The 28-year-old had an operation for a bleed on the brain last week, after being stopped in the ninth round against Welshman Nathan Howells.

Irish boxer John Cooney has died aged 28 from injuries received in a bout on February 1, his promoter announced on Saturday. The Irishman had been in intensive care after suffering an intracranial haemorrhage as he lost to Welshman Nathan Howells in a super-featherweight bout in Belfast last Saturday.

IRISH BOXER JOHN Cooney has died at the age of 28 after suffering a brain injury during a professional bout in Belfast last Saturday. The Galway man was rushed to hospital following his ninth-round stoppage defeat to Welshman Nathan Howells in their British Boxing Board of Control Celtic super-featherweight title fight at Ulster Hall.

Tributes have been paid to Irish boxer John Cooney who has died at the age of 28 after suffering a brain injury in his defeat to Nathan Howells in Belfast last Saturday