Former professional boxer Prichard Colón died at the age of 33, nearly eleven years after suffering a career-ending brain injury due to head trauma. Colón's father announced his passing via a Facebook post on Thursday afternoon. For the last ten years, Colón had been in a vegetative state requiring 24-hour care following multiple illegal blows to the back of the head during his final fight.
Colón, who was considered a promising boxing prospect, began his professional career with a record of 16 wins, 13 by knockout, and had an amateur record of 170-15. His last fight occurred in October 2015 against Terrel Williams, where he suffered his only loss after being disqualified in the ninth round. Colón's team mistakenly believed the fight was over, leading to the removal of his gloves.
During that fight, he was struck illegally in the back of the head multiple times, known as 'rabbit punches,' which are prohibited to protect boxers. After the fight, Colón collapsed and was taken to the hospital, where he spent 221 days in a coma before waking up in a vegetative state.
The incident drew significant media attention, including an ESPN documentary titled 'How one fight changed Prichard Colón’s life,' which highlighted the impact of the illegal punches on his career. The World Boxing Organization expressed its condolences to Colón's family on social media, acknowledging his courage and fighting spirit.