Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gómez, Puerto Rican boxing legend, dies at 69
The three-division world champion and International Boxing Hall of Famer passed away Saturday night.
The short version
- El Vocero reported that Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gómez died Saturday night at age 69 and that his son confirmed the news to Telenoticias
- El Nuevo Día and NotiCel also reported the death occurred around 9:00 p.m. with additional family details expected Sunday
- Telemundo Puerto Rico stated Gómez had been hospitalized for two weeks with respiratory complications
- All four outlets noted his record of 44-3-1 with 42 knockouts and induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995
Death of a boxing icon
Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gómez, one of Puerto Rico’s most celebrated boxers and a three-division world champion, died Saturday night at the age of 69. El Vocero reported that the death occurred near 9:00 p.m. His son confirmed the news to Telenoticias. The family is expected to provide further details on Sunday. El Nuevo Día reported the same time of death and that the confirmation was made on Telemundo.
NotiCel reported that Gómez had been hospitalized for approximately two weeks with respiratory complications. Telemundo Puerto Rico stated he had been in the hospital for two weeks for the same reason. El Vocero reported that the circumstances of his death have not been disclosed.
Career highlights
Born on Oct. 29, 1956, in San Juan, Gómez represented Puerto Rico in the 1972 Munich Olympics and won gold at the first Amateur World Boxing Championships in Havana in 1974. El Vocero reported he turned professional in 1974 and retired in 1989 with a record of 44-3-1 and 42 knockouts. El Nuevo Día reported he won his first world title at age 20 by knocking out Dong Kyun Yum on May 21, 1977, in San Juan to claim the WBC super bantamweight crown.
NotiCel reported that Gómez made 17 successful title defenses, all by knockout. He later won world titles in the featherweight division in 1984 and the super featherweight division in 1985. Telemundo Puerto Rico reported he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, in 1995.
Later years and health issues
In later years Gómez faced multiple health challenges. El Vocero reported that in 2013 he publicly acknowledged suffering brain damage affecting his speech and movement, which he attributed to punches received during his career. He was also hospitalized that year and in 2018 with respiratory issues. In 2022 he required intensive care after being removed from his residence.
El Nuevo Día reported that Gómez had faced health problems and brain damage linked to his boxing career in recent years. On Wednesday his son had asked for prayers for his father’s recovery on social media. NotiCel reported that his death leaves an indelible mark on Puerto Rican sports.
Where the sources differ
All four sources agree that Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gómez died Saturday night at age 69, that his son confirmed the death, and that additional family details would be provided Sunday. They concur on his birthdate, amateur achievements, professional record of 44-3-1 with 42 KOs, three world titles, 17 title defenses by knockout, loss to Salvador Sánchez, and 1995 Hall of Fame induction. El Vocero alone states that the circumstances of death have not been disclosed. Only NotiCel and Telemundo Puerto Rico report that Gómez had been hospitalized for about two weeks with respiratory complications; El Vocero and El Nuevo Día do not mention recent hospitalization in their death announcements. El Vocero and El Nuevo Día reference his son’s Wednesday social-media request for prayers; the other two outlets do not.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state an official cause of death or whether it was directly related to the reported respiratory complications. They provide no information on funeral arrangements beyond the family’s planned Sunday update. The sources do not detail any immediate statements from Puerto Rican government officials or boxing organizations. No medical records or attending physicians are quoted.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Muere Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gómez, leyenda del boxeo puertorriqueño
- Reporting Fallece Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gómez, leyenda del boxeo puertorriqueño
- Reporting Muere Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gómez, una de las más grandes leyendas del boxeo puertorriqueño
- Reporting Fallece el tricampeón mundial Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gómez
How we checked this
El Vocero, El Nuevo Día, NotiCel and Telemundo Puerto Rico all reported the death of Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gómez on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. The hospitalization detail rests solely on NotiCel and Telemundo Puerto Rico while the statement that circumstances have not been disclosed rests on El Vocero alone.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.