moore went into a coma and died shortly after his 1963 clash against Sugar Ramos. Similarly, light-heavyweight title contender Roman Simakov passed away due to brain injuries he sustained in a 2011 clash against Sergey Kovalev.

Coming back to Cooney, the Irishman was just 28 and was undefeated with an 11-0 record coming into his last fight. He had won his title off of fellow Irishman Liam Gaynor in their November 2023 clash on a sold-out card. The champ is survived by his grieving parents, fiancee, and siblings. Needless to say, Cooney’s passing has come as quite a shock to fight fans worldwide, who took to social media to express their condolences.

Fans mourn John Cooney’s untimely and tragic death

Needless to say, most fans were thinking of the bereft family and hoped they could get through this ordeal: “Rip warrior, sending my condolences to his family, and may they have the strength to get through this rough time.” Others, however, were more introspective and were reminded of the life-and-death stakes involved in combat sports: “Damn man gone too soon. You don’t play boxing. God bless his family”

Another fan reiterated this sentiment, pointing out how combat sports, especially boxing, where fighters are at high risk of brain injuries are to be taken extremely seriously: “It’s not a game…..rest easy champ❤️” Another fan rightly reminded everyone that this is exactly why fighters, in general, get so much respect, even from other athletes and celebrities: “This is why you gotta respect, everyone, you step in the ring with no matter what good bad things happen in and out of the ring the number 1 priority is to leave the ring safe”

Whenever a fighter is waved off, there are always some people who claim it was an early stoppage. And one fan took this opportunity to caution others that an early stoppage, even if somewhat unfair, is much more preferable to the possibility of injury or god forbid, death, as in Cooney’s case: “Then ppl complain that fights are stopped.” Please take a moment to send condolences to Cooney’s family online or however you can!