Joe Yates
An undefeated professional boxer has died at the age of 25 less than four months after receiving her devastating cancer diagnosis.
Tributes across the sporting community have come pouring in for pro boxer Georgia O'Connor, who has passed away from cancer this week after she claimed medics dismissed her symptoms.
After turning pro in 2021, O'Connor took on Ester Konecna in October of that year, defeating the Czech native on the undercard for the Chris Eubank Jr. versus Wanik Awdijan bout - in which Eubank Jr. came out on top.
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O'Connor's next professional fight took place in April 2022 against Argentine native Erica Juana Gabriela Alvarez in which she came out on top again.
Her third and last fight was against Belgium-born Joyce Van Ee, in October 2022, with the English boxer making it three wins from three.
Georgia O'Connor, of Durham, England, was a decorated Team GB amateur boxer at junior level, going on to win gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2017.
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She was a five times National and Commonwealth Champion, as well as a two-time World and European Medalist.
As mentioned earlier, she turned pro in 2021 and went on to win all three of her fights.
Away from boxing she was a keen musician, showcasing her guitar and singing skills in a 2023 Instagram video.
On May 9, she married her partner, but just less than a fortnight later O'Connor tragically passed away on May 22.
The boxer took to Instagram to announce her cancer diagnosis on January 31, blasting the UK's publicly funded healthcare system the NHS, which stands for the National Health Service.
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Her statement began: "There’s really no easy way to say this, but I have cancer. Now that’s out the way, it’s time to expose the absolute incompetent RATS that have allowed this to happen.
"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. I said from the start I felt it was cancer. I KNEW the risks.
"I have colitis and PSC [Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, which is a liver disease], two diseases that dramatically increase the chances of getting it," she continued.
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She went on to detail how her health conditions made her 'high risk' for cancer, but that doctors didn't listen to her.
"Not one doctor took me seriously. Not one doctor did the scans or blood tests I begged for whilst crying on the floor in agony.
"Instead, they dismissed me. They gaslit me, told me it was nothing, made me feel like I was overreacting. They refused to scan me. They refused to investigate. They REFUSED to listen. One even told me that it’s 'all in my head'."
The youngster also made the heartbreaking admission that not only had her cancer spread but doctors found potentially fatal blood clots in her lungs.
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"And now? Now the cancer has spread. 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."
Branding the NHS a 'broken system', she added: "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."
The sporting star then went on to vow to beat her cancer.
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"They can say it’s terminal all they want. They can tell me I’m going to die. But after taking 17, SEVENTEEN weeks to even figure out what was wrong with me, why the f*** should I believe them?
"I’m young, I’m fit and I am stronger than they’ll ever f***ing understand. Mentally. Physically. Every single way. I’m still smiling and that smile will NEVER fade, no matter what.
"We’ve already got an amazing oncologist on my case and we’ve made sure I’m going to have the best treatment and healing possible. Starting NOW.
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"F*** the doctors who failed me. F*** the system that let this happen. And when I beat this like I’ve beat everything that’s tried to end me before, they’re all going to get what’s f***ing coming to them."
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease which can greatly increase the risk of developing cancer.
The NHS states on its website: "Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed. The colon is the large intestine (bowel) and the rectum is the end of the bowel where poo is stored.
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"Small ulcers can develop on the colon's lining, and can bleed and produce pus."
While explaining how it develops into cancer, the NHS writes: "People who have ulcerative colitis have an increased risk of developing bowel cancer (cancer of the colon, rectum or bowel), especially if the condition is severe or involves most of the colon.
"The longer you have ulcerative colitis, the greater the risk. People with ulcerative colitis are often unaware they have bowel cancer as the initial symptoms of this type of cancer are similar."
A spokesperson for the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust issued the following statement to UNILAD: “We are very sorry to hear the news about Georgia’s death and offer our sincere condolences to the family.
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“We appreciate this a very difficult time, but when and if the family want to raise any concerns with us, we’d urge them to get in touch.”
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.