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Remembering Prichard Colón – The Boxer Who Got Paralyzed After Getting Hit With Illegal Shots

Published 09/27/2021, 4:04 AM CDT

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Boxing can prove to be detrimental sport, and Prichard Colon came across this fact in the most unfortunate way possible. Once a surging star, Colon had fallen prey to severely cheap antics inside the boxing ring that ultimately caused him paralysis and life-threatening brain damage. While he could battle enough to survive, Colon’s boxing dreams ended.

It’s been over eight years since that incident. However, boxing fans haven’t moved on from the traumatizing memories of the fight. The event’s outcome raised several eyebrows and led administrators to look at their medical and safety guidelines for the boxers.

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Nevertheless, it was already late for Colon, who had contracted extreme damage by then. Per reports, the former super welterweight pugilist is slowly recovering at the Brooks Rehabilitation in Florida, USA. While stepping through the ropes may never be an option for him, here’s a look back to the fight that changed the course of his professional career and life.

Prichard Colon will always be a cautionary tale of combat sports

Following a successful stint of 16-0 in just two years, Colon came across Terrell Williams at the Eagle Bank Arena in 2015. Being one of the most active boxers in the ride, Colon also had 13 KO victories to tout. But he couldn’t come out injury-free against Williams, a fight that became his last inside the ring.

A lot has to be blamed on the poor management and William’s illegal blows to the back of Colon’s head. Terrell Williams had displayed cheap-level tactics from the very beginning of the fight. Prichard Colon even protested about being hit by bad shots. However, the referee didn’t offer a definite judgment as the fight continued.

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Williams kept on pressing for rabbit punches. As a result, Colon also offered a few vicious blows from his end. But the attacker had put rabbit punches on the base of the skull. They are highly damaging and illegal in a professional combat contest. Hence, Colon couldn’t be saved.

A brutal shot in round seven sent Prichard Colon down to the canvas. This time, the referee deducted two points from Terrell Williams’s side. But ‘Digget’ Colon had already sustained serious damage. He ultimately lost the scrap and he had no energy to restart the fight. Colon became unconscious in the locker room and was admitted to a hospital where he slipped into coma. Terrell Williams stopped fighting for two years after the incident and fought four times after the incident. He has stayed off the internet.

How is Prichard Colon doing now?

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Following a few successful medical procedures, Prichard Colon appears stable now. A TikTok video taken recently displayed the former boxer in a better condition. His mother is a full-time caretaker. However,  reports suggest Colon will never recover beyond the unresponsive wakefulness state.

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A portion of his skull has been removed, allowing the brain to heal and expand. That said, the memories of Colon are still fresh for several fans who had watched him in action. The Boxing world still recalls Colon fondly, and he will always remain a proud member of the whole combat family.

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Written by:

Raj Sarkar

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Raj Sarkar is a UFC Sub-Group Head at EssentiallySports. Over the last four years, Raj has worked in several leading sports organizations. During this time, he has interviewed big names from the world of MMA and Boxing.
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Edited by:

Arijit Saha