Hannah Rapp, a professional boxer who challenged for the WBC women’s featherweight title in June, died Saturday after being struck by a car while cycling in Texas. She was 26.
According to the Brazos County sheriff’s office, a vehicle passed Rapp on the road, came to a sudden stop, and then reversed into her. The driver was arrested and charged with manslaughter. No further details about the suspect or the circumstances leading to the arrest have been publicly released.
Rapp’s final fight was her biggest. In June, she challenged Tiara Brown for the WBC women’s featherweight championship in Orlando and lost, leaving her professional record at 8-1-1 — a mark she built after turning pro just last year. She was from Indiana and had competed in athletics before transitioning to boxing. She held a full-time job as a fire and life safety inspector while pursuing her fighting career.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said in a statement: “She was an exceptional boxer, but above all, an invaluable member of our boxing family.”
Brown, the woman who beat her for the title, called Rapp the “best dance partner I have ever faced as a pro.” Brown recalled that Rapp asked for her autograph in the lead-up to the fight — a gesture that stuck with her.
“It filled my heart because we were getting ready for war, yet she was still asking for my autograph,” Brown said. “We fought a great fight. It was my honor to share the ring with her.”
Her promoter, Most Valuable Promotions, said in a statement: “Hannah made a lasting impression on everyone who had the opportunity to meet her. She was a gifted athlete, a valued member of the boxing community, and someone who was deeply respected by those around her. We are grateful to have shared a part of her journey and will honour her memory in the weeks ahead.”
Rapp turned professional in 2024 and reached a world-title fight within roughly 18 months — a climb that, in a sport where most fighters spend years grinding for a shot, speaks louder than any record line. She worked a full-time job inspecting fire systems and still showed up to train. The kind of fighter who’d ask for your autograph before trying to take your head off.
The Brazos County sheriff’s office is continuing its investigation.
