Ex-Puerto Rican boxer Prichard Colón dies at 33

Former Puerto Rican junior middleweight boxer Prichard Colón has died at the age of 33. His passing comes nearly 11 years after a severe brain injury sustained during a fight left him in a persistent vegetative state. Colón's father and former coach, Richard Colón, announced his son's death on Thursday, sharing the news on Facebook and expressing gratitude for years of support and prayers.

Colón was once considered one of boxing's most promising prospects, holding a professional record of 16 wins with 13 knockouts. However, his career was tragically cut short in October 2015 during a bout against American boxer Terrel Williams in Fairfax, Virginia. He suffered a brain bleed after being knocked down twice in the ninth round due to repeated blows to the back of his head, often referred to as rabbit punches. His corner ultimately stopped the fight.

Following the fight, Colón was rushed to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed a subdural hematoma that necessitated emergency surgery. He remained in a coma for 221 days and never regained the ability to walk or speak, requiring extensive rehabilitation and constant family care for the remainder of his life. His devastating injury prompted significant changes in the sport; the World Boxing Council established the 'Prichard Colón Rule' in 2016, enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for blows to the back of the head.

In 2017, Colón's parents initiated a $50 million lawsuit against the ringside doctor and promoters associated with the fight. Born in Maitland, Florida, on September 19, 1992, Colón also achieved success as an amateur, winning a gold medal at the 2010 Pan American Youth Championship.

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Good morning my people. I regret to inform you of the passing of my son Prichard from this earthly world, now he is in a better world. I did everything possible to fulfil his wish, his dream of bringing him on vacation to Puerto Rico as much as he desired but couldn’t. Thank you for so many years of love and prayers. As much as you can, please keep us in your prayers.