Prichard Colón, the former undefeated boxing prospect who became a symbol of hope during an extraordinary fight for life lasting almost eleven years, has died at the age of 33.

Colón’s family confirmed the devastating news on Thursday, bringing an end to a battle that began after the Puerto Rican suffered catastrophic brain injuries following his final professional fight in October 2015.

For World Boxing News, Prichard was never simply another boxer whose tragedy we reported. He was our friend.

Prichard was one of the longer-term friendships WBN struck up with a boxer during the early years of the website, beginning before he had even made his professional debut, and it was Prichard himself who started it.

A Friendship Before His First Fight

On February 13, 2013, ten days before making his professional debut, an unexpected message arrived from the 20-year-old Puerto Rican.

“Hi Phil D. Jay, My name is Prichard Colon im an ex-member of the Puerto Rican Boxing Olympic Team, where i represented my country around the world,” Prichard wrote.

He explained that he was about to turn professional on a Miguel Cotto and Golden Boy Promotions card before making a simple request.

“I was wondering if you could help me with a interview.”

Of course, the answer was yes, and what began as a young boxer trying to get some coverage became a friendship that continued as Prichard’s career took off.

When he moved to 2-0 with two knockouts in March 2013, Prichard was straight back in touch.

“Hey champ, hope your doing well.. Just to let you know i got that W last saturday in the second round 2-0 (2ko),” he wrote.

Over the next two years, there were messages about opponents, fights and possible sponsorship. Prichard sent his Fight Mode videos for WBN to publish, shared photographs and made sure we knew whenever something was happening in his career.

But it wasn’t always about boxing, as there were Christmas and New Year messages and conversations that simply began with Prichard asking how things were going.

He was a fun-loving, outgoing young man chasing one overriding ambition: Prichard wanted to become a world champion.

The Night Everything Changed

By October 2015, Colón had built a 16-0 professional record with 13 knockouts when he faced Terrel Williams at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia.

The fight became engulfed in controversy over punches to the back of Colón’s head. He complained during the contest, with Williams penalized a point, before Colón was eventually disqualified after his corner mistakenly removed his gloves before the final round.

Nobody knew then how insignificant the result would become.

Colón suffered dizziness and vomiting after returning to his dressing room before being taken to hospital. Doctors discovered bleeding on his brain and performed emergency surgery.

WBN reported that nightfollowing confirmation from his brother Ricardo, that Prichard was in a coma and fighting for his life. He remained in a coma for 221 days.

The boxer we had been communicating with about fights, opponents and his ambitions was suddenly fighting something infinitely bigger than anything he could ever have encountered inside a ring, and that fight would last almost eleven years.

My Final Messages to Prichard

Looking back through my conversations with Prichard now brings home just how abruptly everything changed.

On July 8, 2015, just over three months before his final fight, Prichard checked in as he had done many times before.

“Hey Phil hows everything going.?”

I replied the following morning and asked how he was doing.

“Thats good to hear Phil, i’m doing well training hard for my next fight in August,” Prichard responded.

I didn’t know it then, but they would be the final words Prichard ever sent me.

Three months later, after learning what had happened following the Williams fight, I went back to the same conversation we had been using since before his professional debut.

On October 18, 2015, I wrote: “Thoughts are with you my friend….”

There was no response, and four days later, I tried again.

“Thinking of you and updating everytime I can. Hope to hear from you after your recovery Prichard.”

For almost eleven years, that message remained at the bottom of our conversation, but the reply never came.

Prichard Became a Symbol of Hope

Prichard’s family refused to give up on him, with his mother, Nieves, dedicating her life to caring for her son, sharing his therapy, his progress and the small victories that became enormous moments for those who followed his recovery.

The boxing community followed with her.

Prichard became far more than a former prospect whose career had been taken away. He became a symbol of hope to thousands of people who watched him continue fighting against circumstances few could comprehend.

The WBC eventually named Prichard an honorary champion and presented him with the world championship belt he had dreamed of winning inside the ring, recognition of a different kind of fighter.

WBN continued covering Prichard throughout those years, from his rehabilitation and medical procedures to the support his family received and the constant attempts to ensure his story never disappeared.

In 2025, WBN even approached Virginia authorities in an attempt to have the only defeat on Prichard’s professional record changed to a no-contest, but the request was denied.

His official record remained 16-1 with 13 knockouts, but it never told anything close to the full story.

Prichard Colón Cannot Become Another Statistic

Prichard was a shining light to many, and feelings ran incredibly deep within the boxing community over how that devastating night unfolded.

His death shouldn’t become a catalyst for that hatred to be prolonged. The focus now should be on him.

Prichard was a fun-loving, outgoing man who wanted nothing more than to become a world champion boxer.

His tragic circumstances were sadly nothing new in this sport, but writing about Prichard over the years and doing our small part to keep his story alive was a privilege that was never taken lightly.

Abruptly no longer being able to communicate with someone who had become a friend was tough to take, but unfortunately, it’s something boxing writers can be forced to deal with during their careers.

The sport is dangerous and unforgiving, but Prichard Colón cannot become just another statistic.

WBN’s Tribute to Prichard

As our own small tribute, WBN will add Prichard permanently to our Boxers page, an area predominantly reserved for today’s biggest boxing stars and the Hall of Fame legends of the past.

Prichard belongs there, and it’s our own small way of ensuring that the young fighter who contacted WBN before he had even thrown a professional punch remains part of this website long after his fight for life has ended.

Prichard survived the catastrophic injuries he suffered that night in 2015 and battled on for almost eleven more yearswhich perhaps tells us more about the fighter Prichard Colón was than his 16 victories and 13 knockouts ever could.

He never got the opportunity to become the world champion he dreamed of being when that first message arrived in 2013, but he fought like a champion for almost eleven years afterward.

Prichard Colón will never be just another statistic here. He was our friend, and Digget will not be forgotten.

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About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.