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WINTER PARK, Fla. – A funeral service and burial will be held for former Puerto Rican professional boxer Prichard Col\u00f3n Mel\u00e9ndez, who died on August 13, 2026 \u2013 nearly 11 years after sustaining a life-altering brain injury in the ring.<\/p>\n
He was 33 years old.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Prichard “Digget” Colon \u2013 a rising and undefeated super welterweight fighter born in Maitland, Florida \u2013 suffered a brain injury from illegal “rabbit punches” during a 2015 bout against Terrel Williams. The World Boxing Council (WBC) adopted a zero-tolerance policy<\/a> on rabbit punches, warning boxers and trainers against their use and urging referees to penalize fighters who deliver them.<\/p>\n FAIRFAX, VA – OCTOBER 17: Prichard Colon (L) and Terrel Williams exchange punches 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 Im <\/p>\n The backstory:<\/p>\n Going into his fight with Williams, Col\u00f3n was undefeated. He was a rising star after making a professional debut in 2013, but suffered a career-ending blow in his fight against Williams.\u00a0<\/p>\n After rebounding in the eighth round in his fight against Williams, he suffered a crushing body blow and a shot to the back of his head as he was falling, according to Premier Boxing Champions<\/a>. Col\u00f3n got back on his feet \u2013 bloodied and dazed, the boxing series reported, but the fight was over. The contest was ruled a disqualification<\/a>.<\/p>\n Col\u00f3n’s parents filed a lawsuit against the ringside physician involved in the match, court records in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia show.\u00a0<\/p>\n After 221 days in a coma, Col\u00f3n entered into a long health journey and remained in a vegetative state \u2013 according to his fighter profile<\/a> \u2013 before his family announced his death on Aug. 13.\u00a0<\/p>\n What we know:<\/p>\n Col\u00f3n\u2019s family has invited the public to honor his life by attending a funeral service in Winter Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to his obituary<\/a>, Col\u00f3n’s family will receive friends on Tuesday, August 18 at 4:30 p.m. and a funeral service will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 11 a.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n He’ll be buried in a cemetery in Winter Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n What they’re saying:<\/p>\n Following the news of his death, global boxing organizations and public figures paid tribute to Col\u00f3n\u2019s memory.<\/p>\n Grammy-award winning artist Bad Bunny paid tribute to Col\u00f3n in a heartfelt letter published under his name, Benito Antonio Mart\u00ednez Ocasio, in El Nuevo Dia<\/a>.<\/p>\n Several boxing agencies also extended sympathies to Col\u00f3n’s family.\u00a0<\/p>\n “A true warrior in every sense of the word, Prichard left us with profound lessons about life, resilience, and our sport. The entire boxing community mourns this heartbreaking and significant loss.”<\/p>\n \u2014 WBA Boxing, X <\/p>\n “The PBC Family sends its heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Prichard Colon. May he Rest in Peace.”<\/p>\n \u2014 Premier Boxing Champions, X <\/p>\n “A warrior until the very end. \u00a0The WBO family mourns the passing of Prichard Col\u00f3n, whose courage, strength, and fighting spirit transcended the ring. His greatest fight became a testament to resilience and the unwavering love of his family. Rest in peace, champion.”<\/p>\n \u2014 World Boxing Organization, X <\/p>\n The Source: Information in this story was gathered from the World Boxing Council and a court filing in the U.S. District Court for District of Columbia Nieves Colon v. Richard Ashby, M.D. and his obituary.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/gettyimages-646904782-scaled.jpg\")
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