Georgia O’Connor: Never Forgotten

Georgia O’Connor: Never Forgotten

“There’s really no easy way to say this, but I have cancer.” A social media post in February of 2025 that changed everything. You just knew that Georgia O’Connor would fight to the very end. And she did.

Georgia was told her cancer was terminal. She knew the odds were heavily stacked against her. But even until the end, Georgia kept fighting. She always did. A born fighter in so many ways. Georgia went out swinging. Trying everything. Georgia gave everything. She always did. One last fight.

“I’m still smiling, and that smile will NEVER fade, no matter what,” Georgia said in that initial gut-wrenching, heartbreaking post from last year. As ever, she was true to her word.

At just 25, the incredibly brave fight ended on 22nd May last year. A life taken when it had barely begun. Georgia had so much more to give. Tragic doesn’t even cover it. Nothing does. Georgia should still be here. The medical experts who were there to listen didn’t listen to her. She deserved better.

A talented amateur with many medals on the international stage. A two-time medallist at the World Youth Championships. A five-time National Champion. Georgia also won gold at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games. The potential was obvious. Her ceiling seemingly unlimited.

Georgia signed with Boxxer and turned professional in 2021, and was unbeaten in three fights before the cancer diagnosis that left her with a much more important fight on her hands.

The immense outpouring of grief that followed the news that Georgia had sadly passed away says plenty. Boxing came together and grieved for her. She didn’t deserve any less. In many ways, Georgia deserved more.

Nobody had a bad word to say about her. How could they? “I just want to be happy. Getting out there inspiring others,” Georgia once told me. Despite battling many things in her young life, she was, and she did. Twenty-five years of joy. Anyone who has ever met will know what I mean by that. “What you see is what you get,” Georgia once said. “I wear my heart on my sleeve.” Never a truer word spoken.

I always said boxing failed her. With her talent, three professional fights only touched the surface of what could have been. The last fight was in October 2022 against Joyce Van Ee at the O2 Arena in London. That special night. An all-female card live on Sky Sports. Georgia impressed immensely in winning on points. Everything looked so promising. I remember seeing after her win. All smiles, making time for her family and friends who had travelled down to London to support her. It should have been the beginning. But nobody knew that was the end. I still can’t believe she never fought again. I still can’t believe she isn’t here, just living her life in her own unique way. Life failed her also. But if anyone ever made the best of the cards they were dealt, it was Georgia. No matter the size of the fight, the smile never dimmed.

Last March, Boxxer put on another star-studded all-female card. Georgia was there again. The guest of honour at ringside. Even when she was battling cancer, Georgia still dreamt of fighting again.

“It was an honour to sign with and fight for Sky Sports before I got ill, and when I beat this disease, I certainly plan to do it again one day. What a story that will make.” Even in her darkest hour, she was a beacon of light and hope.

It’s now a year on. It still hits hard. Her memory will never fade. It’s not just about her life in boxing. The life of Georgia was so much more than that. Georgia O’Connor will never be forgotten. How could she be?