​Prichard Colon death details: What we know about boxer who died 11 years after fight that caused brain injury originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Retired boxer  Prichard Colon has died at age 33, his father announced in a social media post on Thursday.”I regret to inform you of the passing of my son Prichard from this earthly world. He is now in a better place,” Richard Colon wrote on Facebook. “I did everything possible to fulfill his wish, his dream, to bring him on vacation to Puerto Rico, as he so longed for, but it was not possible. Thank you for so many years of love and prayers. Please keep us in your prayers as much as you can.”In 2015, Colon, during a fight against Terrel Williams in Virginia, suffered head trauma after an illegal blow to the head. His injuries forced him to retire, living in a persistent vegetative state under the care of his family in the years after the fight.Here’s what’s known about Colon’s death at age 33.How did Prichard Colon die?Colon’s family did not provide a cause of death in their statement on Thursday, but for 11 years, the former boxer has been dealing with the repercussions of a traumatic brain injury suffered during his fight with Williams. Per ESPN, the injuries Colon suffered in that fight, when he was 23 years old at the time, resulted in him being left in a “persistent vegetative state and under family care.” The World Boxing Council (WBC) released a statement on Colon’s death on Thursday. “With a heavy heart and immense sadness enveloping the entire international boxing community, the World Boxing Council and its President, Mauricio Sulaiman, mourn the passing of former boxer and icon of bravery, Prichard Colon Melendez,” the organization said. “Though destiny abruptly snatched away his opportunity to be crowned champion inside the ring, Prichard instantly began the most important fight of all: the fight for survival. Supported every step of the way by the superhuman dedication and tireless love of his parents, Nieves and Richard Colon, the ‘Champion of the Heart’ became a global symbol of resilience, faith, and dignity.””Prichard’s tragic accident was not in vain: it inspired the WBC to categorically reinforce safety regulations, driving zero tolerance for blows to the back of the head (rabbit punches) and implementing stricter medical protocols to protect the integrity of all fighters around the globe. President Mauricio Sulaimán, the Board of Governors, and the entire World Boxing Council family extend their deepest condolences, prayers, and a heartfelt embrace to his parents, family, and the heroic people of Puerto Rico during this time of immeasurable grief.”Colon, born in Florida, moved to Puerto Rico with his family when he was a child. He quickly emerged as a young star boxer, winning a Youth Pan American gold medal before turning professional in 2013 and entering his fight with Williams at 1