Prichard Colón, the once-promising Puerto Rican boxer whose career was cut short by a devastating brain injury sustained in a controversial 2015 fight, has died at the age of 33.
His father and former trainer, Richard Colón, confirmed the news Thursday in an emotional social media post. "Good morning, my people. I regret to inform you of the departure of my son Prichard from this earthly world. NOW HE IS in a better world," he wrote. "I did everything possible to fulfil HIS WISH, HIS DREAM of bringing him ON VACATION to Puerto Rico as he so desired, but IT COULDN'T BE DONE. Thank you for so many years of love and prayers. As much as you can, please keep us in your prayers."
Colón, a native of Orocovis, Puerto Rico, was 23 and undefeated at 16-0 with 13 knockouts when he stepped into the ring against Terrel Williams on Oct. 17, 2015, at the EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia. The bout, part of a Premier Boxing Champions card, turned tragic as Williams repeatedly landed illegal rabbit punches — blows to the back of the head — throughout the fight.
Colón complained multiple times to referee Joe Cooper about the fouls. Cooper reportedly responded, "You take care of it," and did not stop the action promptly despite the clear violations. Williams was eventually deducted a point for the illegal punches, while Colón lost two points for a low blow. In the ninth round, Colón was knocked down twice. His corner then mistakenly began removing his gloves, believing the fight was over, leading to a disqualification loss when he could not answer the bell for the 10th.
Shortly after returning to the dressing room, Colón collapsed. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed a subdural hematoma, bleeding on the brain. He underwent emergency surgery and spent 221 days in a coma. He never fully recovered, remaining in a persistent vegetative state, wheelchair-bound, and unable to speak, though he later communicated with assistance from a computer. His family, including his mother Nieves, provided round-the-clock care for more than a decade.
The tragedy sparked widespread outrage in the boxing community and led to reforms. The World Boxing Council adopted what became known as the "Prichard Colón Rule," emphasizing zero tolerance for rabbit punches, with referees instructed to issue immediate warnings, point deductions, or disqualifications for such fouls.
Colón’s family had pursued a lawsuit seeking damages related to the medical handling of the fight, though details of any resolution were not publicly highlighted in the immediate aftermath of his death. Boxing organizations, including the WBO, issued statements of condolence following the announcement.
Before the injury, Colón was viewed as a rising star with amateur titles and a string of early professional knockouts. In the years that followed, his family shared videos of his rehabilitation efforts, portraying him as a symbol of resilience amid profound adversity. No specific cause of death beyond the long-term effects of his brain injury was detailed in the initial family statement.
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