Prichard Colón’s promising boxing career ended devastatingly in 2015. Eleven years later, the Puerto Rican fighter has died at 33, leaving behind a story that began with an unbeaten record and became a painful reminder of boxing’s dangers. His father, Richard Colón, confirmed his death on Facebook
Prichard Colón lived with severe neurological injuries after his final boxing match
Before everything changed, Prichard Colón was building momentum in the boxing world. The Puerto Rican prospect, known as “Digget,” stepped into his fight with Terrel Williams unbeaten at 16-0, with 13 of those victories coming by knockout. It was billed as a clash between two undefeated welterweights, and Colón had already started turning heads as one of boxing’s promising young names.
What happened that night in Fairfax, Virginia, would alter Colón’s life forever. During the Oct. 17, 2015, fight, he repeatedly flagged illegal shots to the back of his head, eventually prompting the referee to penalize Williams. The ninth round brought another brutal turn when Williams sent Colón to the canvas twice. Later, Colón’s corner took off his gloves after the round, thinking the bout was over. With no time to fix the error, officials disqualified him (via USA Today).
The real danger surfaced once Colón was back in the locker room. He suddenly became ill, began vomiting, and lost consciousness. Doctors rushed him to the hospital, where surgeons operated to treat bleeding in his brain. Colón then spent 221 days in a coma and was left unable to speak or care for himself. For more than 10 years, his family stood by him and looked after him at their Florida home.
Colon’s father remembered his son beyond the ring, writing that he had tried his best to fulfill Prichard’s dream of visiting Puerto Rico. The World Boxing Organization also honored him, calling him “a warrior until the very end” in a tribute posted on X. His family later filed a lawsuit against the ringside doctor and promoters, and that case remains unresolved.
