08/14/2026
Puerto Rican boxing champion Prichard Colón passed away August 13, 2026. He was just 33 years old.
🔺️RIP🔺️ Puerto Rican boxing champion Prichard Colón passed away today, August 13, 2026. He was just 33 years old.
👀What happened to Prichard? On October 17, 2015, Prichard Colón, an undefeated Puerto Rican boxer, then 23 years old, competed against Terrel Williams at a venue in Fairfax, Virginia.
Colón maintained a lead in the initial rounds; however, Williams repeatedly delivered illegal rabbit punches to the back of Colón's head and neck.
Colón consistently signaled and voiced his concerns to the referee. At one juncture, the referee instructed him to "take care of it" himself. Although a point was subsequently deducted from Williams, the match proceeded.
During the ninth round, Colón's corner staff inadvertently removed his gloves, under the mistaken impression that the round had concluded, leading to his disqualification.
Minutes later, in the dressing room, he experienced dizziness, vomited, and collapsed. Upon arrival at the hospital, he was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma, indicating bleeding on the brain, and was immediately taken for emergency surgery.
Colón entered a coma that persisted for 221 days. He ultimately survived but sustained catastrophic and permanent brain damage.
Years following the incident, he remained unable to walk or speak independently and required continuous care from his mother, communicating with the aid of a computer.
In 2016, the WBC established the "Prichard Colón rule" to address and mitigate rabbit punches.
His parents subsequently initiated legal action against the ringside physician and the promoters, seeking over $50 million, asserting that the officials and medical personnel responsible for his safety had failed in their duties.
