Prichard Colon, an honorary WBC world champion, has died aged 33 after spending a decade in a permanent vegetative state caused by a brain haemorrhage diagnosed after his final professional fight. The Puerto Rican boxer passed away on Wednesday, his father confirmed.
Tributes from boxing bodies
Tributes have poured in from across the sport, including the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing Organisation. Colon, a light welterweight gold medallist at the Pan American Youth Championship in 2010, had an amateur record of 11-9 over two years.
He turned professional and won his first 16 fights, 13 by knockout, before his 17th bout proved to be his last.
Final fight and injury
In that fight, opponent Terrel Williams was penalised a point in the seventh round for rabbit punching after flooring Colon, describing it afterwards as a "rough-and-tough fight." Colon had earlier been docked two points for a low blow in the fifth round.
After the bout, Colon was sick in the changing room and collapsed. Paramedics rushed him to Inova Fairfax Hospital in Virginia, where medical staff performed an emergency hemicraniectomy after diagnosing a subdural haematoma. He remained unconscious for 221 days following brain surgery and stayed in a permanent vegetative state until his death.
Family's farewell
Writing on Wednesday, his father Richard said: "Good morning, my people. I regret to inform you of the departure of my son, Prichard, from this earthly world. Now he is in a better world. I did everything possible to fulfil his wish, his dream of bringing him on vacation to Puerto Rico as he so desired, but it couldn't be done."
Born in Florida, Colon moved to Puerto Rico at age 10. He remained at Fairfax Hospital for several weeks before being transferred to the Shepherd Centre in Atlanta, Georgia. He was later discharged and went to live with his mother, Nieve, in Orlando, Florida.
Richard concluded: "Thank you for so many years of love and prayers. As much as you can, please keep us in your prayers."
The WBC said in a statement: "With a heavy heart and immense sadness enveloping the entire international boxing community, the World Boxing Council and its president, Mauricio Sulaian, 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."
