Jeanette Zacarias Zapata Dies at 18 After Suffering Injuries in Boxing Match

Boxer Jeanette Zacarias Zapata died Thursday in Montreal at the age of 18 because of injuries she suffered in a match last weekend.

Per an official announcement from the event's promoter, Zapata died at 3:45 p.m. local time after being knocked unconscious in her bout with Quebec's Marie-Pier Houle on Saturday at IGA Stadium.

CBC.com noted Zapata had to be taken out of the arena on a stretcher following an apparent seizure and was transported to Sacre-Coeur-de-Montreal hospital after the fight was stopped.

Per the Montreal Gazette, she was listed in critical but stable condition on a GoFundMe page that was set up for her earlier this week. However, her condition worsened, as Yahoo Sports' Ryan Young reported, "Zapata was in critical condition for days and placed in a medically induced coma."

According to the CBC, Yvon Michel said Zapata had to undergo neurological exams in order to be cleared for Saturday's bout against Houle. The Mexico native was knocked out in a previous fight in May.

Houle wrote on Facebook: "Following the announcement of the terrible news of the death of Jeanette Zacarias Zapata, I am devastated. I extend my deepest condolences to [her] family and spouse Jovanni Martinez. Thank you for respecting my desire not to comment more. The sad news of the departure of a great athlete like Jeanette Zacarias Zapata leaves me sad and devastated."

The knockout came in the fourth round when Zapata was hit with an uppercut-hook combination. She began her career in January 2018 and had six fights over the past three years.