Rising boxer Hannah Rapp has died at 26 after police say an alleged road rage driver deliberately backed his vehicle into her while she was riding her bicycle in Texas. According to the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office, Rapp was killed Saturday morning after authorities say Charles Medina passed her before stopping his vehicle and intentionally reversing, striking Rapp.
Medina, 31, was later arrested and charged with manslaughter. He remains in custody at the Brazos County Detention Center.
Rapp was one of boxing’s most promising prospects. The Indiana native ran track at Purdue University before transitioning to boxing. She relocated to College Station, Texas, and turned pro in 2024 while working full-time as a fire and life safety inspector at Texas A&M University.
She entered last month’s WBC women’s featherweight title fight against Tiara Brown with an 8-0-1 record before losing by unanimous decision at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando.
Brown paid tribute on Instagram, calling Rapp the “best dance partner I have ever faced as a pro” . She added that Rapp asked for her autograph before the fight: “It filled my heart because we were getting ready for war, yet she was still asking for my autograph. We fought a GREAT fight. It was my honor to share the ring with her”.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman also mourned Rapp’s death, saying the boxing community is “heartbroken” by the loss of “an exceptional boxer” and “an invaluable member of our boxing family”.
The Brazos County Sheriff’s Office described the incident as isolated and confirmed the investigation remains active and ongoing. Medina faces between two and 20 years in prison if convicted of manslaughter, according to Texas law.
