Wilfredo ‘Bazooka’ Gómez, Puerto Rican boxing legend, dies at 69

Puerto Rican boxing legend Wilfredo ‘Bazooka’ Gómez has died at the age of 69. His death was confirmed by his son, Wilfredo Gómez Jr., following a two-week hospitalization due to respiratory complications.

Gómez, an International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, was a three-division world champion, holding titles in the super bantamweight, featherweight, and super featherweight divisions. He was renowned for his devastating punching power, which earned him his nickname. His professional record stands at 44 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw, with an extraordinary 42 victories coming by knockout.

A defining achievement of his career was setting a world record of 17 consecutive title defenses in the super bantamweight division, all won by knockout. His most notable victories included a fifth-round stoppage of Mexican legend Carlos Zárate. His amateur career also included representing Puerto Rico at the 1972 Munich Olympics and winning gold at the inaugural 1974 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Havana.