Sports · Combat Sports · 4 hrs ago
Puerto Rican boxing great Wilfredo Gomez dies at 69
Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gomez, a Puerto Rican boxing legend, died Saturday night at age 69.
His son said Gomez had been hospitalized with respiratory complications.
Born near San Juan, Gomez represented Puerto Rico at the 1972 Olympics.
He won his first world title in 1977, becoming WBC junior featherweight champion at age 20.
He later won world championships at featherweight and junior lightweight, making him a three-division champion.
Gomez retired in 1989 and entered the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.
His career is a major part of Puerto Rican boxing history.
Puerto Rican boxing legend Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gomez died at 69, ESPN reported.
Gomez won world titles in three weight classes.
His son told Puerto Rican news outlets that Gomez had been hospitalized with respiratory complications.
Gomez won the WBC junior featherweight title in October 1977 and later became a champion at featherweight and junior lightweight.
He retired in 1989 and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.
- Who
- Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gomez, a Puerto Rican boxing legend and three-division world champion.
- What
- He died at 69.
- When
- Saturday night; the articles were published on October 11, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Not stated. His son said he had been hospitalized with respiratory complications.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
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 was born near San Juan.
He represented Puerto Rico at the Olympics.
At age 20, he won the WBC junior featherweight world title.
He retired from professional boxing.
He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Gomez died at 69, ESPN reported.
- Age at death
- 69
- World titles
- Three weight classes
- First world title
- WBC junior featherweight, October 1977
- Retirement
- 1989
- Hall of Fame induction
- 1995
- Birthplace
- Near San Juan
Sources
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