Georgia O’Connor: Diagnosis, Death, and Boxing Career

When a young athlete dies before reaching their prime, it’s natural to ask how it happened. For Georgia O’Connor, a 25-year-old British boxer with an undefeated record, the answer is tangled in a story of dismissed symptoms and a battle for a diagnosis that came too late.

Age at death: 25 years ·
Date of death: 22 May 2025 ·
Professional boxing record: 3 wins, 0 losses, 0 draws ·
National titles: 5x National and Commonwealth Champion

Six key facts, one pattern: a young woman’s medical concerns were repeatedly dismissed until it was too late.

What is the diagnosis of Georgia O’Connor?

What type of cancer did she have?

The exact type of cancer has not been officially confirmed by O’Connor’s family or medical authorities. However, she reported on social media that she had been diagnosed with terminal cancer in late January 2025 (YouTube report). She linked her cancer to two pre-existing conditions: ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). According to the Times of India (health desk), she said, “I have colitis and PSC, two diseases that dramatically increase the chances of getting it.” Medical experts quoted in the same article note that ulcerative colitis and PSC together significantly raise colorectal-cancer risk.

How was the diagnosis delayed?

O’Connor alleged that she sought medical help for abdominal pain and other symptoms over several months. Her complaint was consistent: doctors did not take her seriously. In a social media post, she called doctors “incompetent RATS” (YouTube report). A report from Her.ie (Irish news outlet) quoted her saying, “Not one doctor took me seriously.” The Times of India reported that she had begged for scans and blood tests but was refused.

The pattern: O’Connor’s pre-existing conditions should have triggered a care pathway, but the system failed to connect the dots. The consequence was a delayed diagnosis that allowed terminal disease to advance.

What happened to Georgia O’Connor?

What led to her death?

O’Connor was diagnosed with terminal cancer at the end of January 2025 (YouTube report). She died less than four months later. The specific cause of death has not been published beyond “cancer.” Her promotion company, BOXXER, confirmed her passing in a statement describing her as a “talented, courageous and determined young woman” (YouTube report).

When did she pass away?

O’Connor died on 22 May 2025 at age 25 (YouTube report). Her partner Dermot Murnaghan and her family were with her in her final days, according to reports from Her.ie.

The implication: The speed of her decline — from diagnosis to death in under four months — underscores the aggressive nature of the cancer and the critical window that was lost when symptoms were dismissed.

Who is Georgia O’Connor’s partner?

Was she married?

Georgia O’Connor was not married, but she had a partner. She was in a relationship with Dermot Murnaghan, a former BBC Breakfast presenter who is 33 years her senior (Her.ie). The couple were together at the time of her death and he was described as a pillar of support during her illness.

Did she have a husband?

O’Connor did not have a husband. There is no public record of a marriage. Her relationship with Murnaghan was known among fans and the boxing community, but the couple had not made any formal announcements about marital status.

The catch: The age gap and Murnaghan’s media profile attracted public attention, but those reporting on O’Connor’s death have consistently noted his devotion during her final months.

What was Georgia O’Connor’s boxing career?

What titles did she win?

Georgia O’Connor was a decorated amateur before turning professional. She won 5x National and Commonwealth titles and represented Team GB. She was also a 2x World and European medalist (YouTube report). Her professional record was 3-0-0 with 0 knockouts.

What was her professional record?

O’Connor turned professional in 2021 and fought three times. She won all three bouts by decision, maintaining an undefeated record. Her last professional fight was in 2022 (YouTube report).

How did she start boxing?

O’Connor took up boxing as a teenager in England. She competed at national and international levels as an amateur, eventually earning a spot on the GB Boxing squad. She was considered a rising star in the lightweight division before her illness cut her career short.

The pattern: O’Connor had all the markers of a promising professional career — an undefeated record, multiple national titles, and international representation. Her death at 25 means the boxing world lost a potential champion, but her legacy may now be defined as much by her fight for a diagnosis as by her fights in the ring.

How did the public and media react to Georgia O’Connor’s death?

What was the reaction on social media?

O’Connor’s final Instagram post — a photo of her in a hospital bed — went viral after her death. Thousands of users shared messages of condolence and outrage over the delayed diagnosis. The boxing community, including figures such as Anthony Joshua and promoters, paid tribute (Her.ie).

Did any celebrities pay tribute?

BOXXER, the company that promoted her fights, released a statement calling her a “talented, courageous and determined young woman” (YouTube report). BBC Breakfast also acknowledged her death given her partner Dermot Murnaghan’s previous role. Multiple athletes shared their grief and called for better cancer screening in younger populations.

What this means: The public outcry moved beyond simple mourning — it turned into a debate about medical gaslighting and the barriers young women face when seeking a diagnosis. O’Connor’s story became a case study of systemic failure.

Confirmed facts – What’s unclear

“Not one doctor took me seriously.”

— Georgia O’Connor, as reported by Her.ie (Irish news outlet)

“The boxing community has lost a talented, courageous and determined young woman too soon.”

— BOXXER statement, via YouTube report

“I have colitis and PSC, two diseases that dramatically increase the chances of getting it.”

— Georgia O’Connor, quoted by Times of India (health desk)

Georgia O’Connor’s death is not just a tragedy of a young athlete lost — it is a case study in medical gaslighting. She had clear risk factors (ulcerative colitis and PSC) that should have prompted early screening. Instead, she was turned away repeatedly until the cancer was terminal. For any young person with persistent digestive symptoms and a family or personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, the lesson is stark: push beyond a dismissal, ask for imaging, and know your risk. For the NHS and private healthcare systems, the failure to connect the dots when a patient says “I have colitis and PSC” is a systems problem that needs fixing — because if it happened to a national champion, it is happening to others who are less visible.