A year that was meant to be filled with promise instead ends in tragedy for a rising young junior middleweight prospect.

Travell 'Black Magic' Mazion, a promising 154-pound boxer was reportedly killed in a multi-victim car crash Wednesday evening just outside of Austin, Texas. Details are still being gathered of the tragic incident in question, in which Travis County officials revealed one person dead and two others injured after a pin-in collision at the 18000 block of FM 1431 just outside of Leander, Texas, just north of Mazion's hometown. 

Austin-Travis County authorities did not release the names of the victims, though Mazion's death was confirmed by those close to him. 

"I can’t believe it, R.I.P Travell Mazion," revealed Vergil Ortiz (15-0, 15KOs), a rising welterweight contender from Grand Prairie, Texas. "For those who don’t know him or never met him, he was a very talented boxer and one of the coolest people I knew."

Reports of the accident were first tweeted by Austin-Travis County EMS techs at 9:34pm local (Central) time, alerting the public of "multiple critical patients with extrication in progress of [one] patient." An update was provided just 29 minutes later, confirming the death of one victim and life-threatening injuries sustained by two more victims who were transported to Round Rock Medical Center. 

Mazion was just nine days shy of his 25th birthday at the time of the passing. His career ends with a perfect record of 17-0 (13KOs), but with far too much promise left ahead for the Golden Boy Promotions-guided boxer.

"We at Golden Boy are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Travell Mazion last night," noted the company in a press statement. "Mazion was a kind, charismatic young man who lit up every room he walked into and brought excitement to fans inside the ring.

"We send our heartfelt prayers and thoughts to his family. May he rest in peace."

Waking up to the horrific news hit home to the company's founder and chairman. 

"I am still in disbelief," Oscar de la Hoya, the Hall of Fame former six-division champion and head of Golden Boy tweeted on Thursday. "@black_magic92 you left us far too soon! Nice, young man with all the talent in the world. Not only did our sport take a huge hit with losing you but the world lost a good one.

"You are forever Golden. My heart & prayers are with you & your family champ.

Mazion turned pro in 2013, scoring a 1st round knockout in his Austin hometown. His most recent bout took place one hour away, a 58-second blitzing of Fernando Castañeda this past January at The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.  

The bout was to have been his toughest test to date, but Mazion—who at 6'2" was often casually referred to as 'Thomas Hearns v2.0"—seized the moment. A right hand shot had Castañeda wobbled early in the bout, with a perfectly placed left hook to the liver putting him down and ultimately providing the end of the fight. 

It was to have launched a big 2020 campaign for Mazion, who was already calling for the best that the 154-pound junior middleweight division had to offer. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic stalled those plans, with Wednesday's fatal accident claiming his life far too soon. 

All but three of Mazion's 17 pro bouts took place in his home state of Texas. Included among them was an eight-round decision win over Jeremy Ramos last August in Grand Prairie, in supporting capacity for a DAZN-streamed event featuring Ortiz in a hometown-headlining 6th round knockout of Antonio Orozco.

Mazion's ringwalk came without music, moving in silence in honor of those whose lives were lost in rash of senseless gun violence.

"Always enjoyed watching [Travell] fight," notes Ortiz. "Love you bro, watch over us." 

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox