Former Puerto Rican super welterweight contender Prichard “Digget” Colón has passed away at the age of 33. The news was confirmed by his father and former trainer, Richard Colón, following a decade-long battle with severe physical impairment and neurological recovery resulting from a catastrophic brain injury sustained during an October 2015 fight.
Colón’s story remained one of the most poignant cautionary tales in modern combat sports, sparking global awareness around ringside medical protocols, referee interventions, and the dangers of illegal rabbit punching.
The 2015 Fight That Changed Boxing Safety Protocols
October 17, 2015 Fight ➔ Repeated Blows to Back of Head ➔ Brain Hemorrhage & 221-Day Coma ➔ Decadelong Care
Before his tragic final fight on October 17, 2015, against Terrel Williams in Fairfax, Virginia, Prichard Colón was an undefeated 16-0 prospect regarded as one of Puerto Rico’s most promising young talents.
During the bout, Colón repeatedly complained to referee Richard Rivera about receiving illegal strikes to the back of his head (rabbit punches). In the ninth round, Colón suffered two knockdowns and expressed dizziness in his corner. After the fight was stopped, he collapsed in his dressing room, experiencing vomiting and loss of consciousness before being rushed to the hospital with a large subdural hematoma.
| Career / Medical Timeline | Historical Detail |
| Professional Boxing Record | 16 Wins (13 KOs), 1 Loss (by DQ) |
| Primary Injury | Left-sided subdural hematoma (1.5 cm diameter) |
| Immediate Intervention | Emergency hemicraniectomy to relieve intracranial pressure |
| Post-Injury Recovery | 221 days in medically induced coma; persistent care by family in Orlando |
A Legacy of Resilience and Ring Safety Reform
Following emergency neurosurgery, Colón spent over seven months in a coma before waking up to begin intensive physical therapy. Although he remained unable to speak or walk independently, his mother Nieves Colón and father Richard provided round-the-clock home care, documenting his milestones and therapy sessions using specialized adaptive technology to communicate.
In the years following the tragic event, the boxing community instituted stricter guidelines—often referred to informally as the Prichard Colón Rule—enforcing zero-tolerance penalties for intentionally striking the back of an opponent’s head or neck area during matches.
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