{"id":857947,"date":"2026-08-14T15:26:20","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T15:26:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/857947\/"},"modified":"2026-08-14T15:26:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T15:26:20","slug":"boxing-champion-prichard-colon-dies-aged-33-11-years-after-taking-illegal-punches-in-fight-which-left-him-in-a-221-day-coma-and-a-vegetative-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/857947\/","title":{"rendered":"Boxing champion Prichard Colon dies aged 33, 11 years after taking ‘illegal’ punches in fight which left him in a 221-day coma and a vegetative state"},"content":{"rendered":"

By ISABEL BALDWIN, US ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 18:12 EDT, 13 August 2026 | Updated: 06:07 EDT, 14 August 2026 <\/p>\n

Former boxer Prichard Colon has died at the age of 33 more than a decade after suffering catastrophic brain injuries.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Back in October 2015 Colon, competing as a super-middleweight at the time, suffered a bleed on the brain <\/a>after taking repeated blows to the back of the head during a contest with America’s Terrel Williams in Virginia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After vomiting and collapsing in the dressing room after his defeat, the Puerto Rican was rushed to hospital before spending 221 days in a coma. The fight with Williams had seen part of his skull collapse as a result of the repeated rabbit punches, which are deemed illegal in the sport.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After emerging from the coma, Colon, once a promising rising star in the ring, was left in a vegetative state with life-altering injuries. He was under the near-constant care of his family.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Colon\u00a0conquered multiple national amateur championships and won a Youth Pan American gold medal before turning professional.<\/p>\n

Colon’s dad and former trainer, Richard, announced the heartbreaking news on social media<\/a>, writing: ‘Good morning, everyone. I regret to inform you of the passing of my son Prichard from this earthly world. He is now in a better place.’\u00a0<\/p>\n

He added: ‘Thank you for so many years of love and prayers. As much as you can, please keep us in your prayers.’<\/p>\n

\"Former <\/p>\n

Former boxer Prichard Colon has died at the age of 33, his family have announced<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The Puerto Rican suffered catastrophic brain injuries during a 2015 fight (pictured)<\/p>\n

Until that fateful fight almost 11 years ago, Colon had been one of the sport’s most promising prospects.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He had established an unblemished 16-0 record with 13 knockouts with many in boxing viewing him as a future star.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Following the bout against Williams, Colon was rushed to the hospital where doctors discovered a subdural hematoma.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He underwent emergency surgery as medics desperately attempted to relieve the swelling in his brain.\u00a0After spending 221 days in a coma, Colon awoke unable to walk or talk.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite the traumatic injuries, just three years ago, Colon had vowed not to throw in the towel.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In an update on his Facebook profile at the time, Colon attempted to speak with his mother and even raised a smile in a moving video.<\/p>\n

The post was captioned: ‘I will not give up’.<\/p>\n

In other clips, the ex-fighter could be seen attending a truck rally with his family, while also appearing to take a positive step in being able to brush his own teeth.<\/p>\n

\"He\u00a0was <\/p>\n

He\u00a0was left in a vegetative state and was under the near-constant care of his family<\/p>\n

\"Until <\/p>\n

Until that fateful fight, Colon had been one of the sport’s most promising prospects<\/p>\n

His mother also shared a video of her son on his 31st birthday where she gave him a cupcake with a candle on it.<\/p>\n

Colon’s story is one of the most tragic in boxing history, with former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder breaking down in tears while discussing it last year.<\/p>\n

‘We\u2019ve seen what happens, look at Colon. How he got hit, Prichard Colon, correct,’ Wilder said.<\/p>\n

‘This man didn\u2019t have no kids\u2026 they don\u2019t understand. Y\u2019all don\u2019t f****** understand what we go through, man.<\/p>\n

‘And I don\u2019t even know him like that, but I will always be an advocate for us. Because this man will never know what it\u2019s like to be somebody\u2019s father. And that\u2019s one of the most precious things in the world, to be somebody\u2019s father. But he will never be nobody\u2019s father, man.<\/p>\n

‘Because he got in the ring to support his family but now, his family got to take care of him for the rest of his life.’<\/p>\n

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