Puerto Rican Boxer Prichard Colón Dies at 33
FAIRFAX, VA - OCTOBER 17: Prichard Colon fights Terrel Williams in their super welterweights bout at EagleBank Arena on the campus of George Mason University on October 17, 2015 in Fairfax, Virginia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Former boxer Prichard Colón has passed away at the age of 33, his family confirmed on Thursday, August 13th.
The Puerto Rican, once a promising boxer, suffered a brain bleed following a 2015 fight against Terrel Williams. Colón went on to spend 221 days in a coma after repeated blows to the neck. After waking up, the boxer continued his rehabilitation with the hopes of walking again, but never fully recovered.
“Good morning, everyone. I regret to inform you of the passing of my son Prichard from this earthly world. He is now in a better place,” his father and former coach, Richard Colón, wrote on his Facebook page.
“I did everything I could to fulfill his wish, his dream of bringing him on vacation to Puerto Rico, as he so longed to do, but it wasn’t possible. Thank you for so many years of love and prayers. Please keep us in your prayers as much as you can,” he added.
The information regarding Colón’s death was also confirmed to El Nuevo Día by Paco Valcárcel, an executive at the WBO.
Colón was celebrated for his spirit after his injury, with his family uploading videos to TikTok about his recovery, including him smiling as he’s presented with a cupcake on his 31st birthday, going to physical therapy, and dancing with his mom.
During his career, Colón amassed a 16-1 record, with 13 KO wins. And in 2016, the WBC introduced the “Prichard Colón rule” to discourage and punish blows to the back of the neck, called “rabbit punches.”