PUERTO RICAN BOXING CHAMPION WILFREDO GOMEZ DIES AGED 69

Wilfredo Gomez, the former three-weight world boxing champion known as "Bazooka", has died aged 69, former WBO president Paco Valcarcel announced. His son, Wilfredo Gomez Jr, confirmed the death on Telemundo on Saturday evening; one report put the time of death at around 9pm on 10 October. Gomez had reportedly been admitted to Hospital Auxilio Mutuo in Puerto Rico for breathing difficulties in the weeks before he died. Reports said he had also suffered neurological damage linked to his boxing career, and had previously been treated for pneumonia and a pulmonary oedema in 2018.

Gomez represented Puerto Rico at the 1972 Munich Olympics before turning professional in November 1974. He won the WBC super bantamweight title in May 1977 by stopping South Korea's Yum Dong-kyun, then defended it 17 times, winning every defence by knockout or technical knockout, which reports described as a record for the division. He later lost a featherweight title bid to Salvador Sanchez, before winning further world titles at featherweight and super featherweight by beating Juan Laporte and Rocky Lockridge. He retired in 1989 with a record of 44 wins, three defeats and a draw, including 42 knockouts, and entered the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.

Tributes have followed from across boxing. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman wrote that "Wilfredo Gomez, one of the greatest fighters of all time, is now resting in peace." Valcarcel, who announced the death, wrote: "Rest in peace, my eternal champion Wilfredo 'Bazooka' Gomez." The Ring Magazine described him as one of the greatest Puerto Rican fighters in history, citing bouts against fellow champions including Carlos Zarate and Lupe Pintor. No funeral arrangements have yet been reported.