FILE -- Prichard Colon, left, exchanges punches with Daniel Calzada during a junior middleweight title boxing match, Saturday, April 11, 2015, at New York. Colon won by TKO. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
A former professional boxer has died after suffering a devastating brain injury during a fight more than a decade ago.
Prichard Colon’s father, Richard Colon, confirmed his son’s death Thursday on social media.
“I regret to inform you of the passing of my son Prichard from this earthly world. He is now in a better place,” the father shared.
Prichard Colon, 33, was a Puerto Rican super welterweight boxer and a rising star in the sport, winning his first 16 fights.
Prichard Colon was also favored in the fight where he suffered a brain bleed against boxer Terrel Williams in northern Virginia in 2015.
Multiple outlets reported that Prichard Colon complained about Williams landing repeated blows to the back of his head that night.
It was also reported that Prichard Colon started showing symptoms in his dressing room soon after the bout. He was rushed to the Inova Fairfax Hospital, where doctors performed surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.
However, the injuries were life-changing for the young boxing star, who reportedly went into a coma for more than 200 days and needed round-the-clock medical assistance ever since.
“I did everything possible to fulfill his wish, his dream of bringing him on vacation to Puerto Rico as much as he desired, but couldn’t,” his father continued. “Thank you for so many years of love and prayers. As much as you can, please keep us in your prayers.”