Puerto Rican boxing legend Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gomez, a three-weight world champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, died Saturday night at age 69. Gomez had been hospitalized with respiratory complications. His son and former WBO president Paco Valcarcel confirmed the death, with Valcarcel writing on social media that Gomez "passed away a few hours ago." Known for devastating knockout power, Gomez won world titles at junior featherweight, featherweight and junior lightweight.
He captured his first WBC junior featherweight title at age 20 in 1977, overcoming a first-round knockdown to defeat South Korea's Dong Kyun Yum. He later defended titles against Carlos Zarate and Lupe Pintor. Gomez represented Puerto Rico at the 1972 Olympics and was born near San Juan in 1956.
His career represents a major chapter in Puerto Rican boxing history. He retired in 1989 after a legendary run that established him as one of the greatest junior featherweights of all time.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing