Rising boxing star Hannah Rapp, 26, was killed Saturday morning after being struck by a car in what authorities described as a road rage incident on a Texas highway. The Brazos County Sheriff’s Office stated that the driver, Charles Medina, 31, passed two cyclists, including Rapp, before stopping his vehicle and deliberately reversing into her.
Medina was arrested and charged with manslaughter, according to police, and was being held at the Brazos County Detention Center.
Rapp, a native of Yorktown, Indiana, previously competed in track at Purdue University before transitioning to boxing. She turned professional in 2024 after relocating to College Station, Texas, where she also worked full-time as a fire and life safety inspector at Texas A&M University.
She held an undefeated professional record of 8-0-1 before challenging Tiara Brown for the WBC women’s featherweight championship last month in Orlando, Florida. Rapp ultimately lost the title fight via unanimous decision.
Following news of her death, Brown paid tribute to Rapp, calling her "the best dance partner I have ever faced as a pro." In an Instagram comment, Brown recalled Rapp asking for her autograph before their fight, stating, "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."
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman also issued a statement expressing heartbreak over Rapp's death, describing her as "an exceptional boxer, but above all, an invaluable member of our boxing family."