Who is Jeanette Zapata's husband? Boxer Chiquitaboom, 18, dies days after deadly bout
Boxer Jeanette Zacarias Zapata, who sustained severe injuries during her match against Canada's Marie-Pier Houle, has died five days after the fight. The 18-year-old boxer from Mexico was being treated at a Montreal hospital where she was placed in a medically-induced coma. She eventually succumbed to her injuries on Thursday, September 2, 2021. Even promoted Groupe Yvon Michel confirmed the news of her death in a statement saying, "It is with great sadness and torment that we learned from a representative of her family that Jeannette Zacarias Zapata passed away this afternoon at 3:45pm. The entire team at Groupe Yvon Michel is extremely distressed by this painful announcement."
Zapata reportedly died with her husband Jovanni Martinez by her side. Meanwhile, her opponent boxer from the August 28 bout, Marie Pier-Houle shared her sincere condolences for her family and husband. "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. I offer my sincere and deep condolences to her family and husband Jovanni Martinez. May God enlighten your soul and receive it in his glory," Pier-Houle said in a statement.
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Besides being her husband, Jovanni Martinez was also Jeanette Zapata's boxing trainer. He is reportedly devastated and extremely upset by her unfortunate death.
Acknowledging his grief, Groupe Yvon Michel extended their condolences to Martinez as well, saying, "We would like to offer our most sincere condolences to her family, loved ones, friends and especially her husband, Jovianni Martinez, who was at her bedside until her last moments."
"Under the circumstances, he does not wish to comment, therefore we ask that you respect his decision and allow the family to have their privacy. In this painful period, you will understand Groupe Yvon Michel does not intend to comment further," they further added.
Jeanette Zapata, also known as 'Chiquitaboom', was fairly new in the professional boxing circle. Her last fight against Pier-Houle was her sixth as a professional boxer. She has reportedly lost three of her earlier five fights, including a knockout defeat to Cynthia Lozano in May 2021.
On Saturday, August 28, Zapata's fight against Marie Pier-Houle ended in a bloody affair as she started convulsing during the bout. In fact, the fight had to be stopped at the fourth round as Zapata needed to be rushed to the hospital at once. Her opponent had expressed her sincere wishes for Zapata's speedy recovery, writing, "Never, ever, is the intention of seriously injuring an opponent in my plans. My sincere thoughts go to my opponent, Jeannette Zacarias Zapata, as well as to her family. I wish with all my heart that she will recover." However, after being in a medically-induced coma for a little less than a week, she eventually passed away on September 2.
Her tragic death was mourned by The World Boxing Council, who released a statement saying, "The President of the WBC, Mauricio Sulaimán and the entire boxing family affiliated with the WBC, as well as all Boxing, mourns this irreparable loss. We send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jeanette. May she Rest in Peace."