Former boxer Prichard Colon dies after 11 years of suffering brain injury

Prichard Colon, a retired professional boxer, died Thursday at the age of 33, according to his father.

Colon, of Puerto Rico, suffered a traumatic brain injury in an October 2015 welterweight fight against Terrel Williams in Fairfax, Virginia, during which he frequently complained about, and was knocked down by, strikes to the back of the head.

As recounted in this “Outside the Lines” report, Colon was left in a permanent vegetative state and cared for by family members as a result of his injuries.

“Good morning, my people,” Richard Colon posted on Facebook in Spanish. “I regret to inform you that my son Prichard has passed away from this world. He is now in a better situation. I did everything in my power to grant his wish, his dream of taking him on vacation to Puerto Rico, but it was impossible.”

Prichard Colon, a former junior middleweight contender, with his father Richard, sister Natalie, and mother Nieves in their Winter Park, Florida, home in 2017.

William Weinbaum was 23 years old when he suffered life-changing injuries. He was regarded as a promising prospect at the time, having compiled a professional record of 16-0 with 13 knockouts.

In a statement posted on X on Thursday, World Boxing Organization president Gustavo Olivieri praised Colon for his “courage, perseverance, and an extraordinary fighting spirit” following his injuries.

Following Colon’s death, both the World Boxing Council and the World Boxing Association referred to him as “a true warrior” in statements on X.

According to a 2016 investigative report provided by the state of Virginia, “while Colon’s medical condition following the contest against Williams is tragic, there is not one action so apparent and/or egregious to justify laying blame on one person.”

In 2017, Colon’s parents launched a $50 million lawsuit against the ringside doctor and promoters involved in the fateful match, but no decision or settlement has ever been publicly announced.