PROMOTERS have cancelled a scheduled boxing card that was set to take place in Belfast this weekend.

The ‘Beginning 2.0’ fight card was cancelled after Galway fighter John Cooney sustained a severe brain injury during the first defence of his Celtic super-featherweight boxing title last Saturday.

@irishboxingcom - instagram

Cooney is fighting for his life in intensive care after doctors discovered a brain injury after his latest fight.

And now in a mark of respect, and after conversations with the British Boxing Board of Control, promoters have called off their scheduled card that was set for Saturday night.

Jay Byrne and Shane O’Leary released a statement on social media on Tuesday as they confirmed the cancellation of the card before sending their prayers and well wishes to Cooney and his family.

It read: “Following conversations with BBBofC this morning. The Beginning 2.0,” scheduled for this Saturday in Belfast, has been cancelled.

“John Cooney, who participated in a professional boxing event in Belfast last Saturday, is fighting for his life in I.C.U, and it does not sit right with anyone involved to continue with this week’s promotion.

“At times like these, life is far more important than anything else.

“All tickets will be refunded in full, and we apologise for any inconvenience caused to people.

“At this time, please keep John and his family in your prayers.

Yours sincerely,
Jay Byrne & Shane O’Leary.”

Cooney was beaten by Welshman Nathan Howells at Belfast’s Ulster Hall with a stoppage in the ninth round.

But after being treated by medics at the fight, he was quickly stretchered to the Royal Victoria Hospital for further tests.

And it was there that doctors discovered Cooney had suffered a bleed on his brain.

He was immediately rushed into surgery for an operation.

And Cooney is now in intensive care, with his uncle Christopher claiming the star is “fighting for his life.”

A further statement from his management team at MDH Promotions read: “Following John Cooney’s epic title fight at the Ulster Hall on Saturday evening.

“John was assessed by the onsite medical team of the British Boxing Board of Control and swiftly taken to Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital for further treatment.

“On arrival at the RVH it was discovered that John had an intracranial haemorrhage and underwent immediate surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain.

“John is currently in the intensive care unit and in the hospital’s capable hands of the ICU team.

“John’s fiancée Emaleen and his parents Hughie & Tina would like to thank everyone for their private messages of support, and would ask that they keep John in their thoughts and prayers at this time as he faces his toughest battle.”

A COUPLE with a 32-year age gap has revealed the difficulty of getting their families on board.

Gabbie met her partner four years ago when she was 23 and Anthony was 55 but the stark age difference didn’t put them off.

Tiktok/@anthonyandgabs

Tiktok/@anthonyandgabs

Now 27 and 59, the pair have got married and swear their relationship is just like anyone else’s.

But Gabbie revealed it took a while for her family to see it.

Taking to social media, Anthony said: “Her parents were very opposed.

“They offered to buy her a condo if she would not be with me.

“That was one of the ways to try to get her to break up with me.”

But the pair refused to listen and ended up getting engaged two years into their relationship and married last year.

The pair admit that while her parents now ‘tolerate’ it, they do wish Gabbie had chosen someone slightly younger.

One question that often pops up with age gap relationships is whether the pair will have kids.

Gabbie and Anthony both said they didn’t want any, with Anthony adding: “I already have a slew of kids myself that are all grown up.”

While some may accuse Gabbie of being a gold digger, the pair adamantly deny the claim.

In fact, Anthony says he’s more likely to spend than Gabbie, who prefers buying second-hand.

The clip which was shared on their TikTok account @anthonyandgabs went viral with over 300k views.

People were quick to share their thoughts in the comments and seemed divided over the age gap.

One person wrote: “What a disgusting relationship. You both have problems.”

A-list age gap relationships that have stood the test of time

1. Kris Jenner & Corey Gamble – 25 years
   The Kardashian matriarch, 69, met her younger man, 44, at a mutual friend’s 40th birthday party in Ibiza. They’ve been together since August 2014.
2. Sam & Aaron Taylor-Johnson – 23 years
   The director, 57, and actor, 34, reportedly met at a film audition in 2009, and were married by 2012. The pair share two daughters and Sam has two children from a previous marriage.
3. Rosie-Huntington-Whiteley & Jason Statham – 20 years
   The model, 37, started dating actor Jason, 57, in 2010. They were wed in 2016 and have since welcomed a son and a daughter together.
4. Catherine Zeta-Jones & Michael Douglas – 25 years
   Catherine, 55, was introduced to Michael, 80, a film festival in 1996 and engaged three years later. Shortly after their engagement, the couple welcomed a son and married in 2000.

Another commented: “What a disgusting relationship. It’s sad.”

“Gross,” penned a third.

Meanwhile, many were supportive of their relationship, a fourth said: “This was so cute, you can feel genuine love.”

“People are so mean… I hope you will be happy forever and always,” claimed a fifth.

Someone else added: “Love you guys! You proved that age doesn’t matter in love and you both are perfect for each other.”

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KATIE TAYLOR praised Micky Ward for “making me fall in love with the sport” while posting a photo with the former Irish boxer.

The American fought from 1985 to 2002, winning the WBU light welterweight title in 2000.

Instagram/katie_t86

INPHO/Nick Elliott

The 59-year-old became renowned for his trilogy of fights against Arturo Gatti.

His career was chronicled in the 2010 film ‘The Fighter’ in which Ward was portrayed by Mark Wahlberg.

On Instagram, Katie Taylor shared a photo of the two together alongside a caption that served as a tribute to him.

She said: “One of the highlights this weekend was meeting and talking with @irishmickyward .

“It’s fighters like him that made me fall in love with the sport! What a legend!“

Taylor, 38, is sizing up her options ahead of what could be another blockbuster year in 2025.

The undisputed super lightweight champion is set for one of two mouth-watering trilogy fights – Chantelle Cameron or Amanda Serrano.

The 38-year-old fought Cameron twice in 2023, both of which being at the 3Arena in Dublin.

She lost the first in May as her English rival retained her undisputed super lightweight titles.

However, six months later, the Bray woman gained revenge by beating Cameron to become a two-weight undisputed world champion.

Taylor has since relinquished her lightweight belts, with Cameron pushing for a third bout since winning the interim WBC belt at 140.

Another option is Amanda Serrano, over whom Taylor holds a 2-0 record after beating her at Madison Square Garden in 2022 and AT&T Stadium last November.

However, Savannah Marshall believes the 2012 Olympic gold medallist would be better off taking the latter as opposed to the former.

She told Razed.com: “I think Katie has a hell of a lot of miles on the clock and I’m quite shocked she is still in the game.

“I would’ve liked to have seen her bow out of the game.

“She made a massive mistake fighting Chantelle Cameron the first time round and got found out.

“The second fight Chantelle nicked it but didn’t get the decision.

“If she is wanting to fight again, it’s better taking someone like Amanda again but it’s another tough fight and does she want to have another tough fight at this stage of her career?

“I don’t think so.”