Who is Terrel Williams?
Terrel Williams, a retired boxer, was guilty of repeatedly striking his opponent, Prichard “Digget” Colon, in the back of the head during their match on October 17, 2015. The two up-and-coming welterweights faced off at the Eagle Bank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia.
Williams was Born on February 16, 1984, and has had a successful career with a record of 19 fights and only one loss, including 13 knockouts. The 6-foot boxer from California’s last match, which took place in July 2019, was his first and only defeat in his 11-year career.
He was defeated by Thomas Dulorme in a controversial match at the Rabobank Theater in Bakersfield. Williams kickstarted his career in 2008 with a win against Raymundo Ortega.
What happened in Williams v Colon’s match?
Little did Terrel Williams know that his life would be completely altered after his ill-fated super welterweight match against Prichard Colon in October 2015. The anticipated showdown between two unpredictable fighters quickly became one of the most heartbreaking stories in the world of sports.
Prichard Colon was ahead on the judges’ scorecards during the fight, but he was caught off guard by his opponent’s repeated use of illegal “rabbit punches” to the back of his head. Despite Terrel Williams losing a point for these fouls, Colon ultimately fell in the ninth round and was ultimately disqualified for removing his gloves.
Although Colon informed the referee about his injuries, he allegedly received instructions to handle the situation on his own. Williams persisted in using illegal hits and ultimately knocked Digget down in the later stages of their match.
Despite feeling dizzy, Colon was able to stand up, but he expressed his discomfort. Despite this, the ringside doctor deemed him fit to continue fighting. In the ninth round, his corner decided to end the fight by removing his gloves.
Following the match, Digget became ill and was hospitalized. It was later discovered that he had suffered from brain hemorrhaging and was in a coma for 221 days.
Colon has been making gradual and steady advancements in his recovery, although at a slow pace. Currently, his mother is looking after him and he relies on a motorized wheelchair for mobility.
Why was Terrel Williams suspended from boxing?
Following the incident, Terrel Williams stepped away from boxing for a span of two years. He made his comeback one year after Colon regained consciousness from his 221-day coma.
News sources state that Williams received an open-ended ban from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission for hurting his hand in a match against David Grayton.
Although his suspension was primarily due to injury, it was widely speculated that his illegal behavior during the Prichard Colon fight also contributed to the commission’s final ruling.
Following the devastating altercation, Williams is believed to have personally conveyed his remorse to Colon’s relatives, but he refrained from making a public apology. Nevertheless, Williams has conveyed his sympathy for Colon, who was American-born but of Puerto Rican descent, and maintains that he does not bear responsibility for Colon’s fate.
In an interview with The Ring, Williams revealed his thoughts about the situation.
“I pray for Prichard every day. That’s never going to change. I wish him nothing but peace and health… I would never intentionally harm someone like that… I don’t place any blame on myself. I prayed about it. I wish the young man really well. It’s a hard situation on me and a hard situation on Colon’s family.”
These days, Terrel Williams appears to be leading a quiet life, with no sign of his presence on social media. This is hardly unexpected, given the criticism he faced following his altercation with Prichard.
