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Prichard Colón

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Puerto Rican boxer (1992–2026)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Colón and the second or maternal family name is Meléndez.

This article is currently being heavily edited as its subject has recently died. Information about their death may change rapidly. Please update outdated or incomplete information with citations to reliable sources. (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Prichard Colón<br>Personal informationNicknameDiggetBornPrichard Colón Meléndez<br>(1992-09-19)September 19, 1992<br>Maitland, Florida, U.S.<br>DiedAugust 13, 2026(2026-08-13) (aged 33)<br>Orlando, Florida, U.S.<br>Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)WeightSuper welterweightBoxing careerReach74 in (188 cm)StanceOrthodoxBoxing recordTotal fights17Wins16Win by KO13Losses0

Prichard Colón Meléndez (September 19, 1992 – August 13, 2026) was a Puerto Rican professional boxer, honorary WBC World Champion, and gold medal winner at the 2010 Pan American Youth Championship in the 64 kg (141 pounds) category. After a 2015 match with Terrel Williams, in which he was repeatedly struck in the back of the head, Colón collapsed in the dressing room and remained in a coma for 221 days due to a brain hemorrhage. He remained in a persistent vegetative state and was unable to speak, receiving physiotherapy and using a computer for speech until his death.

Early years and amateur career<br>[edit]

Prichard Colón Meléndez was born on September 19, 1992, in Maitland, Florida, the son of Richard Colón and Nieves Meléndez, a retired waitress.[1][2] When he was 10, his father chose to relocate to Puerto Rico so Colón could compete for the island. He moved with his younger sister, while his mother and older brother stayed in Florida. They settled in the rural town of Orocovis, Puerto Rico.[3]

Colón started his career at the Albergue Olímpico in Salinas, Puerto Rico, where he received the nickname "Digget", a play on "digger" tied to his height. After finishing high school, he enrolled in Business Administration at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan.[2]

As an amateur, Colón became known for winning five national titles in the 141 and 152 pound divisions.[4][5] He also earned the gold medal at the 2010 Pan American Youth Championship in the 64 kg class.[6] He competed at the Brazil Pre-Olympics for a chance to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London but lost in the third round to Venezuelan fighter Gabriel Maestre.[7] In 2012, Colón turned professional and finished his amateur career with a 170–15 record.[8]

Professional career<br>[edit]

Colón made his professional debut on February 23, 2013. His first fight was against Xavier La Salle at the Cosme Beitía Salamo Coliseum in Cataño, Puerto Rico. Colón knocked out LaSalle in the first round. He distinguished himself for his restless schedule, fighting five times in 2013 and seven times in 2014.[9] His most notable fight came on September 9, 2015, when he fought Vivian Harris, a more experienced fighter. The fight was held at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto and ended with Colón knocking out Harris in the fourth round.[4][10]

On October 17, 2015, Colón was slated to fight Terrel Williams in an undercard fight at the EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia. The fight was not originally part of the schedule but was added when Andre Dirrell withdrew from his fight with Blake Caparello for medical reasons.[11] The bout occurred just one month after Colón's fight against Harris and marked the end of his professional career.[9]

Brain injury, retirement, and death<br>[edit]

Colón and Williams fought for nine rounds. Throughout the match, Williams repeatedly rabbit punched Colón, despite the punch being illegal in all major combat sports, including boxing. During the bout, Colón repeatedly informed the referee, Joseph Cooper, about the illegal rabbit punches. Cooper dismissed him and said, "You take care of it."[12] Colón then hit Williams with a low blow, for which he was penalized two points. After multiple rabbit punches, Colón was knocked down for the first time in his professional career during the ninth round. He spoke to the ringside doctor between rounds and said he felt dizzy but believed he could continue.[13]

The ringside doctor, Richard Ashby, believed Colón would "shake it off" and cleared him, allowing the fight to continue. Colón was later disqualified via corner retirement after his corner mistakenly removed his gloves, thinking the fight had ended.[14] His corner said he was incoherent and experiencing dizziness.[14] Colón was assisted to the dressing room by his mother Nieves Colón, where he vomited and collapsed. He was taken to Inova...