PRICHARD COLON’s mother has shared heartbreaking footage of the fight which changed her son’s life forever.
The former welterweight prospect suffered a brain bleed after taking repeated blows to the back of the head in his 2015 clash with Terrell Williams.
GETTYPrichard Colon suffered a brain bleed after enduring multiple rabbit punches in his 2015 clash with Terrell Williams[/caption]
FACEBOOK@PRICHARDCOLONColon fell into a coma for 221 days and was left in a vegetative state[/caption]
FACEBOOK@PRICHARDCOLONHis mother posted footage of the fateful fight to Instagram and slammed the referee for not punishing the illegal punches[/caption]
Colon fell ill backstage after the fight and was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he spent 221 days in a coma.
Repeated rabbit punches from Terrell caused part of Colon’s skull to collapse and ultimately left him in a vegetative state with life-threatening injuries.
And Colon’s mother – who has looked after her son ever since that fateful night in Virginia – insists referee Joseph Cooper didn’t do enough to protect the Puerto Rican.
She shared a compilation video of her son – which included footage of the fateful fight – to her official Facebook earlier this week.
Nieves Melendez’s accompanying caption read: “The signs that were ignored.”
Melendez regularly shares updates on her son – who is bed and wheelchair-bound – on social media.
Earlier this month, she shared a clip of Colon dancing with his family while celebrating his birthday.
Colon’s heartbreaking story serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers of the sweet science.
FACEBOOK@PRICHARDCOLONPrichard Colon’s story is a tragic reminder of the dangers of boxing[/caption]
Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder broke down in tears as he discussed Colon’s life-changing injuries last year.
He said: He said: “We’ve seen what happens, look at Colon. How he got hit, Richard Collon, correct.
“This man didn’t have no kids… they don’t understand. Y’all don’t f understand what we go through, man.
“And I don’t even know him like that, but I will always be an advocate for us.
“Because this man will never know what it’s like to be somebody’s father.
“And that’s one of the most precious things in the world, to be somebody’s father.
“But he will never be nobody’s father, man.
“Because he got in the ring to support his family but now, his family got to take care of him for the rest of his life.
“He was probably the breadwinner in his family and now they’re looking and seeking for help and s*** like that.”
FACEBOOK@PRICHARDCOLONPrichard Colon recently celebrated his 31st birthday[/caption]