Boxer dies more than a decade after fight that left him with severe brain injury
Puerto Rican boxer Prichard Colón was just 23 years old when his life changed forever.
Prichard Colón, a former boxer who endured severe brain damage following a fight over a decade ago, has passed away at the age of 33. His father Richard Colón confirmed the news on Thursday via a Facebook post, without disclosing the cause of death. World Boxing Organization (WBO) president Gustavo Olivieri paid tribute to Colón on social media, expressing the organization's condolences to his family and those who knew, supported, and loved him.
The WBO solemnly mourned his passing. Colón sustained his injury during a boxing match against Terrel Williams in Virginia, United States, in October 2015. Born in Florida, he began his boxing journey in Puerto Rico, where he claimed five amateur titles and was regarded as a rising star in the lead-up to the nationally televised bout.
An online video of the fight revealed Williams, a 31-year-old fighter from Los Angeles, striking Colón in the back of the head in the seventh round, which stunned Colón, who was swiftly examined in his corner. Williams was penalized for the illegal punch. Colón was knocked down twice in the ninth round, after which he was disqualified.
His corner erroneously removed his gloves, thinking the fight was over, and Colón required assistance to walk to his dressing room, feeling dizzy, vomiting, and subsequently losing consciousness. He was promptly rushed to the hospital, where he underwent surgery to alleviate pressure on his brain, spending seven months in a coma.
In 2016, the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation determined no wrongdoing on the part of the fight organizers. In 2017, Colón remained in a persistent vegetative state, according to ESPN. His parents hoped he would regain some brain function despite the difficulties he faced. By 2019, he had made substantial progress, communicating through facial gestures, verbal sounds, and a computer tracking his eye movements.
He could pedal on a recumbent bike and exhibited a competitive spirit, striving to make strides with assistance in a friendly rivalry with another patient. Colón's death evoked widespread grief in the boxing community. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri praised Colón's resilience and the unwavering love of his family, highlighting the boxer's courage, perseverance, and indomitable fighting spirit.
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