Prichard Colon, boxer left in vegetative state by 2015 blows, dies at 33

Prichard Colon, the boxer whose promising career ended when he was left in a persistent vegetative state after absorbing a string of illegal blows during a 2015 bout, has died. He was 33.

Colon’s father and former trainer, Richard, announced the death Thursday in a post that family confirmed to a Puerto Rico newspaper’s boxing editor and an executive with the World Boxing Organization.

“I regret to inform you of the passing of my son Prichard from this earthly world,” Richard wrote, adding that he had tried to fulfill his son’s wish of a trip to Puerto Rico but “couldn’t.” 

Before the injury, Colon was considered one of boxing’s rising prospects, entering his October 2015 super welterweight bout against Terrel Williams with a 16-0 record and 13 knockouts. The fight, held at EagleBank Arena on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, unraveled over its final rounds. Williams repeatedly struck Colon behind the head — fouls known in boxing as “rabbit punches” — and was docked only a single point for the infractions, while Colón lost two points of his own for a low blow. Believing the bout had ended after the ninth round, Colon’s corner removed his gloves; a 10th round remained, and he was disqualified for failing to answer the bell.

Colon became dizzy and vomited in the locker room and was rushed to a hospital, where doctors diagnosed a subdural hematoma and performed emergency surgery to relieve brain swelling. He spent 221 days in a coma and never regained the ability to walk or speak without assistive technology, requiring round-the-clock care from his parents for the rest of his life.

In the days after the fight, the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation opened an investigation into the bout, saying it planned to interview those involved, including Colon himself, “when that is appropriate.” Colon’s parents later filed a lawsuit in 2017, seeking more than $50 million and alleging medical malpractice by the fight’s ringside physician for not intervening after Colon complained of head pain and dizziness during the bout.

The injury also prompted a rule change in the sport. In 2016, the World Boxing Council introduced what it dubbed the “Prichard Colon Rule,” instructing referees to apply zero tolerance toward blows to the back of the head and authorizing warnings, point deductions or disqualification for offenders. 

The World Boxing Organization paid tribute to Colon after his death, with the group’s statement noting his life “was defined by courage, perseverance and an extraordinary fighting spirit.” Colon held an honorary WBC world championship in recognition of the career cut short by the injury. 

Colon’s exact cause of death has not been disclosed.