Boxing is dangerous. That’s a given, of course, and it’s also a trite cliche. But the sad story of Prichard Colon is a reminder of what can happen when things in the ring take a very dark turn, in his case the darkest turn of all short of dying.
Colon’s story starts in Florida, which is where the Puerto Rican native was born in 1992. His parents moved
to Puerto Rico when he was ten so he could represent that island territory in competitions, and it starts out as a classic rags-to-riches tale with Prichard winning five national championships as he made his way through the 141- and 152-pound weight divisions.
He nearly made it to the 2012 London Olympics, too, but a loss interrupted the his journey to glory. The following year he decided to go pro.
Prichard’s early fights were impressive, and he was considered a serious up-and-comer until he stepped into the ring to do battle with Terrell Williams.
The fight was especially contentious, with both boxers being penalized for dirty tactics—Colon’s was a low blow, while Williams hit Colon in the back of the head.
Colon was knocked down twice in the ninth round, and Colon’s corner said he was incoherent and getting dizzy. He began vomiting after the fight, and a trip to the hospital resulted in a diagnosis of brain bleeding.
That’s where the boxing part of the story comes to an abrupt halt. But the narrative doesn’t end there. Not by a long shot, which is what Colon’s recovery has become since he slipped into a coma. He remains in a vegetative state to this day.
Colon’s family has since filed a $50 million lawsuit, and Williams’ tactics were actually investigated by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, which concluded that there was no singular blame for the fight not having been called quickly enough.
Colon remains bedridden in his mother’s house, although occasional social media photos are posted showing various aspects of his limited recovery, which mostly consists of him being taken for a ride in his wheelchair.
But Williams certainly hasn’t fared well since that fateful night, either. He’s now 33, and Williams hasn’t stepped into the ring since that 2015 fight.
Clearly, it’s a sad story that doesn’t end well for anyone. There’s no redemption coming, and no happy ending without a spectacular miracle. Moreover, the fight remains one of many stains on boxing’s legacy, which is full of stories about poorly-managed fights that led to truly tragic outcomes.