Fairfax: Prichard Colon lawsuit did not name Terrel Williams or Joe Cooper as defendants
Lawsuit Details and Defendants
The parents of Prichard Colon filed a lawsuit following the Puerto Rican boxer’s severe brain injury sustained during his 2015 fight against Terrel Williams. The legal action, seeking more than $50 million, was initiated in Washington, D.C., on May 3, 2017. However, Terrel Williams and referee Joe Cooper were not named as defendants in this case.
Instead, Prichard Colon‘s parents, Nieves and Richard Colon, directed their lawsuit against ringside doctor Richard Ashby, his medical practice, Family Practice Medical Services, P.C., and the promoters, Headbanger’s Promotions and DiBella Entertainment. The complaint alleged that Colon was hit by illegal punches to the back of the head and subsequently showed signs of a serious injury, which worsened after the fight, leading to emergency brain surgery.
The lawsuit focused on the events that transpired after Colon was injured during the October 17, 2015, fight at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia. The legal action claimed medical negligence, particularly concerning Dr. Ashby, who examined Colon in the seventh round after he reported dizziness and pain in the back of his head, yet allowed him to continue fighting. Promoters were also accused of negligence related to the selection and medical arrangements for the fight.
In 2019, DiBella Entertainment and Headbanger’s Promotions were dismissed from the lawsuit. The court determined that Virginia‘s regulations placed responsibility for the ringside physician and related medical duties with the state’s Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, not the promoters.
Investigations into the Fight
While not defendants in the lawsuit, Terrel Williams and Joe Cooper were investigated after the 2015 fight. The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation reviewed the incident, involving Williams, Cooper, Ashby, and David Holland, Virginia’s boxing program administrator.
A 2016 report on the investigation indicated that the DPOR found no regulatory wrongdoing warranting disciplinary action. The report stated that Cooper generally maintained control of the fight, consulted Ashby, and followed the rules regarding Colon’s health. This investigation followed Colon‘s complaints during the fight about punches to the back of his head, for which Cooper warned Williams, and Williams later had a point deducted.
Prichard Colon‘s condition after the fight left him in a persistent vegetative state for years. He died at the age of 33 on August 13, 2026. After leaving the hospital in 2016, Colon required constant care and could no longer walk or speak normally.
Terrel Williams’ Post-Fight Life
For Terrel Williams, the fight became a significant and emotionally challenging event. Despite expressing remorse immediately after the bout, he faced criticism and abuse for years following the incident that impacted Colon’s life. Williams, who entered the fight with an undefeated record and moved to 15-0 after the bout, largely withdrew from the public eye.
He later discussed the emotional toll of the incident in interviews, including one with RingTV in 2018. Williams conveyed that he harbored no hostility towards Prichard Colon and that the tragic outcome was unintentional. He stated, “I pray for Prichard every single day. I don’t wish nothing but peace and health for that man. It’s been hard on me, too. I didn’t want that to happen to him. I was just trying to win a fight. My life changed that night, and it will never be the same.”
Williams stepped away from boxing for two years to deal with the aftermath of the fight. He returned to competition in 2017, despite objections from some members of Colon’s family. After competing in a few more bouts, Williams concluded his professional boxing career in 2019 and has since maintained a private life away from the sport.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Priya Menon 