Prichard Colón, the previous undefeated boxing prospect who turned an emblem of hope throughout a unprecedented combat for all times lasting nearly eleven years, has died on the age of 33.
Colón’s household confirmed the devastating information on Thursday, bringing an finish to a battle that started after the Puerto Rican suffered catastrophic mind accidents following his last skilled combat in October 2015.
For World Boxing Information, Prichard was by no means merely one other boxer whose tragedy we reported. He was our pal.
Prichard was one of many longer-term friendships WBN struck up with a boxer throughout the early years of the web site, starting earlier than he had even made his skilled debut, and it was Prichard himself who began it.
A Friendship Earlier than His First Struggle
On February 13, 2013, ten days earlier than making his skilled debut, an surprising message arrived from the 20-year-old Puerto Rican.
“Hello Phil D. Jay, My title is Prichard Colon im an ex-member of the Puerto Rican Boxing Olympic Staff, the place i represented my nation world wide,” Prichard wrote.
He defined that he was about to show skilled on a Miguel Cotto and Golden Boy Promotions card earlier than making a easy request.
“I used to be questioning if you happen to may assist me with a interview.”
In fact, the reply was sure, and what started as a younger boxer attempting to get some protection turned a friendship that continued as Prichard’s profession took off.
When he moved to 2-0 with two knockouts in March 2013, Prichard was straight again in contact.
“Hey champ, hope your doing properly.. Simply to let i acquired that W final saturday within the second spherical 2-0 (2ko),” he wrote.
Over the following two years, there have been messages about opponents, fights and attainable sponsorship. Prichard despatched his Struggle Mode movies for WBN to publish, shared images and made positive we knew at any time when one thing was taking place in his profession.
But it surely wasn’t at all times about boxing, as there have been Christmas and New Yr messages and conversations that merely started with Prichard asking how issues had been going.
He was a fun-loving, outgoing younger man chasing one overriding ambition: Prichard needed to change into a world champion.
The Evening Every part Modified
By October 2015, Colón had constructed a 16-0 skilled document with 13 knockouts when he confronted Terrel Williams at EagleBank Enviornment in Fairfax, Virginia.
The combat turned engulfed in controversy over punches to the again of Colón’s head. He complained throughout the contest, with Williams penalized some extent, earlier than Colón was finally disqualified after his nook mistakenly eliminated his gloves earlier than the ultimate spherical.
No person knew then how insignificant the outcome would change into.
Colón suffered dizziness and vomiting after returning to his dressing room earlier than being taken to hospital. Medical doctors found bleeding on his mind and carried out emergency surgical procedure.
WBN reported that evening, following affirmation from his brother Ricardo, that Prichard was in a coma and preventing for his life. He remained in a coma for 221 days.
The boxer we had been speaking with about fights, opponents and his ambitions was out of the blue preventing one thing infinitely greater than something he may ever have encountered inside a hoop, and that combat would final nearly eleven years.
My Closing Messages to Prichard
Trying again by way of my conversations with Prichard now brings house simply how abruptly every part modified.
On July 8, 2015, simply over three months earlier than his last combat, Prichard checked in as he had executed many occasions earlier than.
“Hey Phil hows every part going.?”
I replied the next morning and requested how he was doing.
“Thats good to listen to Phil, i’m doing properly coaching arduous for my subsequent combat in August,” Prichard responded.
I didn’t comprehend it then, however they’d be the ultimate phrases Prichard ever despatched me.
Three months later, after studying what had occurred following the Williams combat, I went again to the identical dialog we had been utilizing since earlier than his skilled debut.
On October 18, 2015, I wrote: “Ideas are with you my pal….”
There was no response, and 4 days later, I attempted once more.
“Considering of you and updating everytime I can. Hope to listen to from you after your restoration Prichard.”
For nearly eleven years, that message remained on the backside of our dialog, however the reply by no means got here.
Prichard Grew to become a Image of Hope
Prichard’s household refused to surrender on him, together with his mom, Nieves, dedicating her life to caring for her son, sharing his remedy, his progress and the small victories that turned huge moments for individuals who adopted his restoration.
The boxing neighborhood adopted together with her.
Prichard turned excess of a former prospect whose profession had been taken away. He turned an emblem of hope to 1000’s of people that watched him proceed preventing towards circumstances few may comprehend.
The WBC finally named Prichard an honorary champion and introduced him with the world championship belt he had dreamed of successful contained in the ring, recognition of a unique sort of fighter.
WBN continued masking Prichard all through these years, from his rehabilitation and medical procedures to the assist his household obtained and the fixed makes an attempt to make sure his story by no means disappeared.
In 2025, WBN even approached Virginia authorities in an try and have the one defeat on Prichard’s skilled document modified to a no-contest, however the request was denied.
His official document remained 16-1 with 13 knockouts, but it surely by no means instructed something near the total story.
Prichard Colón Can’t Turn out to be One other Statistic
Prichard was a shining gentle to many, and emotions ran extremely deep throughout the boxing neighborhood over how that devastating evening unfolded.
His dying shouldn’t change into a catalyst for that hatred to be extended. The main focus now needs to be on him.
Prichard was a fun-loving, outgoing man who needed nothing greater than to change into a world champion boxer.
His tragic circumstances had been sadly nothing new on this sport, however writing about Prichard over time and doing our small half to maintain his story alive was a privilege that was by no means taken flippantly.
Abruptly not with the ability to talk with somebody who had change into a pal was robust to take, however sadly, it’s one thing boxing writers might be compelled to take care of throughout their careers.
The game is harmful and unforgiving, however Prichard Colón can not change into simply one other statistic.
WBN’s Tribute to Prichard
As our personal small tribute, WBN will add Prichard completely to our Boxers web page, an space predominantly reserved for right now’s greatest boxing stars and the Corridor of Fame legends of the previous.
Prichard belongs there, and it’s our personal small method of guaranteeing that the younger fighter who contacted WBN earlier than he had even thrown an expert punch stays a part of this web site lengthy after his combat for all times has ended.
Prichard survived the catastrophic accidents he suffered that evening in 2015 and battled on for nearly eleven extra years, which maybe tells us extra concerning the fighter Prichard Colón was than his 16 victories and 13 knockouts ever may.
He by no means acquired the chance to change into the world champion he dreamed of being when that first message arrived in 2013, however he fought like a champion for nearly eleven years afterward.
Prichard Colón won’t ever be simply one other statistic right here. He was our pal, and Digget is not going to be forgotten.
Concerning the Writer
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing Information (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing information web site based in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of expertise, he has interviewed world champions, damaged worldwide exclusives, and reported ringside from main occasions. His work is printed worldwide by way of WBN and distributed on platforms together with Apple Information.
Learn Phil Jay’s full bio and newest tales.
