Former Puerto Rican boxer Prichard Colón has died at the age of 33 at his home in Florida, eleven years after suffering a severe brain injury during a match.
His father, Richard Colón, announced the death late on Thursday, August 13, 2026, on Facebook. He stated that he regretted to inform everyone of the passing of his son from this earthly world, adding that Prichard was now in a better place. Colón was surrounded by his family in Florida when he died.
The life-altering injury occurred on October 17, 2015, during a super-welterweight fight against American boxer Terrel Williams at EagleBank Arena. Colón, who was 23 years old at the time and originally from Orocovis, Puerto Rico, entered the ring with an undefeated record of 16 fights, including 13 knockout victories. Williams was also a rising star in the sport, holding a 15-0 record with 12 knockouts.
During the bout, Colón repeatedly complained that Williams was hitting him on the back of the head, an illegal punch in boxing known as a rabbit punch. The match referee penalized Williams by deducting one point following a complaint about one of the blows. In the ninth round, Colón complained of dizziness, and his corner team removed his gloves. The referee subsequently awarded the victory to Williams by disqualification.
Medical emergency and coma
Colón collapsed shortly after returning to his dressing room following the bout. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with a subdural hematoma and performed emergency brain surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain.
Following the operation, Colón fell into a coma that lasted for 221 days. When he regained consciousness after seven months, doctors confirmed the full severity of his neurological damage. The condition left him needing 24-hour care for the remainder of his life.
Therapy and daily rehabilitation
Over months of intensive rehabilitation, Colón regained limited abilities to communicate with his family. He learned to express himself through facial expressions, vocal sounds, and a computer that tracked his eye movements.
Writing in The Washington Post, journalist Kent Babb reported that Colón experienced good days and difficult days, noting that he could grow tired and impatient like anyone else. Babb wrote that it was clear Colón had progressed far beyond original expectations due to good guidance and care.
Official investigation and fight aftermath
In 2016, the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation conducted an investigation into the match. As reported by The Washington Post, the regulatory body concluded that no violation had occurred on the part of the event organizers.
The authority stated in an official statement that no action or omission could be identified that was obvious or severe enough to justify assigning liability to any specific individual.
Williams, who was 31 years old at the time of the bout, later returned to boxing to compete in 2017 and 2019. However, he acknowledged that the events following his fight with Colón affected both his life and his career.
In an interview with The Los Angeles Times shortly after the 2015 fight, Williams said his heart dropped and his stomach turned upon learning of Colón's condition. Williams added that he prayed multiple times a day for Colón to make a full recovery, stating that he could not enjoy the victory and remained deeply concerned for Prichard.
