Professional Boxer Georgia O’Connor Dies at 25 Following Cancer Battle
Professional boxer Georgia O’Connor has passed away at the age of 25, just two weeks after marrying her longtime partner and months after being diagnosed with cancer.
Her passing was confirmed on Thursday, May 22, in a statement by Boxxer, the promotional company she was affiliated with.
“We are heartbroken by the passing of Georgia O’Connor,” the company shared in a statement to The Guardian. “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,” the statement continued. “Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this difficult time.”
O’Connor shared on Instagram on May 12 that she had married her longtime boyfriend, Adriano Cardinali, writing, “09.05.2025. The day I married the love of my life 🤍,” alongside a photo of their wedding rings.
In January, O’Connor publicly revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer, alleging that her symptoms — including severe and ongoing pain — were overlooked by medical professionals for several months.
“For 17 weeks since the start of October, I’ve been in constant pain, going back and forth between Durham and Newcastle RVI A\&E knowing deep down something was seriously wrong,” she wrote on Instagram on January 31. “I said from the start I felt it was cancer. I KNEW the risks. I have colitis and PSC — two diseases that dramatically increase the chances of getting it.”
She went on to detail how she felt her concerns were repeatedly dismissed. “Not one doctor f***ing listened to me,” she wrote. “They refused to scan me. They refused to investigate. They REFUSED to listen. One even told me that it’s ‘all in my head.’ And now? Now the cancer has spread.”
Just a month later, O’Connor shared that her cancer was considered incurable. In February, she also revealed that she had suffered a miscarriage.
O’Connor turned professional in 2021 and remained undefeated in her pro career. As an amateur, she earned numerous accolades, including a gold medal at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, a silver medal at the Youth World Championships the same year, and a bronze in 2018.
She had not competed professionally since 2022, having revealed in early 2023 that she was managing ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the colon.
Ben Shalom, CEO of Boxxer, offered his condolences on social media: “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.”
O’Connor is remembered as a gifted athlete and a resilient spirit whose life and career were tragically cut short.
