Prichard Colon Dies At 33 After 11-Year Battle

Prichard Colon, the Puerto Rican boxer who spent 11 years in a vegetative state after suffering a brain hemorrhage during a 2015 bout, has died at 33.

Colon's father Richard confirmed the news on Facebook, writing that his son had departed "this earthly world" and was "now in a better world," according to the BBC. The fighter collapsed in his dressing room following a welterweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light-middleweight contest with Terrell Williams in Fairfax, Virginia, during which he repeatedly complained to the referee about punches to the back of his head. Williams was docked a point for illegal blows, but Colon was later disqualified after his corner removed his gloves in the ninth round, believing the fight had ended when their man was knocked down.

Colon Spent 221 Days In Coma After Emergency Surgery

Doctors performed emergency surgery to reduce swelling on Colon's brain, and he remained in a medically induced coma for 221 days. He never regained the ability to walk or speak and required round-the-clock care for the remainder of his life. His parents filed suit seeking more than $50 million in damages against the ringside physician and the fight's promoters, a case that remains unresolved.

Colon had been undefeated through 16 professional fights with 13 knockouts before facing Williams. Born in Florida, he moved to Puerto Rico at age 10 and won national amateur titles in two weight classes before turning pro in 2013. The WBC named him an honorary world champion in 2021.

"A true warrior in every sense of the word, Prichard left us with profound lessons about life, resilience, and our sport," the WBA posted on social media. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman wrote that Colon would "never be forgotten" after 11 years of fighting "like a true champion."

Source: bbc.co.uk