Three-pound world champion Wilfredo ‘Bazooka’ Gomez has died at the age of 69.
The Puerto Rican won the WBC super-bantamweight title, the WBC lightweight belt and the WBA super-featherweight crown during a career in which he was famous as a heavyweight.
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Gomez fought in 48 fights and won 44 with 42 knockouts and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.
The former president of the WBO sanctioning body Paco Valcarcel confirmed the passing of his member.
“He passed a few hours ago, the one to whom I owe entered the great family of international boxers,” Valcacel wrote on social media on Saturday.
“Rest in peace, eternal hero Wilfredo ‘Bazooka’ Gomez.”
Gomez has excellent wins against the great citizens of Mexico Carlos Zarate, two weight champion Lupe Pintor, domestic rival Juan Laporte and American Rocky Lockridge.
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It was Zarate’s best win, as the then 52-0 knockout artist retained his WBC super-bantamweight title in five rounds in front of his home fans in San Juan.
Competing throughout his age with a wealth of talent at his heavyweight, Gomez suffered heartbreak in his two biggest fights when he was knocked out by Salvador Sanchez in 1981 and Azumah Nelson in 1984 – both in a narrow clash for the WBC world title.
The WBC and its president Mauricio Sulaiman called Gomez “one of the greatest icons in the history of the sport” and that he died “after two weeks of being hospitalized for respiratory complications.”
“Universally recognized as one of the greatest ring legends of all time and a fierce fighter whose historical record includes 17 consecutive super bantamweight title defenses – all won by knockout – Wilfredo Gomez leaves an indelible legacy both inside and outside the ring,” the statement said.
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As an amateur, Gomez competed in the 1972 Olympics when he was only 15 and at 17 he went on to win gold in the inaugural Amateur Championships in Cuba.