Professional boxer Hannah Rapp died at age 26 after a motorist allegedly passed her and another cyclist, stopped in the road and accelerated backward into her during a Saturday morning ride in Brazos County, Texas.
First responders treated Rapp at the scene before taking her to Baylor Scott & White Hospital, where she died from her injuries. The Brazos County Sheriff’s Office arrested 31-year-old Charles Eric Medina and charged him with manslaughter.
Rapp’s death came five weeks after she challenged undefeated champion Tiara Brown for the WBC women’s featherweight title. Brown won their June 13 fight by unanimous decision, giving Rapp the first loss of her professional career.
Known in the ring as “Hanarchy,” Rapp finished with eight wins, one loss and one draw, including five knockouts. She also held the NABF featherweight championship while working full time as a fire and life safety building inspector at Texas A&M University.
Deputies Say Medina Stopped and Accelerated Backward
Deputies were called to the 23000 block of FM 159 at approximately 9:50 a.m. on July 18 after receiving a report that a vehicle had struck a cyclist and left a woman lying in the roadway.
A probable-cause affidavit obtained by KBTX says Medina passed Rapp and another cyclist at what investigators described as a high rate of speed. The second cyclist, identified in the affidavit as Rapp’s boyfriend, told deputies that the vehicle passed approximately a foot away from them.
The witness said he raised his hands and yelled toward the vehicle. Investigators allege that Medina then braked, skidded to a stop, shifted into reverse and rapidly accelerated backward, striking Rapp and knocking her into the road. Medina told investigators that he believed the cyclists were attempting to flag him down and that he did not see Rapp until shortly before the collision. He reportedly estimated that he had been reversing at approximately 15 mph.
The affidavit says damage to the vehicle, skid marks and other physical evidence did not match an account of a low-speed impact. Investigators also reported that the reversing skid marks appeared to show the vehicle changing direction while moving backward. Medina was being held Sunday at the Brazos County Detention Center on $250,000 bond, according to the Associated Press.
No attorney was listed for him in available jail and court records. The charge remains an allegation, and the investigation is active.
Rapp Fought for a World Title Five Weeks Earlier
Rapp entered her WBC championship fight against Brown with an undefeated 8-0-1 record. Their 10-round bout was the co-main event of Most Valuable Promotions’ MVPW-04 card at Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando. Brown retained her featherweight title by scores of 97-93 and 99-91 twice. Most Valuable Promotions described the contest as a demanding close-range fight in which Brown’s inside combinations and body work gave her the advantage.
In a tribute after Rapp’s death, Brown called her the best “dance partner” she had faced as a professional. She also remembered Rapp asking for her autograph before the fight despite knowing that they were preparing to compete against each other. “It filled my heart because we were getting ready for war,” Brown wrote, adding that it had been an honor to share the ring with Rapp through the final bell.
Jake Paul and the Boxing Community Remembered ‘Hanarchy’
Gone too soon. Condolences to her entire clan. RIP warrior, Hannah Rapp. https://t.co/7sDlTY4O5H
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) July 18, 2026
MVP co-founder Jake Paul called Rapp a “warrior” and offered condolences to her family. The promotion said she had made a lasting impression during the June event and remembered her as both a gifted boxer and a deeply respected member of the sport.
World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaimán described Rapp as an exceptional fighter and an invaluable member of the WBC family. The organization said her dedication and personality had left a lasting mark on the council and the North American Boxing Federation.
A fundraiser created to assist Rapp’s family with funeral and related expenses remembered her as a devoted daughter, sister and friend who continued bringing encouragement and laughter to other people during difficult periods in her own life.
She Balanced Boxing With a Career at Texas A&M
Our program has learned of Hannah Rapp’s tragic passing and mourns this awful news. We extend our thoughts and prayers to her former teammates, coaches, family and friends at this difficult time. https://t.co/egt88zWf38
— Purdue Track & Field / Cross Country (@PurdueTrackXC) July 19, 2026
Rapp grew up in Yorktown, Indiana, and competed in track and field at Purdue University before graduating in 2022. She moved to the Bryan-College Station area in 2024 and joined coach Carl Perry’s Bryan Boxing team.
She continued training while working in Texas A&M’s Environmental Health and Safety Department. Rapp told KBTX before the Brown fight that she used vacation time and occasionally unpaid leave to meet the demands of her boxing schedule.
Rapp held a degree in environmental engineering and inspected university buildings for fire and life safety concerns. She had turned professional in 2024 after becoming a two-time Indiana Golden Gloves champion.
Discussing the legacy she hoped to leave in a November 2025 interview, Rapp said victories and championships were less important than personal growth and the effect she had on others: “I think people remember how you make them feel.”