Former boxer Prichard Colón has died at the age of 33, over a decade after sustaining a severe brain injury during a fight. His father, Richard Colón, announced his son’s passing on Thursday through a Facebook post. The post did not specify the cause of death for the Puerto Rican boxer.
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) president, Gustavo Olivieri, shared a tribute to Colón on social media, acknowledging the boxing community’s shared grief. Mr Olivieri stated that the WBO joined Colón’s family and supporters in mourning his death.
The 2015 fight and its aftermath
Colón suffered his injury during a boxing match against Terrel Williams in Virginia, US, in October 2015. Born in Florida, US, Colón began his boxing career in Puerto Rico, where he secured five amateur titles. Leading up to the nationally televised match, he was considered a rising star.
During the fight, an online video showed Williams, a fighter from Los Angeles, delivering a punch to the back of Colón’s head in the seventh round. This illegal punch appeared to stun Colón, who was briefly examined in his corner. Williams was penalised for the illegal strike. Colón was subsequently knocked down twice in the ninth round before being disqualified after his corner mistakenly removed his gloves, believing the fight had concluded.
Following the match, Colón required assistance to reach his dressing room. He reported feeling dizzy, then vomited, and subsequently passed out. He was immediately transported to a hospital where he underwent surgery to alleviate pressure on his brain. Colón remained in a coma for seven months after the incident. At the time of the fight, he was 23 years old.
Years of care and signs of progress
In 2016, the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation investigated the incident but determined there was no wrongdoing by the fight organisers. The regulator issued a statement indicating that no single action or failure to act was sufficiently apparent or egregious to hold any one person accountable.
By 2017, nearly two years after the fight, Colón was described by doctors as being in a persistent vegetative state, requiring constant care. His parents expressed hope that he would regain some brain function despite the significant challenges, with his father stating his belief in miracles.
By 2019, Colón had shown notable progress. After months of therapy, he was able to communicate using facial gestures, verbal sounds, and a computer that tracked his eye movements. He could also pedal on a recumbent bike and, driven by his competitive spirit, was taking steps with assistance, engaging in a friendly rivalry with another patient. A reporter noted that Colón experienced fatigue and impatience like others, with some days being better than others, attributing his progress beyond expectations to good coaching.
Tributes from the boxing community
News of Colón’s death prompted an outpouring of grief within the boxing community. Mr Olivieri highlighted Colón’s life as being defined by courage, perseverance, and an extraordinary fighting spirit. He added that Colón’s story extended beyond the ring, deeply affecting the boxing community, which had supported him over the years with respect, admiration, and hope.
The WBO also paid tribute to Colón’s resilience and the unwavering love demonstrated by his family. Prior to the 2015 contest, Colón was an undefeated professional prospect, holding a record of 16 wins, including 13 knockouts. He sustained a subdural haematoma after receiving repeated illegal punches to the back of his head during the 2015 bout.
Source: abc.net.au