Irish boxer John Cooney, 28, dead a week after suffering brain injury during championship fight

Irish super-featherweight boxer John Cooney has died of a brain injury a week after being stopped in his first Celtic title defense against Welshman Nathan Howells, his promoter said on Saturday.“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,” Mark Dunlop of MHD Promotions said on social media.The 28-year-old had been in hospital in Belfast after surgery.He had left the ring on a stretcher after last Saturday’s fight at the city’s Ulster Hall was stopped in the ninth round.“Such a tragedy to lose this fine young boxer,” said former featherweight world champion Barry McGuigan....