Former professional boxer Prichard Colon has died at the age of 33, more than a decade after sustaining catastrophic brain injuries during a fight in Virginia.
His father and former trainer, Richard Colon, announced the news on social media. "Good morning, everyone. I regret to inform you of the passing of my son Prichard from this earthly world. He is now in a better place," he wrote. "Thank you for so many years of love and prayers. As much as you can, please keep us in your prayers."
Colon collapsed in his dressing room after losing a super-middleweight contest against American opponent Terrel Williams in October 2015. During the bout, Colon took repeated blows to the back of his head from rabbit punches, which are illegal in boxing.
After vomiting and collapsing post-fight, the Puerto Rican fighter was rushed to hospital. Doctors discovered a subdural hematoma, a severe bleed between the brain and the skull, and performed emergency surgery to relieve intracranial swelling after part of his skull collapsed from the impact.
The 2015 Bout and Brain Trauma
Following the emergency operation, Colon spent 221 days in a coma. When he emerged from the coma, he was unable to walk or speak and was left in a vegetative state with life-altering injuries, requiring near-constant care from his family.
In professional boxing, the super-middleweight weight division carries an upper limit of 168 pounds. Strikes to the back of the head or neck, known as rabbit punches, are strictly banned in combat sports due to the risk of severe damage to the brainstem and spinal cord. Emergency surgery for a subdural hematoma aims to relieve pressure before irreversible neurological damage occurs.
Prior to his 2015 fight, Colon was regarded as one of boxing's most promising rising talents. He won multiple national amateur championships and earned a Youth Pan American gold medal before turning professional, where he compiled an undefeated 16-0 record featuring 13 knockout victories.
Recovery Progress and Family Support
Despite his condition, Colon's family documented moments of progress over the years. Three years ago, an update on his Facebook profile showed Colon attempting to speak with his mother and raising a smile, accompanied by the caption: "I will not give up."
Additional video clips shared by his family showed the former boxer attending a truck rally. He also reached a positive milestone by appearing able to brush his own teeth.
On his 31st birthday, his mother shared a moving video presenting her son with a birthday cupcake topped with a candle.
Impact on the Boxing Community
Colon's tragedy became a poignant symbol of the dangers in boxing. Last year, former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder broke down in tears during an interview while discussing Colon's story and the risks fighters face in the ring.
"We’ve seen what happens, look at Colon. How he got hit, Prichard Colon, correct," Wilder said. "This man didn’t have no kids... they don’t understand. Y’all don’t f****** understand what we go through, man. And I don’t even know him like that, but I will always be an advocate for us. Because this man will never know what it’s like to be somebody’s father. And that’s one of the most precious things in the world, to be somebody’s father. But he will never be nobody’s father, man."
Wilder added: "Because he got in the ring to support his family but now, his family got to take care of him for the rest of his life."
