John Cooney death hits Barry McGuigan hard as boxing legend shares heartfelt tribute to 'lovely sweet kid'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Irish boxing icon Barry McGuigan has spoken of his heartbreak following the death of John Cooney.The 28-year-old Irish boxer suffered an intracranial haemorrhage in his Celtic Title fight with Welshman Nathan Howells in Belfast on February 1, tragically passing away a week later from his injuries despite the best effort of medics.

Galway man Cooney was assessed by the medical team ringside before being take out on a stretcher and transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where he had surgery to relieve pressure on his brain following the bout at the Ulster Hall, Northern Ireland.However MHD Promotions announced on February 8 that he had succumbed to his injuries, leaving former featherweight champion McGuigan devastated.

Speaking on BBC Radio5Live he said: "It is terrifying that this could happen to a 28-year-old kid who looked in the prime of his life.

It's just hard to believe it. He was just a lovely, sweet kid. Ambitious, determined and driven. To have his life snapped away like that is just tragic."Sharing a photo with Cooney on social media site X, McGuigan added: "Such a tragedy to lose this fine young boxer who died after suffering a subdural hematoma following his Celtic Title fight in Belfast last week.