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Wilfredo Gómez
Wilfredo Gómez 2.jpg
Gómez c.2003
Statistics
Real name Wilfredo Gómez Rivera
Nickname(s) Bazooka
Rated at
  • Super bantamweight
  • Featherweight
  • Super featherweight
Height 5 ft 5+1/2 in
Reach 66+1/2 in
Born (1956-10-29) October 29, 1956 (age 68)
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 48
Wins 44
Wins by KO 42
Losses 3
Draws 1
Medal record
Men's Boxing
Representing  Puerto Rico
World Amateur Championships
Gold Havana 1974 Bantamweight

Wilfredo Gómez Rivera (born October 29, 1956) is a famous former professional boxer from Puerto Rico. People often call him Bazooka Gómez because of his powerful punches. He is known for winning world titles in three different weight classes. Many sports experts consider him one of the greatest Puerto Rican boxers ever. He is often mentioned alongside other boxing legends like Félix Trinidad and Miguel Cotto.

Wilfredo Gómez holds a special record: he had seventeen straight knockout wins when defending his junior featherweight championship. This is a record for any boxing division! The Ring magazine, a well-known boxing publication, even ranked him as the 13th greatest puncher of all time. In 1995, he was honored by being added to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Early Life

Wilfredo Gómez was born in a humble area of Hato Rey in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His parents were Jacobo Gómez and Paula Rivera. When he was young, Gómez used a bicycle to get around. He also sold candy to earn some money before he started his journey as an amateur boxer.

Amateur Boxing and First Professional Fight

Wilfredo Gómez was a very successful amateur boxer. He won a gold medal at the 1974 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He also won gold at the 1974 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Havana, Cuba. Before these wins, he competed in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany. However, he was eliminated in the first round there.

As an amateur, he had an impressive record of 96 wins and only 3 losses. Because his family needed money, he decided to become a professional boxer after the 1974 World Championships. He didn't wait for the 1976 Olympic Games. He moved to Costa Rica to find fights and began touring Central America. His first professional fight was in Panama City, Panama, where he had a draw (a tie) with Jacinto Fuentes.

Professional Boxing Career

After his first fight ended in a draw, Wilfredo Gómez started an amazing winning streak. He won 32 fights in a row by knockout! This included a rematch with Jacinto Fuentes, whom he defeated in just two rounds. He also beat future world champion Alberto Davila. His 32 consecutive knockouts put him in third place for the longest knockout streak ever.

His powerful knockouts caught the attention of the World Boxing Council (WBC). The WBC Super Bantamweight champion, Dong Kyun Yum from South Korea, traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico to defend his title against Gómez. Yum started strong, knocking Gómez down early in the fight. But Gómez got back up and won his first world title with a knockout in the 12th round!

For his second title defense, Gómez went to Tokyo, Japan. He defeated former world champion Royal Kobayashi in just three rounds. Next, he fought Sagat Petchyindee in Thailand. Gómez won by knockout in two rounds. Before this fight, a sad event happened when a part of the stadium collapsed, causing injuries and deaths. Despite this, the boxing show continued.

Gómez's knockout streak reached 32 wins in a row. One of his most famous victories was against bantamweight champion Carlos Zárate Serna. Zárate had an incredible record of 55 wins and no losses, with 54 knockouts, before fighting Gómez. But Gómez defeated him in five rounds in San Juan. During this streak, he also beat future world champion Leo Cruz.

After his 32nd knockout win, Gómez moved up to a heavier weight class to challenge the world featherweight champion, Salvador Sánchez of Mexico. Gómez lost this fight in the 8th round.

Hoping for a rematch with Sánchez, Gómez went back to the super bantamweight division. He won two non-title fights by knockout. He then had more impressive wins, including against future world champion Juan Meza and Juan Antonio Lopez. However, any chance of a rematch with Sánchez ended when Sánchez tragically died in a car accident in August 1982. Boxing fans across Latin America were very sad. Gómez, who was preparing for another fight, traveled to Mexico to pay his respects. He then returned to Puerto Rico and won his next fight.

He made one more title defense against Mexican bantamweight world champion Lupe Pintor. Gómez won by knockout in the 14th round. This fight was shown on Home Box Office (HBO), which at the time featured the biggest boxing matches. By the time he left the junior featherweight division, Gómez had made a record 17 title defenses. All of these defenses were won by knockout, which is a world record!

Featherweight and Super Featherweight Divisions

Wilfredo Gómez then tried again to win the Featherweight title. This time, he succeeded! He became a two-weight world champion by defeating Juan Laporte, another Puerto Rican boxer. Laporte had won the title after Sánchez's death. Gómez won by a 12-round decision. However, his reign as featherweight champion was not long. He lost his title to Azumah Nelson of Ghana by knockout in the 11th round in San Juan in December 1984.

