Jeanette Zacarias Zapata: A Preventable Boxing Tragedy
On August 28, 2021, 18-year-old Mexican boxer Jeanette Zacarias Zapata collapsed in the ring after a series of powerful punches. The match took place at IGA Stadium in Montreal, where she faced Marie-Pier Houle. After a left uppercut and a right hook, she went into convulsions and lost consciousness. Medical staff rushed in, but five days later, she died at Sacré-Cœur-de-Montréal Hospital.
Zapata had suffered a knockout loss in May 2021, just three months before this fight. That loss left Jeanette Zacarias Zapata with a serious concussion, making her vulnerable to further brain injuries. Yet, Jeanette Zacarias Zapata was cleared to fight in Montreal, raising concerns about medical oversight and regulatory failures.
A Fake Medical Report Allowed the Fight to Proceed
An investigation by Radio-Canada’s Enquête uncovered a shocking revelation: the medical report that cleared Zapata to fight was forged. The document, supposedly from a clinic in Aguascalientes, Mexico, claimed she was in “perfect health.” However, the clinic had no record of the report, and the doctor who signed it did not exist.
Further investigation found that Zapata’s pre-fight medical history was incomplete. The Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (RACJ), Quebec’s boxing regulatory authority, approved the fight despite these red flags.
Severe Brain Injuries Ignored
Medical experts reviewed brain scans taken after Zapata’s May 2021 knockout. They showed significant damage that should have disqualified her from fighting. After her fatal injury in August, scans confirmed worsened trauma, swelling, and internal bleeding.
Experts believe she suffered from Second Impact Syndrome (SIS), a condition that occurs when the brain endures a second trauma before healing from a previous injury. Neurologists agreed that her death was preventable.
Who is Responsible?
The Quebec boxing promoter Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) organized the fight, stating that proper medical checks were done. However, once confronted with the fake medical reports, GYM’s president, Yvon Michel, called the situation “criminal.” He insisted that promoters are not responsible for verifying medical documents.
Meanwhile, the Aguascalientes Boxing Commission defended Dr. Juan Carlos Sanchez, the physician who assessed Zapata in Mexico. However, he omitted critical information about her concussion in his medical questionnaire. When approached for an interview, Sanchez refused to comment.
Another Boxer with a Fake Medical Report
Enquête also discovered that another boxer on the same fight card, Giovanni Flores Martinez, had a forged radiology report from the same fake doctor. This raised further concerns about how medical fraud impacts boxer safety.
Boxing Safety Needs Stronger Oversight
Zapata’s case exposed serious flaws in how boxing commissions and promoters handle fighter safety. Experts argue that stricter verification of medical documents is necessary to prevent similar tragedies.
Despite these revelations, the RACJ and the Quebec government declined interviews, leaving many questions unanswered.
This case highlights the urgent need for tighter regulations and accountability in combat sports to ensure fighter safety remains the top priority.
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