In the annals of boxing history, few stories evoke as much sorrow as that of Prichard Colon, an undefeated rising star with 16 wins and zero losses. At 23 years old, he was on the cusp of boxing greatness, with hype surrounding his potential championship future.
The fateful night of October 17, 2015, marked a turning point. In the first round of his fight against Tyrrell Williams, Pritchard was struck in the back of the head—an incident that set the stage for a tragic sequence of events. Throughout the match, Williams continued with illegal blows to the back of Pritchard’s head, despite his complaints to the referee.
By the seventh round, Pritchard, visibly affected, had dropped to his knees after another illegal punch. The crowd’s response was shocking; boos and commentator jokes ensued, questioning the legitimacy of his pain. Although checked by the ringside doctor and cleared to continue, Pritchard faced two more knockdowns in the 9th round.
Post-fight, Pritchard’s condition worsened—dizziness, vomiting, and emergency surgery revealed brain bleeding. Six years later, Pritchard remains in a vegetative state, and his parents filed a lawsuit against the doctor who cleared him to fight. Yet, legal accountability for the referee and opponent remains elusive.
Prichard’s slow recovery is underway, but doctors predict he’ll never be the same. The poignant question persists: Should someone be held accountable for this tragedy, or are these the inherent risks in the brutal world of boxing?