At just 25 years old, Georgia O’Connor had already made her mark in the boxing world.
But behind the gloves and championship medals was a young woman fighting a much tougher opponent—one that wasn’t in the ring, but inside her own body.
Her tragic passing this week from cancer has sent shockwaves through the boxing community and beyond—not just because of her age, but because of how her desperate pleas for help were reportedly dismissed time and again by the very system that should’ve been there to protect her.
“They Told Me It Was All in My Head”
Earlier this year, Georgia went public with her diagnosis—a rare and aggressive form of cancer doctors had deemed incurable.
But what makes her story even more heartbreaking is how long it took to get that diagnosis.
According to Georgia, she spent 17 weeks in excruciating pain, bouncing between hospitals in Durham and Newcastle, begging for someone to take her seriously.
Despite living with colitis and PSC—two conditions known to increase cancer risk—Georgia claimed her concerns were brushed aside.
“Not one doctor listened,” she wrote in a gut-wrenching Instagram post in January. “Not one doctor took me seriously.
Not one doctor did the scans or blood tests I begged for while crying on the floor in agony.”
“I Knew the Risks—And They Did Too”
Georgia’s words reflect not just frustration, but betrayal. “I said from the start I felt it was cancer.
I KNEW the risks,” she wrote. “They gaslit me.
They told me I was overreacting. One even said it was ‘all in my head.’”
She went on to reveal that by the time her cancer was diagnosed, it had already spread—and blood clots had developed in her lungs, posing another deadly threat.
“That alone could have killed me instantly,” she said.
Her anger was sharp, her pain raw: “This is the state of the NHS—a broken system that fails young people like me over and over again.”
Refusing to Let the Smile Fade
Even in the face of such devastation, Georgia’s spirit never dimmed.
“I’m young, I’m fit, and I am stronger than they’ll ever understand,” she wrote defiantly.
“Mentally. Physically. Every single way. I’m still smiling and that smile will NEVER fade.”
She also shared hope, saying she’d found an amazing oncologist and was set to begin treatment.
But just months later, Georgia tragically lost her battle—less than two weeks after marrying the love of her life, Adriano, and taking his surname, Cardinali.
A Boxing Career Full of Promise
Georgia wasn’t just a rising star—she was a decorated amateur with the kind of talent that turns heads.
She won gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2017, and later claimed silver and bronze at the World Youth Championships.
When she turned professional in 2021, she quickly built a 3-0 record, fighting in her hometown of Newcastle and even on the undercard of high-profile bouts featuring Savannah Marshall and Claressa Shields.
Her last fight was in October 2022, when she beat Joyce Van Ee on the undercard of Marshall’s massive grudge match with Shields.
A Wave of Heartfelt Tributes
As news of her death spread, the boxing world mourned deeply.
Big names like Claressa Shields, Jack Catterall, Jake Paul, Molly McCann, and Francesca Hennessy shared their grief.
World champion Ellie Scotney paid a particularly emotional tribute: “You never let anything dim that light of yours.
A smile that never ever fades, and a heart that will forever live on.”
England Boxing also honored her legacy, calling her a “gifted boxer and beloved member of the amateur boxing community,” while Queensberry Promotions added: “Our thoughts are with her friends and family. Rest in peace Georgia.”
Questions for the NHS
In the wake of Georgia’s passing, many are demanding answers.
Her story has put a glaring spotlight on the failures within the NHS system.
As her emotional post made clear, she believed that had she been taken seriously sooner, her outcome might have been very different.
MailOnline has reportedly contacted the NHS trusts involved for comment—but as of now, those responsible for her care have yet to respond publicly.
A Voice That Won’t Be Silenced
Though Georgia O’Connor is no longer with us, her voice—and her fight—live on.
She wasn’t just a fighter in the ring. She fought to be heard. Fought to be believed.
And tragically, fought until the very end for a system to do better—not just for her, but for every young person who might one day be in her shoes.
Her legacy isn’t just in her medals—it’s in her courage to speak out, even in her darkest hours.