PRICHARD “Digget” Colon Melendez is a former Puerto Rican boxing WBC World Champion.The impressive boxer was a respected superwelterweight, claiming victory at his opening 16 professional fights and headed for a promising career.
Prichard Colon exchanged punches with Terrel Williams in the 2015 fight that would sadly leave him with life-changing injuriesCredit: Getty
Who is Prichard Colon?
Prichard Colon Melendez was born on September 19, 1992, in Maitland, Florida, but moved to Puerto Rico at the age of 10 to represent the island in competitions.
He also studied Business Administration at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan.
The rising star earned the nickname “Digget”, which comes from the word “digger”, due to his 6ft height.
He is an honorary WBC World Champion and bagged a gold medal in the 64kg category at the 2010 Pan American Youth Championship.
During his amateur career, Colon won five national championships in both the 141 and 152-pound divisions.
By the end of his amateur fights, he had a staggering 170-15 record behind him.
Colon turned professional in 2012 and boxed his way to glory in his first 16 fights, before losing one and drawing another.
He was known for his fast-paced career, jumping into the ring five times in 2013, and a whopping seven times in 2014.
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The fight that put him on the map came in 2015 when he went up against more experienced fighter, Vivian Harris.
Colon knocked Harris out in the fourth round.
This impressive record set the 31-year-old up for a promising career in the sport.
What happened to Prichard Colon?
Just months after his victory against Harris, Colon boxed Terrel Williams.
The fight had not been scheduled but went ahead due to another boxer, Andre Dirrell, cancelling his fight with Blake Caparello.
In the ninth round, Colon was hit repeatedly in the back of the head by Williams, which is illegal in the high-risk sport.
When Colon protested to the referee he was allegedly told: “You take care of it.”
Shortly afterward, Colon collapsed to the shock of his fans, after leading in the first five rounds.
He complained about feeling dizzy and nauseous but continued to throw punches after the ringside doctor deemed him fit to go on.
The young athlete vomited and collapsed in the dressing room afterwards before being rushed to hospital.
What was Prichard Colon’s diagnosis?
The boxer was diagnosed with a bleed on the brain, more specifically a left-sided subdural haematoma measuring 1.5cm wide.
He underwent a complex emergency hemicraniectomy to reduce brain swelling and clear the haematoma.
Colon remained in a coma for 221 days, but is now awake and slowly recovering.
In 2021, the World Boxing Council (WBC) released a statement about Colon’s surgery.
The WBC told Boxing Insider: “In recent weeks it was found a collapse of his skull was pressing on the brain, for which a fragment had to be removed to be replaced by a plate.
“Fortunately, the operation went well.”
Who are Prichard Colon’s parents?
His parents are mom Nieves, a retired waitress, and Richard Colon, a retired serviceman.
Nieves regularly provides updates on YouTube on the boxer’s progress.
She recently posted a video celebrating the former boxer’s 31st birthday.
Colon is seen smiling in response to his cake, and he was also gifted a signed boxing glove from rapper Daddy Yankee.
Fans reacted to the heartwarming clip by offering up well wishes for his birthday and his recovery.
In February 2023, the devoted mother posted a video titled “Prichard Colon-Melendez 5K run for the woods” which showed Colon on a trail in a specially adapted mobility chair.
Another clip showed him standing with support.
In 2017 the devastated parents filed a lawsuit seeking damages from the ringside doctor and the promoters of the fight for more than $50million.
In 2021, promoters DiBella Entertainment and Headbangers, Inc, were dismissed from the suit.
As of April 2023, the lawsuit has not yet been settled.
Where is Prichard Colon now?
Colon’s recovery is being handled by specialists at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital in Orange Park, Florida, reports thenetline.com.
It is unclear how much the former sportsman will recover but so far he is showing good progress.
In June 2021 Nieves posted to Facebook updates of her son’s progress and thanked people for their prayers and support.
She said: “God bless you lots of blessings.”
Prichard Colon celebrates after defeating Daniel Calzada in a TKO during the Premier Boxing Champions Junior Middleweight bout at Barclays Center on April 11, 2015Credit: Getty
What did Deontay Wilder say about Prichard Colon?
Deontay Wilder discussed the dangers of boxing in a press conference in October 2022 after his fight with Robert Helenius.
The Bronze Bomber broke down and cried when discussing Colon at his post-fight presser.
The boxer had just won the fight in New York with a first-round KO of Helenius.
Talk Sport reported he said: “Look at Colon, Prichard Colon.
“This man didn’t have no kids – –
“Y’all don’t f****** understand what we go through man.
“And I don’t even know him like that, but I’ll always be an advocate for us.
“This man will never know what it feels like to be somebody’s father and that’s the most precious thing in the world to be somebody’s father.
“But he’ll never be nobody’s father man.
“This man will never have a natural living again because he got in the ring to support his family.
“Now his family have gotta take care of him for the rest of his life.”
This comes as Tyson Fury has taken credit for Deontay Wilder’s emotional post-fight speech after beating Robert Helenius.
Fury, who drew and twice knocked out Wilder, reacted by suggesting he was the one who humbled his heavyweight rival.
He told True Geordie: “Maybe I knocked a bit of sense into him and maybe he’s been humbled from the three beatings I gave the sucker.
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“He’s a former knockout victim of the Gypsy King.”
Meanwhile, Dillian Whyte slammed Wilder and accused him of fake crying after his fight with Helenius. More
