Prichard Colón don die at age 33. Di former WBC honorary champion papa confirm am for Facebook on Thursday. Prichard don dey suffer for more than ten years after the brain injury wey e suffer during a fight for 2015.
Na October 17, 2015, for Fairfax, Virginia, Prichard wey get professional record 16-0 meet Terrel Williams. Di fight no start as e supposed be. Williams dey land illegal blows for Prichard back of head, wey dem call rabbit punch. Dem sabi say dis kind punch dey dangerous, so e no suppose happen at all. Referee Joe Cooper even warn Williams about am. But di fight still continue.
Prichard don already warn say e dey feel pain for back of head and dizzy. For seventh round, Williams land anoda illegal punch and Prichard fall down. Di ringside doctor Richard Ashby examine am, but e still allow di fight to go on. Na here dey raise plenty question. E don take illegal blows, e don complain, e don fall down, and im head dey pain am. But nobody stop am.
For ninth round, Williams knock Prichard down twice. Di fight don dey out of control. Prichard no be di same boxer wey start di night. Im corner begin remove im gloves, thinking say di fight don end. But there still one round remain. Unable to put di gloves back on in time, Prichard end up disqualified. E leave di ring with assistance, and shortly after, e begin feel sick. E vomit and collapse.
Dem rush am go hospital, where doctor detect severe brain injury. E undergo emergency surgery. Then na 221 days for coma. When e wake up, e no fit talk again. E need permanent care for di rest of im life. Di fight wey suppose make am star don end im career at 23.
On Thursday, im papa announce say Prichard don depart dis earthly world. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri release statement, say im family get deepest condolences. E talk say Prichard life na courage, perseverance and extraordinary fighting spirit. Di boxing community dey mourn am.
But di question wey still dey remain from dat night na: Why nobody stop di fight? Prichard don warn before e collapse. Di Virginia authorities investigate di case, but dem no identify any individual wey dem fit sanction. E no clear if any different decision for dat night go don change di outcome. But di fact say Prichard raise alarm before e even reach di point of collapse. So how many warning signs dem need before dem go stop a fight wey too dangerous?
