Former Boxer Prichard Colón Dies At 33, Nearly 11 Years After Tragic Fight

Former Puerto Rican boxer, Prichard Colón, has died at the age of 33, nearly 11 years after suffering a devastating brain injury during a professional bout that left him in a persistent vegetative state.

Colón’s death was announced by his father and former coach, Richard Colón, in a Facebook post on Thursday, August 13, 2026, where he thanked supporters for their years of love, prayers and support for the family.

Colón, who competed in the junior middleweight division, had an impressive 16 0 professional record with 13 knockouts and was regarded as one of boxing’s promising young talents before his career was abruptly cut short in October 2015.

During his bout against American boxer Terrel Williams at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia, Colón suffered repeated blows to the back of the head, popularly known as rabbit punches, and was knocked down twice in the ninth round before his corner stopped the fight.

He was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with a subdural hematoma that required emergency surgery, after which he spent 221 days in a coma and never regained the ability to walk or speak, requiring years of rehabilitation and care from his family.

His case later contributed to changes in boxing safety, with the World Boxing Council introducing the “Prichard Colón Rule” in 2016, mandating zero tolerance for blows to the back of the head. His parents also filed a $50 million lawsuit in 2017 against the ringside doctor and promoters connected to the fight.