Wilfredo 'Bazooka' Gomez dies aged 69

Wilfredo 'Bazooka' Gomez, the Puerto Rican three-weight world boxing champion, died on Saturday, the WBC said.

He was 69 and his passing was confirmed by former WBO president Paco Valcarcel. "He passed away a few hours ago, the one to whom I owe having entered the great family of international boxing," wrote Valcacel on social media on Saturday. "Rest in peace, my eternal champion Wilfredo 'Bazooka' Gomez."

Gomez won world titles at WBC super-bantamweight, WBC featherweight and WBA super-featherweight during a career noted for his punching power. He fought 48 times, recording 44 wins with 42 by knockout, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.

His most notable victories included wins over Mexico's Carlos Zarate, two-weight champion Lupe Pintor, Puerto Rico rival Juan Laporte and American Rocky Lockridge. His triumph over Zarate came when he stopped the then 52-0 knockout specialist in five rounds in front of his home fans in San Juan to retain his WBC super-bantamweight title.

Gomez was twice defeated by knockout in world title fights at featherweight, losing to Salvador Sanchez in 1981 and to Azumah Nelson in 1984.

The WBC and its president Mauricio Sulaiman called Gomez "one of the greatest icons in the history of the sport" and said he had passed away "after being hospitalised for the past two weeks due to respiratory complications."

As an amateur, Gomez competed at the 1972 Olympics aged just 15 and at 17 won gold at the inaugural World Amateur Championships in Cuba.

"Universally recognized as one of the greatest ring legends of all time and a ruthless brawler who holds the historic record of 17 consecutive super bantamweight title defenses - all won by knockout - Wilfredo Gomez leaves behind an indelible legacy both inside and outside the ring," a statement said.