The WBC announced the tragic death of Prichard Colón, about eleven years after he suffered a traumatic brain injury in the boxing ring. After the injury, Colon was unable to speak and required full-time care for the rest of his too-short life. Colon was 34 years old. The WBC wrote, and Boxingtalk agrees, that Colon was a "true warrior whose strength, courage, and fighting spirit inspired people around the world." Boxingtalk sends its deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Prichard Colon, especially his parents.
FULL TEXT OF WBC ANNOUNCEMENT:
With an heavy heart and immense sadness enveloping the entire international boxing community, the World Boxing Council and its President, Mauricio Sulaimán, mourn the passing of former boxer and icon of bravery, Prichard Colón Meléndez. Today is a day of mourning for Puerto Rico, for the WBC family, and above all, for the Colón family, whose unconditional love was the pillar of one of the most moving and outstandingly brave battles for life the world has ever witnessed.
Born on September 19, 1992, Prichard Colón emerged as one of the most dazzling prospects in Caribbean boxing. Blessed with prodigious technical talent, overflowing charisma, and formidable power, he conquered multiple national amateur championships and a Youth Pan American gold medal before turning professional, where he built an impressive record of 16 wins with 13 knockouts. Prichard didn’t just fight with skill; he fought with the elegance and pride of carrying Puerto Rico’s flag to the greatest heights.
On October 17, 2015, on a fateful night in Fairfax, Virginia, Prichard’s life changed forever after suffering severe, illegal blows to the back of the head during his bout, causing a brain hemorrhage and irreversible neurological damage. Though destiny abruptly snatched away his opportunity to be crowned champion inside the ring, Prichard instantly began the most important fight of all: the fight for survival. Supported every step of the way by the superhuman dedication and tireless love of his parents, Nieves and Richard Colón, the “Champion of the Heart” became a global symbol of resilience, faith, and dignity.
Since that tragic day, the WBC and the global boxing family pledged never to let go of Prichard’s hand or that of his loved ones. In recognition of his indomitable spirit and his family’s relentless fight, the WBC named him Honorary World Champion, presenting him with the iconic Green and Gold belt he always deserved.
Prichard’s tragic accident was not in vain: it inspired the WBC to categorically reinforce safety regulations, driving zero tolerance for blows to the back of the head (rabbit punches) and implementing stricter medical protocols to protect the integrity of all fighters around the globe.
President Mauricio Sulaimán, the Board of Governors, and the entire World Boxing Council family extend their deepest condolences, prayers, and a heartfelt embrace to his parents, family, and the heroic people of Puerto Rico during this time of immeasurable grief.
Prichard Colón suffers no more; as today he has hung up his earthly gloves to rest in eternal peace and strap on the immortal crown reserved for true warriors.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
OCT. 18, 2015.. Prichard Colon came into Saturday's fight in Virginia against Terrel Williams at 16-0, and riding a wave of big-time prospect goodwill. Through four rounds, he was cruising, showing what all the buzz was about. But in the seventh round, Williams had Colon reeling, and he caught the Puerto Rican with a shot to the back of the head as Colon turned away. Williams stunned Prichard Colon with two knockdowns in the ninth, and won via disqualification when Colon was unable to answer the bell for the tenth. Then things got really bad for Colon Following the fight, Colon was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital after complaining of dizziness and fainting and vomiting in his dressing room. [Editor's note: The Washington Post reports that Colon is in a coma, with it being unclear whether coma was medically induced. Colon is a fine human being who loved the sport of boxing. If you believe in the power of prayer, please say one for Prichard and his family.]
Williams, although similarly unbeaten at 14-0 with 12 KOs, was fighting for just the third time after a nearly two-year layoff. At 31, he couldn’t be considered a prospect anymore. But after falling behind through four rounds, he then made up for lost time.
In a fight with many twists and turns, Williams emerged victorious at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia, when Colon was disqualified following the ninth round.
Williams gained two late knockdowns of Colon in Round 9, after which Colon's corner began to remove the fighter's gloves. Realizing the mistake, Colon's team hurredly tried to get the gloves back on for the final round, but to no avail. A representative from the Virginia boxing commission instructed referee Joe Cooper to DQ Colon for failing to answer the bell.
Early on, Colon was slick, sharp and easily in control of the distance, picking Williams off with jabs from outside and countering every time he tried to get inside.
But then, in the fifth round, Williams started putting the pressure on and muscling his way in. Colon responded with a low blow that dropped Williams like a cannonball. Cooper ruled the shot intentional and took two points from Colon as Williams writhed on the ground in obvious agony.
Williams was incensed, and he battered Colon over the next two rounds.
In the seventh, Williams had Colon reeling, and he caught the Puerto Rican with a shot to the back of the head as Colon turned away. Colon dropped and clutched his head. For the second time in the fight, Cooper awarded a fighter five minutes to recover from a foul, and Colon took it. Meanwhile, Cooper took a point away from Williams, who argued the penalty.
The break seemed to refresh Colon, who finished the round strong and came back even stronger in the eighth.
In the ninth, Williams got Colon on the ropes and unloaded. Colon dropped and Cooper started counting. Colon got to his feet, but Williams planted and landed a left uppercut to the body that sent Colon sprawling forward. Williams then caught Colon with a right to the back of the head as the 23-year-old Puerto Rican fell to the canvas.
This time, the damage was clear. Colon was blooded and dazed, but he got back on his feet and returned to his corner for Round 10. Once the mix-up with his gloves occurred, however, the fight was over.
"I performed well, and I would have liked to have gotten the TKO, but I got the win, which is the most important thing,” Williams said. “It was a rough-and-tough fight, but I did what I needed to do to win." source: premier boxing champions / washington post
