Boxer Prichard Colon Dies at 33 After 221-Day Coma
Puerto Rican boxer Prichard Colon, who sustained a severe brain injury during a 2015 fight, died at age 33 after spending 221 days in a coma and living with permanent disabilities. His death followed years of medical complications and a failed lawsuit seeking compensation.
Consensus
- Prichard Colon died at the age of 33.
- He sustained a severe brain injury during a professional boxing match in October 2015.
- The injury occurred during a fight against Terrell Williams.
- Colon was hospitalized after the fight and placed in a medically induced coma for 221 days.
- He never fully recovered from the injury and lived with permanent disabilities.
- The fight involved repeated prohibited head strikes by Williams.
- Colon had an undefeated professional record of 16 wins, 13 by knockout, before the fight.
- The incident led to changes in boxing safety rules, including stricter enforcement of head strike penalties.
- The World Boxing Council (WBC) introduced a rule named after Colon to improve safety.
Points of divergence
- Colon's family announced his death on August 13, 2026. — meduza
- Colon's father, Richard Colon, announced his death on August 14. — fontanka
- Colon was able to use a gaze-controlled device to communicate in English and Spanish, and partially regained movement in limbs. — fontanka
- The cause of death was not disclosed by Colon's father. — vesti
- Terrell Williams did not publicly apologize to Colon or his family. — meduza
- Williams claimed he prayed for Colon daily and wanted to visit him in the hospital but was dissuaded. — fontanka
- A Virginia investigation found no grounds to sanction Williams, the referee, or the attending physician. — meduza
- Colon's parents sued the doctor Richard Ashby and promoters for over $50 million in 2017, with the case still pending at the time of Colon's death. — fontanka
- Williams returned to boxing after a two-year break and fought four more times, retiring in 2019. — fontanka
- Colon's father did not provide information about the cause of death. — vesti
- The WBC press release stated that the incident was not in vain because it led to stricter safety rules and medical protocols. — meduza
- The WBC awarded Colon a posthumous honor in 2021. — fontanka
Coverage (3 sources)
- Boxer Pritchard Colon died at age 33. 11 years ago, after a fight, he was put into a coma for seven months — Meduza
- After 221 days in coma, 33-year-old boxer Pritchard Colon died — Фонтанка
- Boxer from Puerto Rico died undefeated at age 33 — Вести