Puerto Rican boxing legend Wilfredo Gomez, who won world titles in three weight classes, died Saturday at age 69.
Former WBO president Paco Valcarcel confirmed the news on social media.
“He passed away a few hours ago, the one to whom I owe having entered the great family of International Boxing. Rest in peace, my eternal champion Wilfredo “Bazuka” Gomez.”
Gomez had been suffering from health problems for the past few years and brain damage tied to his 15-year professional boxing career.
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He was admitted to hospital because of breathing problems and spent around a fortnight hospitalized because of respiratory complications. An official cause of death has not been confirmed yet.
Gomez (44-3-1, 42 KOs), a 1972 Olympian for Puerto Rico, began his professional career in 1974. He won his first world title — the WBC super bantamweight crown — in 1977. Gomez held the championship for almost six years, making 17 successful title defenses and winning all of them by knockout.
After falling short to Salvador Sanchez in 1981 for the WBC featherweight title, Gomez became a two-division champion in 1984 and went on to win a belt in a third weight class — super featherweight — in 1985.
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The Puerto Rican was renowned for his knockout power. He retired in 1989 and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.
He left behind a monumental legacy and will be remembered as one of the most devastating punchers and greatest champions in the sport’s history.
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