Gómez then aimed for the Super featherweight title. He fought Rocky Lockridge of New Jersey in a close 15-round match in San Juan. Gómez won by a majority decision, becoming a three-weight world champion.

This title reign also ended quickly. Gómez lost his third fight by knockout to Alfredo Layne in 9 rounds. After this, it became clear that Gómez's best boxing years were behind him, and he decided to retire.

Later Years and Retirement

Wilfredo Gómez tried to make a comeback in 1987 and 1989. He won two more fights by knockout. But he realized his heart wasn't fully in boxing anymore, so he retired for good. He later helped Héctor Camacho train his son, Héctor Camacho Jr., who was also a boxer. In 1998, Gómez became a Christian.

In 2003, Gómez visited Panama and was welcomed by friends like Roberto Duran. He expressed his thanks to Panama, calling it his second home. In 2006, he bought a house in Orlando, Florida.

Wilfredo Gómez finished his career with 44 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw, with an amazing 42 knockout wins. In 1978, he was named "Fighter of the Year" by Boxing Illustrated. He is now a proud member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. In 2014, the Houston Boxing Hall Of Fame voted him the "Greatest Super Bantamweight Ever." A movie about his life, called Bazooka: The Battles of Wilfredo Gómez, was made in 2003.

In May 2018, Gómez was hospitalized in Puerto Rico for health issues. In March 2022, he received help from his family and friends, including fellow former world champion Victor Callejas, and was taken to a hospital for care. He later recovered and returned to his wife.

