After being struck in the head, the boxer died after 11 years in a vegetative state.
Boxer Prichard Colon has passed away at the age of 33 after a long battle with health problems stemming from injuries sustained after his fight with Terrel Williams.
Prichard Colon (born September 19, 1992 – died August 13, 2026) was a former Puerto Rican professional boxer who was honored as an Honorary World Champion by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and won the gold medal at the 2010 Pan American Junior Championships in the 64 kg (141 pound) weight class. He passed away yesterday (August 13).
Colon suffered severe injuries that seriously affected his health after his loss to Terrel Williams in 2015. The Puerto Rican boxer fell into a prolonged vegetative state after repeatedly taking blows to the back of the head during the fight.
Prichard Colon passed away at the age of 33.
Following that loss, Colon received 24/7 medical care but never regained his ability to speak and had to use a wheelchair. Eleven years after those serious injuries in the ring, Colon lost his “final fight.” The World Boxing Organization (WBO) confirmed: “A fighter to the very end. The WBO family mourns the passing of Prichard Colon, whose courage, strength, and fighting spirit transcended the ring.”
“His greatest battle has become a testament to his unwavering resilience and the unshakeable love of his family. Rest in peace, champion,” the WBO wrote.
Prichard Colon was struck in the back of the head by Terrel Williams during the fight.
The World Boxing Council (WBC) also wrote: “Today, we mourn the passing of Prichard Colon. A true warrior, whose strength, courage and fighting spirit inspired people around the world.”
The WBC extends its deepest condolences to Colon’s mother, Nieves, and his family and loved ones. The World Boxing Association (WBA) also expressed its grief: “We mourn the passing of Prichard Colon. A true warrior in every sense of the word, Prichard leaves us with profound lessons about life, resilience, and our sport. The entire boxing community mourns this heartbreaking and immense loss. Rest in peace, champion.”
Colon was undefeated in 16 fights before facing American boxer Terrel Williams in October 2015. In that fight, Colon was knocked down twice and lost by disqualification after his team removed Williams’ gloves after the ninth round.
After battling the aftereffects of the fight for over a decade, Prichard Colon has passed away.
Colon had complained to referee Joe Cooper about what he considered illegal blows to the back of the head from Williams. After the fight, Colon collapsed in the locker room and was taken to the hospital, where doctors discovered he had a brain hemorrhage.
Colon had to undergo emergency decompression craniotomy surgery to relieve pressure from brain swelling and remove a blood clot. As a result, Colon was in a coma for 221 days and was only discharged from the hospital in May 2016.
In 2017, Colon’s parents filed a lawsuit, seeking more than $50 million in damages from the on-campus medical doctor and the fight promoters.
The co-promoters were subsequently dismissed from the lawsuit after the court ruled that they were not responsible for assigning or supervising medical personnel or officials on duty in the ring. As of 2026, the lawsuit remains unresolved and has not gone to trial.
