Wilfredo Gómez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wilfredo Gómez |
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Gómez c.2003
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| Real name | Wilfredo Gómez Rivera | |||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Bazooka | |||||||||||||
| Rated at |
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| Height | 5 ft 5+1/2 in | |||||||||||||
| Reach | 66+1/2 in | |||||||||||||
| Born | October 29, 1956 Hato Rey, Puerto Rico |
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| Stance | Orthodox | |||||||||||||
| Boxing record | ||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 48 | |||||||||||||
| Wins | 44 | |||||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 42 | |||||||||||||
| Losses | 3 | |||||||||||||
| Draws | 1 | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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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.
Contents
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
| 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
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
