{"id":2646062,"date":"2026-08-17T13:20:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T17:20:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/boxer-whose-only-career-loss-resulted-in-a-devastating-brain-injury-dies-11-years-later-at-33\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T13:27:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T17:27:10","slug":"boxer-whose-only-career-loss-resulted-in-a-devastating-brain-injury-dies-11-years-later-at-33","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/boxer-whose-only-career-loss-resulted-in-a-devastating-brain-injury-dies-11-years-later-at-33\/","title":{"rendered":"Boxer Whose Only Career Loss Resulted in a Devastating Brain Injury Dies 11 Years Later at 33"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fboxer-whose-only-career-loss-resulted-in-a-devastating-brain-injury-dies-11-years-later-at-33%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2646062&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A talented Puerto Rican boxer named Prichard Col\u00f3n Mel\u00e9ndez, born in Florida in 1992 and raised in Puerto Rico, passed away after a career deeply impacted by a severe injury sustained during a boxing match eleven years ago. He was a promising fighter with 16 amateur wins before turning professional.During a fight against American boxer terrel Williams, Col\u00f3n suffered illegal punches to the back of his head, leading to a traumatic brain injury. Despite being knocked down and knocked out of the ring, he was declared the loser by disqualification. Following the incident,Col\u00f3n collapsed in his dressing room,entered a coma for 221 days,and remained in a vegetative state until his death in 2026. His family filed a lawsuit against officials and promoters for failing to provide adequate medical safeguards. His death prompted tributes from boxing organizations like the World Boxing Council and the World Boxing Organization, recognizing his bravery and resilience, and highlighting the tragedy of his injury and loss.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A young, promising Puerto Rican professional boxer whose career was derailed by severe injuries sustained during a fight 11 years ago has died, according to his father.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGood morning my people. I regret to inform you of the passing of my son Prichard from this earthly world, NOW HE IS in a better world,\u201d Richard Col\u00f3n, the father of Prichard Col\u00f3n Mel\u00e9ndez, nicknamed \u201cDigget,\u201d wrote in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/richard.colon.58\/posts\/pfbid02JXugEv49q3X94ouR1WGaqGjZZHTTdRoLXaFzB112Bri2jQFgFR1PM8gSoeENwZzQl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">post<\/a> early Thursday morning.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI did everything possible to fulfill HIS WISH, HIS DREAM of bringing him ON VACATION to Puerto Rico as much as he desired but COULDN\u2019T. Thank you for so many years of love and prayers. As much as you can, please keep us in your prayers,\u201d his post continued.<\/p>\n<p>While Mel\u00e9ndez was born in Florida in 1992, his family relocated to Puerto Rico soon after, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2026\/08\/14\/sport\/prichard-colon-dead-boxer-scli-intl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CNN<\/a>. There he competed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/25-year-old-rising-star-boxing-dead-months-post-exposing-horrors-socialized-medicine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">amateur boxing<\/a>, compiling a track record of 16 wins, including 13 via knockout, by Oct. 17, 2015, the day of his final fight.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">5. Boxing\u2019s saddest story of all time, His name is Prichard Col\u00f3n. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jKEqHjCeWh\">pic.twitter.com\/jKEqHjCeWh<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Earth_Wanderer (@earth_tracker) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/earth_tracker\/status\/1962127662148948318?\">August 31, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>During the fight with American competitor Terrel Williams, Mel\u00e9ndez sustained illegal \u201crabbit punches\u201d to the back of the head that were strong enough for him to suffer a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/two-boxers-die-days-apart-suffering-injuries-event\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">brain injury<\/a>, according to Orlando Fox station <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox35orlando.com\/news\/prichard-colon-memorial-held-honor-puerto-rican-boxer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WOFL<\/a>. Mel\u00e9ndez repeatedly complained about the punches.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe suffered a crushing body blow and a shot to the back of his head as he was falling,\u201d the station reported. \u201cCol\u00f3n got back on his feet \u2014 bloodied and dazed\u2026 but the fight was over. The contest was ruled a disqualification.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mel\u00e9ndez subsequently collapsed in his changing room, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/sport\/boxing\/articles\/cg7m45ze27mo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BBC<\/a>.\u00a0He remained hospitalized in a coma for 221 days before waking up in a vegetative state that required years of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/major-update-mitch-mcconnells-health-aging-senators-care-conditions-change-dramatically\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">recovery and rehabilitation<\/a>. He never regained speech or the ability to walk.<\/p>\n<p>Two years after the fight, Mel\u00e9ndez\u2019s family filed a $50 million lawsuit against the ringside doctor and the fight promoters on the basis that \u201cmultiple failures\u201d had contributed to the severity of the injuries he had sustained, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/prichard-colon-death-cause-boxer-terrel-williams-injury-12319896\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Newsweek<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Video footage of the fight seen circulating on social media showed Williams bashing Mel\u00e9ndez in the back of the head in the seventh round. The punches stunned him, prompting him to be pulled aside and examined in the corner. Williams meanwhile was penalized a point.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"es\">Prichard Col\u00f3n v\u00edctima de un descuido arbitral que lo llev\u00f3 a la muerte \ud83d\ude1e\ud83d\udd4a\ufe0f<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/prichardcolon?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#prichardcolon<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/NXcG2NsuCS\">pic.twitter.com\/NXcG2NsuCS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Big3 Deportivo con Manuel Medina (@TheBig3_Sport) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheBig3_Sport\/status\/2087972013126140253?\">August 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe lawsuit argued that an earlier stoppage \u2014 particularly after the seventh\u2011round knockdown and Col\u00f3n\u2019s complaints \u2014 could have changed the outcome,\u201d Newsweek reported. \u201cIt also claimed that promoters did not ensure adequate medical safeguards for a fight added late to the card.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The World Boxing Council <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ivanka-trump-makes-rare-tv-appearance-honor-charlie-kirk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">paid tribute<\/a> to Mel\u00e9ndez in a statement released Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith a heavy heart and immense sadness enveloping the entire international boxing community, the World Boxing Council and its President, Mauricio Sulaim\u00e1n, mourn the passing of former boxer and icon of bravery, Prichard Col\u00f3n Mel\u00e9ndez,\u201d the organization said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPrichard didn\u2019t just fight with skill; he fought with the elegance and pride of carrying Puerto Rico\u2019s flag to the greatest heights,\u201d the WBC added.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The PBC Family sends its heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Prichard Colon. May he Rest in Peace.<\/p>\n<p>1992 \u2013 2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/WKGmH9dWoo\">pic.twitter.com\/WKGmH9dWoo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/premierboxing\/status\/2087943909603246089?\">August 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The World Boxing Organization released its own statement calling him \u201ca warrior until the very end.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe WBO family mourns the passing of Prichard Col\u00f3n, whose courage, strength, and fighting spirit transcended the ring,\u201d the organization said. \u201cHis greatest fight became a testament to resilience and the unwavering love of his family. Rest in peace, champion.\u201d<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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