Boxing: Puerto Rican boxing legend Wilfredo 'Bazooka' Gomez dies aged 69

Three-weight world champion Wilfredo 'Bazooka' Gomez has died aged 69.

The Puerto Rican won the WBC super-bantamweight title, WBC featherweight belt and WBA super-featherweight crown during a career in which he was renowned as a heavy puncher.

Gomez fought in 48 fights and won 44, with 42 by virtue of knockout, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame , external in 1995.

Former president of the sanctioning body the WBO Paco Valcarcel confirmed the passing of his compatriot.

"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's best wins came against fellow greats Mexico's Carlos Zarate, two-weight champion Lupe Pintor, domestic rival Juan Laporte and American Rocky Lockridge.

Zarate was his finest win, stopping 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.

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Competing during a stacked era of talent at his weights, Gomez suffered heartbreak in two of his biggest fights when he was knocked out by Salvador Sanchez in 1981 and Azumah Nelson in 1984 - both at featherweight for the WBC world title.

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

"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. , external

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