Пуэрто-Рикогийн боксын түүхэн дэх шилдэг тамирчдын нэг, дэлхийн гурван удаагийн аварга Вилфредо “Базука” Гомес 69 насандаа таалал төгсжээ.
Амьсгалын замын хүндрэлийн улмаас хоёр долоо хоног эмнэлэгт хэвтэн эмчлүүлж байсан тэрээр бямба гарагт буюу аравдугаар сарын 10-нд таалал төгссөнийг түүний хүү Вилфредо Гомес хүү баталсан байна. Тэрээр мэргэжлийн боксын замналдаа 44 ялалт, 3 ялагдал, 1 тэнцээ гэсэн амжилт үзүүлснээс 42 тулааныг нокаутаар дуусгасан түүхтэй.
Гомес супер хөнгөн жингийн дэлхийн аваргын бүсээ 17 удаа амжилттай хамгаалахдаа бүгдийг нь нокаутаар шийдвэрлэж байв. Тэрээр 1977 онд WBC-ийн супер хөнгөн жингийн аварга болж, улмаар өдгөөгийн өдөр хүртэл боксын спортын түүхэнд өөрийн гэсэн тод мөрийг үлдээсэн бөгөөд 1995 онд Олон улсын боксын алдрын танхимд багтсан юм.
Түүний мэргэжлийн замналын хамгийн онцлох тулаануудад Карлос Зарате болон Лупе Пинтор нарын эсрэг хийсэн ялалтууд зүй ёсоор ордог. Тэрээр 1981 онд Сальвадор Санчест ялагдсан хэдий ч хожим өдгөөгийн 126 болон 130 фунтын жингийн ангилалд дэлхийн аварга болж, спортын түүхэн дэх байр сууриа улам бататгасан билээ.
Дэлгэрэнгүй эх сурвалжийг харах
Эх сурвалжийг нээх ↓
Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gomez, the Puerto Rican three-division world champion whose 17 successful super bantamweight title defenses all ended by knockout, died Saturday, October 10, at age 69.
His son, Wilfredo Gomez Jr., confirmed his death to Telemundo Puerto Rico, which reported that Gomez had spent approximately two weeks hospitalized with respiratory complications. He died around 9 p.m., with the family expected to release further details Sunday.
Gomez’s place in boxing history rests most firmly on his extraordinary run at 122 pounds. He finished his career with a 44-3-1 record and 42 knockouts, winning world titles at super bantamweight, featherweight and super featherweight. He entered the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.
Born in San Juan on October 29, 1956, Gomez represented Puerto Rico at the 1972 Munich Olympics and won amateur world championship gold in Havana in 1974. His professional championship career began in May 1977, when he recovered from an early knockdown to stop Dong Kyun Yum in the 12th round for the WBC super bantamweight title.
The nickname “Bazooka” suited his punching power, but Gomez brought more than heavy hands. His combinations, timing, and ability to create openings made him dangerous against opponents who could punch themselves.
Carlos Zarate discovered that in October 1978. The Mexican bantamweight champion entered their fight with 52 victories, no defeats, and 51 knockouts. Gomez stopped him in five rounds, producing one of the defining victories of his career and a memorable chapter in the Puerto Rico–Mexico rivalry.
His December 1982 fight with Lupe Pintor showed another side of his greatness. With his eyes swollen and his energy fading, Gomez had to keep fighting through a punishing contest in New Orleans. He stopped Pintor in the 14th round, completing his 17th successful defense at 122 pounds. That victory required endurance and courage alongside the power that had made him famous.
Moving through the divisions also brought defeats. Salvador Sanchez handed Gomez his first professional loss in 1981. Gomez nevertheless went on to win championships at 126 and 130 pounds, adding to a career already exceptional for his dominance at super bantamweight.
The knockout totals explain part of his legacy. The Zarate and Pintor fights explain the rest: Gomez could overwhelm an elite puncher or survive a brutal struggle long enough to finish it. Both remain essential viewing for anyone discovering the fighter behind the “Bazooka” name.
