Becky Zerlentes – the first female boxer to die in fight in US

April 3, 2005 In Washington, it’s 02:00.

Stephan Weiler is woken by a “dreaded call”. A voice said, “Your wife, Becky Zerlente?”

When I said “yes,” a Denver Health Medical Center and Hospital official informed me that I needed to arrive at the airport as quickly as possible. Her condition was deteriorating. “

A female boxer in the United States had never before died in a regulated fight.

Zerlentes, who had previously won a regional boxing title three years prior, had redefined history by succumbing to that devastating blow.

While the tales of fighters like Johnny Owen and Jimmy Doyle are enshrined in history, the impact of Zerlentes ‘ death on the community in Denver and on those who loved her has remained private.

Every time Zerlentes entered an MMA or boxing ring, she felt an overwhelming rush throughout her life.

Zerlentes, 34, embraced a career outside the box, enrolling in a career as a geography and economics professor at Front Range Community College’s Larimer County campus, earning both a master’s and PhD.

The buzz she enjoyed inside the classroom was complemented by her love of sport, especially in combat.

Weiler continued his three-year tenure with the Federal Reserve, the nation’s central banking system, by staying in the country’s capital on that fight night.

Zerlentes had repeatedly asked him to go back to Fort Collins, a former military base tucked away in the Rocky Mountains, and he had promised to do so soon.

Facing Heather Schmitz, Zerlentes was taking part in the Colorado State Boxing Senior Female Championships at the Denver Coliseum in Colorado, a venue that has crammed more than 10, 000 people in when the Rolling Stones or Rage Against the Machine have been in town. Wearing protective headgear, both women.

Zerlentes and Schmitz exchanged punches until the third round, which ended in success.

With a blow to the head, just above her left eye, Zerlentes staggered forward, struck the canvas and fell unconscious – a state she would remain in until her death the following morning.

According to Weiler, a professor, “the doctor in the ring said her pupils were fixed and dilated when he saw her first and that there was already a chance of brain damage.”

Weiler had already made his way to the hospital by 06:30 when he took a flight to Denver. There he saw Zerlentes.

Given that it was a fairly glancing blow, he said, “The damage to Becky’s brain was remarkable.”

The brain had gotten so badly that it could no longer function, noting that it was not a hard hit.

The life support Zerlentes had been placed on was beginning to fail, and that” clinically she was probably already dead in the ring”, Weiler recalled.

He then had to make a decision.

I made the decision that it was time to go to bed at around noon that morning, knowing that her condition was deteriorating.

The reaction to her death was immediate.

But soon the circus arrived in town.

Because a Clint Eastwood film called Million Dollar Baby about a woman boxer had just opened and was well-liked when Becky passed away, “I actually avoided my house.”

I simply didn’t want to talk because they have a sort of hideaway hotel at the hospital. I mean the issue was sensationalised enough and I had no desire to feed that. “

Weiler remained away from his home for ten days until the reporters fed up with the waiting.

He didn’t go back to Fort Collins for 15 months and didn’t leave until he was “prepared to deal with the ghosts” that persisted.

In another area, Heather Schmitz was engaged in a battle of her own as the long days passed by Weiler.

Since her blow was responsible for the death of Zerlentes, the 20-something Schmitz was now being interviewed in relation to a homicide case by police in Denver.

Schmitz reached out to Weiler despite the ongoing investigation. He described her agonizing and accepted her apology, reminding the young woman that she had not intended to murder Zerlentes. The case against Schmitz was eventually dropped.

Weiler has now decided to talk about his experience in order to warn others about the potential benefits of boxing.

He claimed that it was the sport with the most male bloodlust.

” And that’s the only way you can talk about mixed martial arts for instance, which didn’t really exist at the time. Betting is entirely dependent on how well you beat your opponent.

It’s one thing to play ping pong or table tennis, but it’s another thing to talk about someone’s life.

11-Sep-15 In Sydney, it’s around 1 a.m.

Davey Browne Jr is in hospital.

They claimed that if we examined his skull, he would simply bleed out. I made noise that I haven’t made since, and neither has it. This animalistic noise. Just to see him, I needed to see him.

Amy Lavelle, who like Weiler, lost her partner to boxing, is who she is.

Just an hour ago, Lavelle’s husband was minutes away – his corner believed – from a points win over super-featherweight rival Carlo Magali, a Filipino fighter nicknamed ‘ The Ferocious’, at Ingleburn RSL club in Sydney.

The 12th and final round had only a few seconds left.

Then, disaster struck. The 28-year-old father of two went down – it was a knockout. He rose from the canvas initially, but he later fell to his stool.

By the morning, it was obvious that Browne had already left. Lavelle, looking at her unconscious husband, saw her world crash around her.

She said, “I just wondered how the boys could develop without their father. What could possibly cause this? I can’t imagine them growing up without knowing him. Unfathomable, to be sure. Just a true nightmare, a total nightmare.

Before meeting Lavelle, Weiler had not had any contact with the authorities, promoters or managers for years.

Lavelle and Weiler, who are now best friends after years of being separated by grief, seek solace in each other’s shared experience. They also concur that there hasn’t been any support for those who have experienced this kind of trauma.

Within the first few days, both were contacted by a handful of people. There is no single body in the world that regulates boxing, whether to set guidelines or to uphold them. The individual commissions in the area control professional fights.

At the time of Zerlentes ‘ fight, amateur US boxing bouts were sanctioned by USA Boxing, while Browne’s was sanctioned by the IBF but overseen by the Combat Sports Authority in Australia.

Requests for comment on this story were not responded to by the IBF and USA Boxing.

An investigation into Browne’s death raised important questions about corporate governance, mandatory training for ringside employees, and their capacity to recognize and respond to serious head injuries.

But ultimately, there has been silence from those wandering the corridors of boxing power.

Weiler remarked, “That’s kind of interesting.” It was very well-known for a while, I mean. I’d be happy to talk but I haven’t heard from anyone”.

Weiler would advise every up-and-coming fighter to thoroughly consider the situation before taking that first step, whether they are making their professional debut or just beginning out on the pads.

The sport’s associations with brain trauma and related conditions are increasing as a result of frequent collisions throughout matches. Concussions decreased by 17% in the NFL’s 2024 season, but studies show only three can have a long-lasting effect.

Boxers deal with similar trauma. Heather Hardy, who holds the title of world champion, was forced to retire last year because of her severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) symptoms.

Multiple head injuries and concussions are a cause of CTE, a brain condition. The condition, which gradually gets worse over time and leads to dementia, can only be diagnosed post-mortem.

Irish boxing champion John Cooney passed away in February due to his injuries from a fight in Belfast.

The wealth that these guys, including boxing and American football players, accumulate is extraordinary. But is it worth a lifetime of dementia and depression and suicidal thoughts”? Weiler remarked.

“I guess everyone should make that call themselves, but they ought to be fully aware of the risks involved.”

Lavelle agrees.

She said, “It’s sad, but it’s not all bad because it’s my reality.”

“The athletes entering need to be educated so they are more aware of the risks,” he said.

” I don’t think that’s done. It’s all about the bravado and the will.