Tributes flow for boxer Georgia O’Connor after she dies aged 25

Tributes are flowing for young UK boxer Georgia O’Connor after she died, aged 25, just weeks after getting married.

She had been battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer after previously being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, which had put her at increased risk.

O’Connor had a 3-0 record after making her professional debut in 2021. She also won medals at the Commonwealth Youth Games, Youth Worlds & European Championships.

Her promoter, Boxxer, posted: “We are heartbroken by the passing of Georgia O’Connor.

“A true warrior inside and outside the ring, the boxing community has lost a talented, courageous and determined young woman far too soon.

“Georgia was loved, respected and admired by her friends here at Boxxer. Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this difficult time.”

Tragically, O’Connor said doctors had failed to listen when she first raised concerns that she might have cancer.

“And now? Now the cancer has spread,” she wrote in a blistering post on social media at the time.

“And if that wasn’t enough, throughout this whole time there’s been BLOOD CLOTS all over my lungs. That ALONE could have killed me instantly.

“They could have done something before it got to this stage. But they didn’t. Because this is the state of the NHS — a broken system that fails young people like me over and over again. A system that makes people suffer, that sends them home in agony, that lets cancer spread whilst the thick, stupid, mindless “doctors” shrug their shoulders.

In a show of mental toughness she vowed that she would fight on, despite being handed a terminal diagnosis.

Sadly, though, the cancer proved just too aggressive.

Earlier this month, O’Connor married the “love of my life”, partner Adriano, and took his surname Cardinali.

In a February Instagram post, she wrote: “If you have a man who loves you more than anything, who would burn the whole world down before he’d let it take you, hold onto him, because that kind of love is rare.”

“From the moment I was diagnosed with cancer, Adriano didn’t hesitate. He quit his job without a second thought and made it his mission to fight this battle alongside me.

“Not just by my side, but leading the charge, doing everything in his power to save me...

“Researching day and night, chasing down every option, making sure I have every single chance to beat this.

“I have never known love like this. A love that doesn’t flinch, doesn’t break, doesn’t even hesitate.”

The World Boxing Association said O’Connor was a gifted boxer whose dedication and fighting spirit left an “indelible mark on the sport”.

“O’Connor, who rose to prominence with a standout performance at the Commonwealth Youth Games, showcased extraordinary talent every time she stepped between the ropes.

“She passed away at just 25 years old after a courageous battle with cancer—a fight she met with the same grit and heart that defined her boxing career.

“The WBA joins her family, friends, and the entire boxing community in grieving this heartbreaking loss. Georgia’s legacy extends far beyond the ring — her passion for boxing and the bravery she displayed both inside and outside the squared circle will be remembered always.

“In this moment of sorrow, the WBA sends its heartfelt condolences to her loved ones and reaffirms its commitment to supporting and standing by the athletes who dedicate their lives to the sport.”