Hannah Rapp, a fast-rising boxer, was killed in Texas after police say an alleged road-rage driver intentionally backed into her while she was riding her bicycle along a highway.
Rapp, 26, who just last month fought for the WBC women’s featherweight championship, died Saturday morning after being hit by a vehicle, the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Authorities later arrested the driver, identified as 31-year-old Charles Medina, on a manslaughter charge. Police said he was being held at the Brazos County Detention Center.
According to investigators, Medina had passed two cyclists, one of them Rapp, before stopping his car and deliberately reversing into her.
Originally from Yorktown, Indiana, Rapp was a former Purdue University track athlete before finding her way into boxing.
She later moved to College Station, Texas, and turned professional in 2024 while continuing to work full time as a fire and life safety inspector at Texas A&M University, ESPN reported.
Rapp quickly built an 8-0-1 record to start her boxing career. Last month, she stepped into the ring against Tiara Brown for the WBC women’s featherweight title at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, where she lost by unanimous decision.
Brown honored her former opponent in a comment on an Instagram post from Most Valuable Promotions announcing Rapp’s death, calling her “the best dance partner I have ever faced as a pro.”
“When she asked for my autograph, it filled my heart because we were getting ready for war, yet she was still asking for my autograph. It made me smile, we fought a GREAT fight for the fans from the 1st bell to the last! It was my honor to share the ring with her,” Brown wrote.
Tributes were also paid to Rapp by WBC’s President, Mauricio Sulaiman.
“The loss of Hannah Rapp leaves us heartbroken. She was an exceptional boxer, but above all, an invaluable member of our boxing family,” he said in a statement.
“We join in the grief that overwhelms her loved ones, her team, and all those who had the privilege of knowing and supporting her throughout her brilliant career,” Sulaiman added.