Professional Boxing Record

Professional record summary
48 fights 44 wins 3 losses
By knockout 42 3
By decision 2 0
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
48 Win 44–3–1 Mario Salazar KO 2 (10), 1:45 Jul 19, 1989 Diplomat Hotel, Hallandale Beach, Florida, U.S.
47 Win 43–3–1 Mario González TKO 6 (8), 1:58 Jul 30, 1988 Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
46 Loss 42–3–1 Alfredo Layne TKO 9 (15), 0:32 May 24, 1986 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico Lost WBA and The Ring super featherweight title
45 Win 42–2–1 Rocky Lockridge MD 15 May 19, 1985 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico Won WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
44 Loss 41–2–1 Azumah Nelson KO 11 (12), 2:58 Dec 8, 1984 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico Lost WBC featherweight title
43 Win 41–1–1 Juan Laporte UD 12 Mar 31, 1984 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico Won WBC featherweight title
42 Win 40–1–1 Eladio Santana KO 2 (?), 0:46 Dec 14, 1983 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
41 Win 39–1–1 Iván Samuco TKO 3 (10), 1:45 Apr 23, 1983 Auditorio Juan Pachín Vicéns, Ponce, Puerto Rico
40 Win 38–1–1 Lupe Pintor TKO 14 (15), 2:44 Dec 3, 1982 Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. Retained WBC and The Ring super bantamweight titles
39 Win 37–1–1 Roberto Rubaldino RTD 7 (15), 3:00 Aug 18, 1982 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico Retained WBC and The Ring super bantamweight titles
38 Win 36–1–1 Juan Antonio López TKO 10 (15), 1:02 Jun 11, 1982 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Retained WBC and The Ring super bantamweight titles
37 Win 35–1–1 Juan Meza TKO 6 (15), 2:28 Mar 27, 1982 ... Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Retained WBC and The Ring super bantamweight titles
36 Win 34–1–1 José Luis Soto KO 2 (?), 2:33 Feb 20, 1982 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
35 Win 33–1–1 José González TKO 7 (?) Jan 9, 1982 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
34 Loss 32–1–1 Salvador Sánchez TKO 8 (15), 2:09 Aug 21, 1981 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. For WBC featherweight title
33 Win 32–0–1 Raúl Silva KO 3 (10), 0:51 Jun 20, 1981 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
32 Win 31–0–1 José Cervantes KO 3 (15), 1:50 Dec 13, 1980 Miami Jai-Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S. Retained WBC and The Ring super bantamweight titles
31 Win 30–0–1 Derrik Holmes TKO 5 (15), 2:29 Aug 22, 1980 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Retained WBC and The Ring super bantamweight titles
30 Win 29–0–1 Eddie Ndukwu TKO 4 (12), 1:58 Apr 27, 1980 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
29 Win 28–0–1 Rubén Valdéz RTD 6 (15), 3:00 Feb 3, 1980 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Retained WBC and The Ring super bantamweight titles
28 Win 27–0–1 Nicky Pérez TKO 5 (15), 3:00 Oct 26, 1979 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. Retained WBC and The Ring super bantamweight titles
27 Win 26–0–1 Carlos Mendoza TKO 10 (15), 2:29 Sep 28, 1979 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Retained WBC and The Ring super bantamweight titles
26 Win 25–0–1 Julio Hernández TKO 5 (15), 2:15 Jun 16, 1979 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico Retained WBC and The Ring super bantamweight titles
25 Win 24–0–1 Nelson Cruz Tamariz KO 2 (10), 1:10 May 21, 1979 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
24 Win 23–0–1 Néstor Carlos Jiménez KO 2 (10), 2:51 Mar 9, 1979 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. Retained WBC super bantamweight title;
Won inaugural The Ring super bantamweight title
23 Win 22–0–1 Carlos Zárate TKO 5 (15), 0:44 Oct 28, 1978 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico Retained WBC super bantamweight title
22 Win 21–0–1 Leo Cruz TKO 13 (15), 0:21 Sep 9, 1978 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico Retained WBC super bantamweight title
21 Win 20–0–1 Sagat Petchyindee TKO 3 (15), 2:32 Jun 2, 1978 Provincial Stadium, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand Retained WBC super bantamweight title
20 Win 19–0–1 Juan Antonio López TKO 7 (15), 2:41 Apr 8, 1978 Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, Bayamón, Puerto Rico Retained WBC super bantamweight title
19 Win 18–0–1 Royal Kobayashi KO 3 (15), 1:26 Jan 19, 1978 Municipal Gymnasium, Kitakyushu, Japan Retained WBC super bantamweight title
18 Win 17–0–1 Raúl Tirado TKO 5 (15), 2:59 Jul 11, 1977 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico Retained WBC super bantamweight title
17 Win 16–0–1 Yum Dong-kyun KO 12 (15), 2:40 May 21, 1977 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico Won WBC super bantamweight title
16 Win 15–0–1 John Meza TKO 2 (10), 2:59 Feb 12, 1977 Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
15 Win 14–0–1 José Murillo Medel KO 4 (12), 2:45 Oct 11, 1976 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
14 Win 13–0–1 Tony Rocha KO 2 (?) Aug 16, 1976 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
13 Win 12–0–1 Alberto Dávila TKO 9 (10) Jul 19, 1976 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
12 Win 11–0–1 Sak Lempthong TKO 3 (10) May 8, 1976 Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
11 Win 10–0–1 Ric Quijano KO 1 (10) Apr 5, 1976 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
10 Win 9–0–1 Cornell Hall TKO 3 (10) Feb 20, 1976 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
9 Win 8–0–1 Andres Hernández TKO 8 (10) Dec 20, 1975 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
8 Win 7–0–1 Joe Guevara TKO 6 (?) Sep 19, 1975 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
7 Win 6–0–1 Cleo García KO 3 (6) Aug 2, 1975 Managua, Nicaragua
6 Win 5–0–1 Jacinto Fuentes KO 2 (8), 1:58 Jun 21, 1975 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
5 Win 4–0–1 Jose Jiménez KO 1 (6) May 3, 1975 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
4 Win 3–0–1 Antonio Da Silva KO 2 (8), 2:40 Mar 2, 1975 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
3 Win 2–0–1 Jorge Bernal TKO 1 (8), 2:28 Feb 15, 1975 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
2 Win 1–0–1 Mario Hernández TKO 1 (6), 2:58 Dec 21, 1974 Plaza de Toros, Zapote, Costa Rica
1 Draw 0–0–1 Jacinto Fuentes MD 6 Nov 16, 1974 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama

Personal Life

Wilfredo Gómez has three daughters: Jennifer, Gina, and Liz Irina. He also has one son, Wilfredo Junior. He is good friends with Panamanian boxing legend Roberto Durán and former Puerto Rico Boxing Commissioner Victor Callejas.

Gómez has said that Fighting Harada was his childhood idol. He is married to Carolina Gamboa.

British boxer Michael Gomez changed his last name to Gomez as a tribute to Wilfredo, who was his idol growing up. A book about Wilfredo Gómez, called "A Fire Burns Within," was written by author Christian Giudice and released in 2016.

Honors

Two places in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico are named after Wilfredo Gómez: the Wilfredo Gómez boxing gym and the Complejo Deportivo Wilfredo Gómez (Wilfredo Gómez Sporting Complex).

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Wilfredo Gómez para niños

  • Boxing in Puerto Rico
  • List of Puerto Rican boxing world champions
  • List of world super-bantamweight boxing champions
  • List of world featherweight boxing champions
  • List of world super-featherweight boxing champions
  • List of boxing triple champions
  • List of Puerto Ricans
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