What Happened to Prichard Colon? Was the Boxer Paralyzed?
by Rubaditsha | Updated May 04, 2023
Who is Prichard Colon?
Prichard Colón Meléndez, who was born on September 19, 1992, is a former American-born Puerto Rican professional boxer. He won the gold medal at the 2010 Pan American Youth Championship in the 64 kg (141 pounds) category and was an honorary WBC World Champion.
Unfortunately, after a fight with Terrel Williams in 2015, Colón collapsed in the dressing room and remained in a coma for 221 days due to a bleed on the brain. The reason behind this coma was due to repeated blows that he received to the back of his head during the fight. Currently, Colón is in a vegetative but stable condition, and he has been steadily improving over time.
What Happened to Prichard Colon?
Prichard Colon was a professional boxer who collapsed in his dressing room after a fight with Terrel Williams in 2015. It was later revealed that he had suffered repeated blows to the back of his head during the bout, which led to him feeling dizzy and nauseous. Doctors diagnosed him with a bleed on the brain, and he fell into a coma that lasted for 221 days.
During this time, Colon was in a vegetative state, confined to a bed, and required to be moved around with a wheelchair. He was treated at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Virginia but was later transferred to the Shepherd Centre in Atlanta, Georgia. Eventually, he emerged from the coma and began the long process of recovery.
In 2021, the World Boxing Council (WBC) issued a statement regarding Colon's ongoing treatment. According to the WBC, doctors discovered that a fragment of his skull had collapsed and was pressing against his brain, necessitating a surgical procedure to remove the fragment and replace it with a plate. Fortunately, the operation was successful.
Colon's injury has raised concerns about the safety of boxing and the need for better regulations to protect fighters from serious injury. His parents filed a lawsuit seeking damages in excess of $50 million against the fight's ringside physician for incompetence and co-promoters for negligence, stating that the money would help secure the professional care that Colon requires. However, they remain concerned that their son may never return to his original state.
Prichard Colon Injury
During a boxing match between Colón and Williams, Colón seemed to be leading in the first five rounds until Williams repeatedly punched him illegally in the back of the head. Despite Colón informing the referee about the illegal punches, the referee did not take any action.
Later, Colón hit Williams with a low blow and was penalized two points. In the ninth round, Colón was knocked down for the first time in his professional career after receiving several illegal blows. Although Colón spoke to the ringside doctor and expressed feeling dizzy, the doctor allowed the fight to continue.
Colón's corner mistakenly removed his gloves, leading to his disqualification after the ninth round. Following the fight, Colón experienced vomiting and was later diagnosed with brain bleeding, leading to a coma that lasted 221 days. He was eventually transferred to Shepherd Center in Atlanta and later moved to his mother's home in Orlando, where he remained in a persistent vegetative state as of April 2017.
Colón's parents filed a lawsuit seeking damages from the ringside doctor and promoters for over $50 million, which remained unsettled as of 2019. Williams expressed his regret about his role in Colón's injury and is now mostly known for his involvement in the fight. In July 2018, Colón's mother posted a video of him undergoing physical therapy and learning to communicate through a computer.
Prichard Colon Boxer Accident
Boxing's book of life not only tells tales of triumph and glory but also includes chapters of sadness and tragedy. One of the most recent is the story of Prichard Colon, a Puerto Rican boxer who was paralyzed after a fight in 2015.
Colon was born in Maryland, but he and his family moved to Puerto Rico when he was 10, where he completed his professional studies at San Juan's University. He won a gold medal representing the island in the 2010 Panamerican Youth Championship before turning pro in 2013. He won his first 16 bouts, including an impressive knockout of former WBA World Light welterweight Champion Vivian Harris.
In 2015, Colon faced American Terrel Williams, an undefeated prospect, in a catchweight bout. Williams repeatedly hit Colon with rabbit punches, which eventually led to his downfall. He was knocked down twice in the ninth round and was disqualified by his corner for a misunderstanding. He collapsed in the dressing room, and an ambulance took him to the hospital, where he underwent surgery. He suffered brain damage and slipped into a coma for over seven months.
Colon was diagnosed with an unresponsive wakefulness state, commonly known as a vegetative state. He requires assistance for everything except breathing. He recently underwent surgery in 2021 due to brain pressure resulting from his skull's collapse but is doing well. Now 29 years old, he lives with his family in Florida, where he receives therapy to help him communicate with his eyes, move his hands, and stand with assistance.
Prichard Colon Now
Prichard Colon's recovery is being overseen by specialists at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital in Orange Park, Florida. While it is uncertain how much he will recover, he is making good progress so far. In June 2021, Nieves shared updates on her son's progress on Facebook and expressed gratitude for the support and prayers they have received.
During a press conference in October 2022, Deontay Wilder, who had just won a fight against Robert Helenius in New York with a first-round KO, spoke about the dangers of boxing and broke down in tears when he mentioned Prichard Colon. Wilder emphasized the importance of being an advocate for boxers like Colon, who will never have the opportunity to experience being a father.
What Happened to Prichard Colon:FAQs
Prichard Colón Meléndez is a former American-born Puerto Rican professional boxer. He won the gold medal at the 2010 Pan American Youth Championship in the 64 kg (141 pounds) category and was an honorary WBC World Champion.
After a fight with Terrel Williams in 2015, Colon collapsed in the dressing room and remained in a coma for 221 days due to a bleed on the brain caused by repeated blows to the back of his head during the fight. Currently, Colon is in a vegetative but stable condition, and he has been steadily improving over time.
Colon is currently in a vegetative but stable condition, and he has been steadily improving over time. He underwent surgery in 2021 to remove a fragment of his skull that had collapsed and was pressing against his brain, which was successful. He is receiving therapy in Florida to help him communicate with his eyes, move his hands, and stand with assistance.
Prichard Colon's recovery is being overseen by specialists at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital in Orange Park, Florida. While it is uncertain how much he will recover, he is making good progress so far. His mother has shared updates on his progress on Facebook and expressed gratitude for the support and prayers they have received.