Prichard Colón, the former professional boxer from Puerto Rico, has died at 33. This follows an 11-year period where he lived in a persistent vegetative state after sustaining a critical brain injury during a match.
His father and former trainer, Richard Colón, shared the news on Facebook, noting that his son has departed this world. He expressed gratitude for the ongoing support and prayers provided by fans over the years.
Colón was a rising star in the junior middleweight division, holding an unblemished record of 16 victories, 13 by way of knockout, prior to the October 2015 incident. The injury occurred during a fight against Terrel Williams in Fairfax, Virginia, where Colón received illegal blows to the back of his head. Following the bout, he required emergency surgery for a subdural hematoma and spent 221 days in a coma, never fully recovering his mobility or speech.
The tragedy led to the 2016 introduction of the Prichard Colón Rule by the World Boxing Council, which strictly prohibits strikes to the back of the head. His parents also pursued legal action in 2017 against promoters and the fight’s physician. Colón, born in 1992, had been a decorated amateur athlete before his professional career. His passing brings focus back to the dangers of head trauma in contact sports.
