Prichard Colón, the Puerto Rican boxer whose promising career was cut short by a severe brain injury during a 2015 fight, has died at the age of 33. His father, Richard Colón, confirmed his death in a Facebook post on August 13, 2026. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Colón spent more than a decade living with the lasting effects of the injury he suffered during his bout against Terrel Williams in Fairfax, Virginia. His death brings to an end a long period in which his family provided constant care following the devastating consequences of the fight.

A Fight That Changed His Life Forever

Colón entered the October 2015 contest against Williams as an unbeaten professional with a record of 16 wins, including 13 by knockout. During the light-middleweight bout, he complained about repeated punches to the back of his head. Williams was deducted a point for an illegal blow.

Colón was later penalised twice for low blows. In the ninth round, he was knocked down. His corner mistakenly believed the round had ended and removed his gloves, resulting in Colón being disqualified. He subsequently returned to his dressing room, where his condition deteriorated and he collapsed.

221 Days in a Coma

Colón was diagnosed with a serious brain injury and underwent emergency surgery to address swelling and bleeding in his brain. He then spent 221 days in a coma.

After emerging from the coma, he was left with severe and permanent disabilities. He was unable to walk or speak normally and required round-the-clock care for the remainder of his life. His family remained closely involved in his care throughout the years that followed.

His father announced his passing while thanking those who had supported the family with prayers and affection over the years. Richard Colón also said that one of his son’s wishes had been to take a vacation in Puerto Rico, a wish that could not be fulfilled.

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A Promising Career Cut Short

Born in Florida, Colón moved to Puerto Rico at the age of 10 and developed into a highly regarded young boxer. He won national titles in two weight divisions and competed in the qualification process for the 2012 London Olympics before moving into professional boxing.

He made his professional debut in 2013 and quickly built an unbeaten record. By the time he faced Williams in 2015, Colón had established himself as one of boxing’s promising young prospects. The fight ultimately became his final appearance in the ring.

Legal Battle Remains Unresolved

Colón’s parents later filed a lawsuit seeking more than $50 million in damages against the ringside doctor and promoters associated with the fight. The case remains unresolved.

The circumstances surrounding the fight continued to draw attention within boxing, particularly because of the repeated blows to the back of Colón’s head and the serious injury that followed.

Boxing Community Remembers Colón

Colón’s story continued to receive recognition from the boxing world long after his career ended. In 2021, the World Boxing Council named him an honorary world champion.

Following news of his death, boxing organisations and figures paid tribute to Colón and remembered his resilience during more than a decade of profound physical challenges. His life and career remain closely associated with both the promise he showed as a young fighter and the lasting consequences of the injury he suffered inside the ring.

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