What happened to Georgia O'Connor? British professional boxer dies at 25

English professional boxer Georgia O'Connor lost her life at 25. According to People, the news of her death comes almost two weeks after she married her partner, Adriano Cardinali. According to The Guardian, her promoter, Boxxer, shared a statement, writing:

“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.”

The statement went on:

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

Georgia O'Connor was diagnosed with cancer in January 2025. She shared an Instagram post where she was seen posing from a hospital bed. She expressed frustration with how she was treated by the healthcare system leading up to that point.

For 17 weeks, starting in October 2024, she had been in constant pain and made repeated visits to hospitals in Durham and Newcastle, convinced something serious was wrong.

Because of her pre-existing conditions like colitis and PSC, she already knew she had a high risk of developing cancer and had voiced that concern multiple times. However, she felt completely dismissed by the doctors.

According to her, not a single medical professional took her seriously or acted on her requests for scans or blood tests, even when she was in visible pain. She said she was ignored, made to feel like she was exaggerating, and even told the problem was in her head.

Georgia O'Connor called the NHS a "broken system"

During her time with the illness, Georgia O'Connor said she not only had cancer that went undetected but also blood clots in her lungs. She believed that earlier action could have prevented the cancer from spreading, blaming what she called a broken NHS system for failing her.

Despite being told the cancer was terminal, Georgia O'Connor remained determined to fight, placing her trust in a new oncologist and a treatment plan that had just begun.

She ended her Instagram message with a vow to overcome the illness, saying that when she did, those who dismissed her would be held accountable.

Boxxer’s CEO, Ben Shalom, shared his tribute in an X post, writing:

“It’s hard to make sense of this… a lot goes on in life but nothing else matters other than your family and your health. My heart goes out to Georgia’s parents and partner, who I know did everything they could tirelessly and are going through so much right now.”

He went on:

“Georgia was an inspirational person and one I’ll never forget. So sorry for her family and all her friends. Truly heartbreaking.”

In February, Georgia O'Connor shared that she had gone through a miscarriage. She explained that the past months had been extremely emotional. She first found out she was pregnant, then experienced the loss, and soon after, was told she had cancer that couldn't be cured.

Despite everything, she said she still felt positive and hopeful. On May 9, 2025, she celebrated a joyful moment, posting a photo showing her husband’s hand over hers and sharing that it was the day they married.

Also Read: Mike Tyson gives a heartfelt tribute to George Foreman, who passed away at 76

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback