John Henry Cooney (2 April 1996 – 8 February 2025), known professionally as The Kid, was an Irish boxer. During his career he held the Celtic super-featherweight title.
Personal life
Cooney was born in Ealing, London, to Irish parents, Hughie Cooney and Tina Cooney. He was the brother of Aaron Cooney and Conor Cooney, and fiancée of Emmaleen Maher.[3][4]
Career
In 2020, Cooney turned professional, making his pro-debut with a unanimous decision win in a four-round bout against Cristian Abata in Alicante, Spain, on 21 November that year.[5]
He won the vacant Celtic super-featherweight title on 25 November 2023, via a first-round stoppage victory over Liam Gaynor at 3Arena in Dublin.[6]
Having suffered a hand injury which required surgery,[7] Cooney returned to the ring at York Hall in London on 26 October 2024, defeating Tampela Maharusi on points in a six-round contest.[8]
Death
On 1 February 2025, during a fight against Nathan Howells at Ulster Hall in Belfast, Cooney suffered brain damage and was hospitalised.[9] His death at the age of 28 was reported on 8 February, due to the brain damage he sustained.[10][11][12]
References
- ^ a b c d "John Cooney". tapology.com. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ "Boxing record for John Cooney". BoxRec.
- ^ "John Cooney's family 'overwhelmed' by the love of a city and the boxing community". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ "Family of John Cooney thank people of Belfast for overwhelming kindness after boxer dies in hospital". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ "Debut Delight- John Cooney victorious in Spain". Irish Boxing. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ "Bellotti hunter John Cooney reveals Eddie Hearn's British title promise". Irish Boxing. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ "British Title Hunt – John Cooney Wants Bellotti – Gomez Winner after York Hall Return". Irish Boxing. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ "No Sick Note – John Cooney Ready to Fight British Champ Reece Bellotti". Irish Boxing. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ Media, P. A. (8 February 2025). "Irish boxer John Cooney dies aged 28, one week after suffering injury in bout". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
- ^ "Boxing community 'devastated' by fighter's death". www.bbc.com. 9 February 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
- ^ "John Cooney: Irish boxer dies after suffering brain injury in Celtic super-featherweight title fight". Sky Sports. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
- ^ Ramsay, George (9 February 2025). "Irish boxer John Cooney dies aged 28 after sustaining brain injury in title fight". CNN. Retrieved 10 February 2025.