Prichard Colon has died at the age of 33, almost 11 years after the former undefeated Puerto Rican boxer suffered a catastrophic brain injury in the ring, his father confirmed on Thursday, 13 August 2026.
Colon was 16-0 with 13 knockouts before a 2015 fight against Terrel Williams in Fairfax, Virginia, as reported by IBTimes UK. He never fought again, and spent the rest of his life needing constant care.
During the bout, Colon repeatedly complained to the referee that he was being struck with illegal punches to the back of the head.
A warning was issued to Williams, but the fight was allowed to continue, and Colon was later docked two points for a low blow.
What happened in the fight before Prichard Colon died
Confusion followed the ninth round. Colon’s corner removed his gloves, mistakenly believing the fight had ended, and the error brought an immediate disqualification.
Moments later he was helped to his changing room, where he began vomiting before collapsing.
He was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with a large subdural haematoma, a bleed between the brain and its outer covering that raises pressure inside the skull.
Surgeons performed an emergency hemicraniectomy, removing part of the skull to relieve that pressure and drain the blood.
The 221 days that followed for Prichard Colon
Colon survived the surgery but fell into a coma that lasted 221 days. After emerging from it, he was unable to walk or speak normally and relied on computer assistance to communicate, requiring round-the-clock care for almost 11 years.
Richard Colon, the boxer’s father, announced the death on social media. His message was addressed to the followers who had tracked his son’s condition since the 2015 fight, and it opened with the news itself rather than any detail of how his son died.
“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.”
He went on to speak about a trip home that the family had hoped to make, and closed by thanking those who had supported them through the years his son spent in care.
The cause of death was not given in the announcement.
“I did everything possible to fulfil 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.”
What the Prichard Colon case changed in boxing
The case pushed boxing authorities to tighten the rules governing illegal punches to the back of the head, the blows Colon complained about in Fairfax.
Those changes stand as the sporting consequence of a night that ended his career and left his family caring for him for almost 11 years.
