Former Puerto Rican Boxer Prichard Colón has died at the age of 33.
He passed away on Thursday, August 13, nearly 11 years after a tragic fight gave him a brain hemorrhage that left him in a persistent vegetative state.
Colón’s death was announced by his father and former coach, Richard Colón, in a Facebook post on Thursday.
“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 fulfill 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,” the father wrote.
Colón, a former junior middleweight who once held a 16-0 professional record with 13 knockouts, was regarded as one of boxing’s brightest prospects before his career was cut short in October 2015.
He suffered a brain bleed during a bout against American boxer Terrel Williams at the EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia.
He was knocked down twice in the ninth round after sustaining repeated blows to the back of the head, popularly known as rabbit punches, before his corner stopped the fight.
Colón was rushed to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed a subdural hematoma requiring emergency surgery.
He spent 221 days in a coma and never regained the ability to walk or talk, relying on years of rehabilitation and family care for the rest of his life.
His injury led to a lasting change in the sport.
The World Boxing Council introduced the “Prichard Colón Rule” in 2016, mandating zero tolerance for blows to the back of the head.
Colón’s parents filed a $50m lawsuit in 2017 against the ringside doctor and promoters connected to the fight.
