Puerto Rican boxing great Wilfredo Gomez dies at 69
Puerto Rican boxing legend Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gomez, a former three-weight world champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, has died aged 69.
His death was confirmed by former World Boxing Organization (WBO) president Paco Valcarcel, who paid tribute to his compatriot in a social media post.
“He passed away a few hours ago, the one to whom I owe having entered the great family of international boxing,” Valcarcel wrote.
“Rest in peace, my eternal champion Wilfredo ‘Bazooka’ Gomez.”
Gomez retired with an outstanding record of 44 victories in 48 professional fights, including 42 knockouts. He won world titles at super-bantamweight, featherweight and super-featherweight, establishing himself as one of boxing’s most formidable punchers.
Among his most memorable victories was his 1980 stoppage of Mexican knockout specialist Carlos Zarate in the fifth round in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Zarate had entered the fight unbeaten in 52 contests.
Gomez also recorded notable wins over Lupe Pintor, Juan Laporte and Rocky Lockridge. However, his career included defeats to Salvador Sanchez in 1981 and Ghanaian boxing legend Azumah Nelson in 1984, both in fights for the WBC featherweight title.
The World Boxing Council (WBC) described Gomez as “one of the greatest icons in the history of the sport”, adding that he had been hospitalised for two weeks with respiratory complications before his death.
The organisation also highlighted his record of 17 consecutive successful defences of the WBC super-bantamweight title, all ending in knockouts.
Gomez’s achievements began early. He represented Puerto Rico at the 1972 Olympic Games at just 15 years old before winning gold at the inaugural World Amateur Boxing Championships in Cuba in 1974, aged 17.
He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995, cementing his place among the sport’s celebrated figures.
Source: BBC
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