Prichard Colon, a professional boxer, died recently at age 33, more than a decade after sustaining a catastrophic brain injury in the ring. His father Richard Colon confirmed his passing on social media, expressing gratitude for the years of support the family received.
Colon’s injury occurred during a light-middleweight bout with Terrell Williams in Fairfax, Virginia in 2015. During the contest, Colon was struck repeatedly in the back of the head, leading the referee to deduct a point from Williams for illegal blows. Colon was also penalized two points for a low blow and was knocked down in the ninth round. When his corner team removed his gloves believing the fight had concluded, he was disqualified from the match.
Following the bout, Colon collapsed in his changing room and was found to have suffered a brain hemorrhage. After undergoing surgery to reduce swelling, he was placed in a coma lasting 221 days. He subsequently lived in a vegetative state, unable to walk or speak, and required round-the-clock medical care for the remainder of his life.
Colon’s parents pursued legal action against the ringside physician and fight promoters involved, filing a lawsuit seeking damages exceeding $50 million. That case remains unresolved. Colon had been an undefeated boxer with 16 professional fights and 13 knockout victories before the Williams match. Born in Florida, he relocated to Puerto Rico at age 10 and competed as an amateur boxer, winning national titles in two weight divisions and representing his country at the Brazil pre-Olympics in an unsuccessful bid to qualify for the 2012 Games in London.
Boxing organizations paid tribute to Colon’s legacy. The WBA described him as “a true warrior” who left lessons about resilience, while WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman noted Colon was honored as an honorary WBC world champion in 2021, recognizing his fighting spirit and the unwavering support he received from his family and friends throughout his ordeal.
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