Wilfredo ‘Bazooka’ Gomez dies aged 69

Death at the age of 69

Wilfredo ‘Bazooka’ Gomez has died at the age of 69. The WBC said the former champion had spent about two weeks in hospital because of respiratory complications.

His son announced the death, according to Boxing News Online. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman and former WBO president Paco Valcarcel subsequently published tributes to the Puerto Rican boxer.

Three world titles

Gomez won the WBC super-bantamweight and featherweight belts before claiming the WBA super-featherweight title. He ended his career with 44 wins, three defeats and one draw from 48 bouts, including 42 knockout victories. He entered the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.

His most notable victories included wins over Carlos Zarate, Lupe Pintor, Juan Laporte and Rocky Lockridge. His featherweight campaigns also brought stoppage defeats against Salvador Sanchez in 1981 and Azumah Nelson in 1984, both in contests for the WBC title.