Boxing World Mourns Prichard Colón After Former Rising Star Dies at 33

Former professional boxer Prichard Colón has died at the age of 33, more than a decade after suffering a devastating brain injury following his final fight. His father and former trainer, Richard Colón, confirmed the news in a social-media statement on August 13. The family expressed gratitude for the prayers and support Prichard received throughout his recovery journey. An official cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.

Colón was considered one of Puerto Rico’s most promising young fighters before his career was abruptly cut short. After representing Puerto Rico as an amateur and winning gold at the 2010 Pan American Youth Championships, he turned professional in 2012. Colón won his first 16 professional fights, including 13 victories by knockout, establishing himself as an exciting junior-middleweight prospect with the potential to compete for major championships.

His life changed during an October 17, 2015 bout against Terrel Williams in Fairfax, Virginia. Colón repeatedly complained about punches landing behind his head, and Williams was penalized one point for rabbit punching during the contest. After the ninth round, Colón’s corner mistakenly removed his gloves because they believed the fight had ended. He was disqualified when his team could not replace the gloves in time, but a far more serious emergency soon unfolded backstage.

https://twitter.com/WorldBoxingOrg/status/2087919052962312657

Colón became dizzy, vomited and collapsed inside the dressing room before doctors discovered a subdural hematoma that required emergency surgery. He remained in a coma for 221 days and experienced severe neurological disabilities after awakening. Colón later lived with his family in Florida, where his parents provided continuous care and shared updates from his rehabilitation. Following his death, the World Boxing Organization praised his courage and recognized his family’s unwavering devotion.

Although Colón’s professional career lasted only 17 fights, his story became permanently connected to conversations about fighter safety, illegal punches and ringside medical responsibility. Boxing fans continued following his recovery long after he left the sport, inspired by his resilience and the commitment of those caring for him. Colón will be remembered as a gifted fighter whose courage during an unimaginable battle became greater than anything measured by a boxing record.