PRICHARD "Digget" Colon Melendez is a former Puerto Rican professional boxer.
During his career, Colon was an excellent superwelterweight and won his opening 16 professional fights.
Who is Prichard Colon?
Prichard Colon Melendez is an American-born Puerto Rican former professional boxer.
He was born on September 19, 1992, in Maitland, Florida, and at the age of 10 moved to Puerto Rico, so that he could represent the island in competitions.
Colon earned the nickname "Digget" which comes from the word "digger" in relation to the 6ft boxer's height.
He is an honorary WBC World Champion and won a gold medal at the 2010 Pan American Youth Championship.
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During his amateur career, Colon won five national championships in both the 141 and 152-pound divisions and also won a gold medal at the 2010 Pan American Youth Championship in the 64kg category.
Colon turned professional in 2012.
What happened to Prichard Colon?
In 2015, Colon collapsed in the dressing room after a fight with Terrel Williams.
He was subjected to repeated blows to the back of his head during the bout.
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The boxer left the ring but became dizzy and nauseous in his dressing room, and suffered from a bleed on the brain.
He remained in a coma for 221 days.
Colon is now awake and is steadily improving.
What was Prichard Colon's diagnosis?
The boxer was diagnosed with a bleed on the brain.
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.
In February 2023, she posted a video titled "Prichard Colon-Melendez 5K run for the woods" which featured a video of Colon on a trail in a specially adapted mobility chair.
Another video shows him standing with support.
In 2017 they 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."
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.
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"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."
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