Who was Prichard Colon and what happened to him?

FORMER boxer Prichard “Digget” Colon Melendez sadly passed away aged 33, over a decade on from a traumatic brain injury he sustained during a fight. The former super welterweight champion was on the road to success after winning his opening 16 professional fights, but things then took a heartbreaking turn for the Puerto Rican. Prichard Colon was on the road to success before a devastating brain injury in 2015 Credit: Getty Who was Prichard Colon? Prichard Colon Melendez was a Puerto Rican professional boxer who won 16 of his 17 fights. Born on September 19, 1992, in Maitland, Florida, Colon moved to Puerto Rico at the age of 10 to represent the island in competitions. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! He studied business administration at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan before turning professional in 2012. Colon became an honorary WBC World Champion and bagged a gold medal in the 64kg category at the 2010 Pan American Youth Championship. The rising star earned the nickname “Digget”, which comes from the word “digger”, due to his 6ft height. The fight that put him on the map came in 2015 when he went up against a more experienced fighter, Vivian Harris – knocking him out in the fourth round. What happened to Prichard Colon? Just months after his victory against Harris, Colon boxed Terrel Williams and suffered a life-changing bleed to the brain. The fight had not been scheduled but went ahead due to another boxer, Andre Dirrell, cancelling his fight with Blake Caparello. Most read in Boxing Prichard Colon during his 2015 fight with Terrel Williams Credit: Getty In the ninth round, Colon was hit repeatedly in the back of the head by Williams, which is illegal in the high-risk sport, yet was told to “take care of it” by the referee. Shortly afterwards, Colon collapsed to the shock of his fans, after leading in the first five rounds. He complained about feeling dizzy and nauseous but continued to throw punches after the ringside doctor deemed him fit to go on. The young athlete vomited and collapsed in the dressing room afterwards before being rushed to hospital and placed in a coma for 221 days. What was Prichard Colon’s diagnosis? The boxer was diagnosed with a bleed on the brain, more specifically a left-sided subdural hematoma, measuring 1.5cm wide. He underwent a complex emergency hemicraniectomy to reduce brain swelling and clear the hematoma. In 2021, the World Boxing Council released a statement about Colon’s surgery. The WBC told Boxing Insider: “In recent weeks it was found a collapse of his skull was pressing on the brain, for which a fragment had to be removed to be replaced by a plate. “Fortunately, the operation went well.” After waking up from his seven-month-long coma, Colon was moved from the hospital to his mother’s home in Orlando, Florida. Following the tragic in-ring injury, he was left in a persistent vegetative state and required round-the-clock health care. Colon was unable to speak without computer assistance. Colon was left in a persistent vegetative state after sustaining a brain injuryCredit: Facebook/Prichard Colon In August 2026, eleven years after the life-changing injuries sustained in the ring – Colon sadly passed away. The WBO confirmed: “A warrior until the very end. “The WBO family mourns the passing of Prichard Colón, whose courage, strength, and fighting spirit transcended the ring. “His greatest fight became a testament to resilience and the unwavering love of his family. Rest in peace, champion.” The WBC posted: “Today, we mourn the passing of Prichard Colón. “A true warrior whose strength, courage, and fighting spirit inspired people around the world. “The WBC family extends its deepest condolences to his mother, Nieves, his family, and loved ones. Rest in peace, Champion.” The WBA said: “We mourn the passing of Prichard Colón. “A true warrior in every sense of the word, Prichard left us with profound lessons about life, resilience, and our sport. “The entire boxing community mourns this heartbreaking and significant loss. Rest in peace, champion.” Who are Prichard Colon’s parents? Colon was born to mother Nieves, a retired waitress, and Richard, a retired serviceman. In February 2023, the devoted mother posted a video titled “Prichard Colon-Melendez 5K run for the woods” which showed Colon on a trail in a specially adapted mobility chair and standing with support. In 2017, the devastated parents filed a lawsuit seeking damages from the ringside doctor and the promoters of the fight for more than $50million, but it remains unsettled to this day.