This Day in History (October 29, 1956)
By Uncategorized October 29th, 2006Today in Boxing History: Wilfredo Gomez Born in Puerto Rico
On this day in 1956, Wilfredo Gomez was born in Los Monjas, Puerto Rico. Fittingly given the nickname, “Bazooka,� Gomez’s fighting style was one of the most devastating attacks boxing has ever seen.
In 1977, Gomez knocked out Dong Kyun Yum to win the WBC Super Bantamweight Title. He successfully defended the belt 17 times, most notably against a then-undefeated Carlos Zarate in 1978.
In August of 1981, Gomez challenged Salvador Sanchez for his WBC Featherweight Title. Sanchez stopped him in eight explosive rounds. He officially vacated his super bantamweight belt took another shot at the featherweight title in 1984. This time, he was successful, beating Juan LaPorte by a 12-round decision.
After losing the belt to Azumah Nelson in his very next fight, Gomez moved up in weight and won the WBA Super Featherweight Title with a majority decision over Rocky Lockridge in May of 1985. In his first defense, Alfredo Layne stopped him in the ninth round in May of 1986.
Gomez fought two more times before retiring in 1989. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.
October 29th, 2006 at 11:36 pm
As impressive as Gomez’s career was - the big event on this date in boxing history was the professional debut of Cassius Clay. October 29, 1960 in Louisville, Kentucky, Cassius Clay won his first professional fight, a six-round decision over Tunney Hunsaker.
October 31st, 2006 at 8:02 am
Gomez, one of the best boxers in fighting history was very impressive.
Rapid movements, and extraordinary grace made him one of the best boxers. A true moment in the history of boxing. One of his greatest moments was when he fought Salvador Sanchez. A true knockout. Hurray for Gomez. Plus he was one of the best looking and cutest boxers out there.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:40 pm
gomez, is by far the best puerto rican boxer of all times (in my opinion), he had everything you could ask from a boxer, movement, speed, and power, he is unfortunately well-known for his tragic TKO loss to mexican salvador sanchez, but in the boxing community he is well known for fighting hall of fame fighters lupe pintor, carlos zarate, azumah nelson and rocky lockridge, he won the 3 of those fights, 1 by decision(rocky), 2 by KO’s(zarate,pintor), his loss was against african azumah nelson for which he was knocked out in the later rounds.
Gomez ranned into drug problems after he retired from boxing, but he fought back and is currently living in las monjas puerto rico.