Super-featherweight boxer John Cooney is being treated in intensive care after his defeat in Belfast on Saturday night.
The 28-year-old went up against Nathan Howells of Wales at the Ulster Hall looking to defend his Celtic super-featherweight title.
The bout was stopped in the ninth round and Cooney was assessed by the British Boxing Board of Control’s on-site medical team before being taken to Royal Victoria Hospital.
A statement from Cooney’s promoter, Mark Dunlop of MHD Promotions, confirmed: “On arrival at the (Royal Victoria Hospital) it was discovered that John had an intracranial haemorrhage and underwent immediate surgery to relive the pressure on his brain.”
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The statement added Cooney is now being treated in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
Cooney claimed the Celtic super-featherweight title over Liam Gaynor in a first-round knockout at the 3Arena in Dublin in November 2023 which served as the undercard for Katie Taylor’s rematch against Chantel Cameron.
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