Why did Terrel Williams hide his boxing career from his sons? The heartbreaking reason behind his decision Terrel Williams kept his boxing career from his three sons because of what happened to Prichard Colón in their 2015 fight. Colón suffered a serious brain injury during the bout and never returned to normal life. Williams later said the experience changed him too. He stopped seeing boxing as something he could proudly pass on to his children. In 2026, Colón’s death has brought the painful story back into focus.
Why Terrel Williams kept boxing from his sons after Prichard Colón fight
Williams and Colón met on October 17, 2015, at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia. Both men were unbeaten at the time, with Colón carrying a 16-0 record. The fight ended in the ninth round after Colón’s corner mistakenly removed his gloves, believing the scheduled 10-round bout was over. Referee Joseph Cooper then disqualified Colón.The bigger concern came after the fight. Colón had complained about punches to the back of his head, known as “rabbit punches.” ESPN reported that Cooper had already taken a point from Williams for one such punch in the seventh round. Colón also complained of dizziness and pain, but he was allowed to continue.After returning to his dressing room, Colón became sick, vomited and collapsed. He was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where doctors found bleeding on his brain and performed emergency surgery. He later spent 221 days in a coma and was left with severe, permanent brain damage.The Virginia state review later said the tragedy could not be blamed on one person, while also raising questions about how the fight was handled.For Williams, the fight did not feel like a normal victory. In 2019, The Washington Post reported that he lived with the memory of what happened and had never told his three sons that he was a professional boxer.Williams said, “It affected his life forever. And it affected my life forever.” He also made it clear that he would never let his sons become boxers.
How Prichard Colón’s injury changed Terrel Williams
Williams did not say he wanted his sons to forget their father’s past forever. Instead, he knew that one day they would learn about his career and the fight with Colón. “When they figure it out,” he told The Washington Post, “I’ll talk to them about it. And I’ll be honest.”The experience also changed how Williams felt when he entered a boxing ring. He told The Washington Post that he could no longer step into a fight without thinking about the worst thing that could happen.Williams eventually returned after a 25-month break. His final professional fight came in September 2019, when Thomas Dulorme beat him by unanimous decision.Colón never boxed again. More than 10 years after the injury, his father confirmed that he died on August 13, 2026, at age 33. His death has again drawn attention to the fight and its lasting impact.