Wilfredo Gomez Dies At 69, Leaving Historic Legacy
The three-division champion held a world record 17 consecutive knockout title defenses and was hospitalized for two weeks with respiratory complications, his son said.
- Wilfredo 'Bazooka' Gomez, the legendary Puerto Rican three-division world champion, died Saturday at age 69. His son told Telemundo that Gomez, also known as 'The Child of Las Monjas,' passed away after two weeks hospitalized with respiratory complications.
- Born in San Juan on October 29, 1956, Gomez represented Puerto Rico at the 1972 Munich Olympics and won gold at the 1974 World Championship in Havana. He turned professional and secured titles at 122, 126, and 130 pounds.
- Gomez retired with a professional record of 44-3-1 and 42 knockouts, becoming a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. His 17 consecutive knockout title defenses at 122 pounds set a world record in any division.
- In July 2018, Gomez was honored as 'Honorary Champion' of the World Boxing Organization at a family event in Arecibo. The celebration included former Puerto Rican world champions Alfredo Escalera and Daniel Jiménez, recognizing his lasting impact.
- Gomez retired in 1987 with a victory over Mario Salazar, though his unbeaten record ended in 1981 when Mexican Salvador Sanchez defeated him in Las Vegas. A planned rematch never materialized after Sanchez died in a car accident the following year.
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Attorney Francisco "Paco" Valcárcel, who represented boxer Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gómez since 1980, described the late world champion as the most complete boxer that Puerto Rico has produced, recalling him in an interview with the Normando program in the morning...
Wilfredo 'Bazooka' Gómez Dies at 69: Puerto Rican Boxing Legend Won 42 Fights by Knockout and Made History
Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gómez, the Puerto Rican boxing icon who won world championships in three weight divisions and established one of the sport's most extraordinary knockout records, died Saturday, October 10, after being hospitalized with respiratory complications. He was 69, just 19 days away from his 70th birthday.
WBC President Joins Boxing Community in Mourning Puerto Rican Legend Dead at 69
Seventeen consecutive title defenses in a weight class, all by knockouts. In boxing history, only one boxer has achieved that feat: Wilfredo Gómez Rivera, better known as Bazooka Gomez. With his passing, boxing has lost the man behind a remarkable record of consecutive knockout title defenses. Reports confirm that Gomez died on Saturday night, October […]
Wilfredo Gómez was able to secure three World Cup titles during his professional career. Now the boxer with the nickname "Bazooka" died.
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Chung-won = Puerto Rican legendary pro... who earned the nickname 'Bazooka' by achieving 42 KO victories (95.45%) out of his 44 career wins...
The former world champion in three divisions would have turned 70 on October 29.
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- 38% of the sources are Center, 38% of the sources lean Right
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