Wilfredo Gomez Rivera (born 29 October, 1956).
Hoping
to get a rematch with Sanchez, Gomez went back to the super bantamweight
division, where he got a dispence from the WBC to make tow preparation
bouts before defending his title again. He did so and won two non-title
bouts, both by knockout in the 2nd round, one over Jose Luis Soto
who was a stablemate of Julio Cesar Chavez back in Culiacan, Mexico.
Wins over future world champ Juan ‘Kid’ Meza, knocked out in six in
Atlantic City, and Juan Antonio Lopez, knocked out in ten as part
of the Larry Holmes vs Gerry Cooney undercard followed. But all chances
of a rematch with Sanchez were dashed when Sanchez died in a car crash
outside Mexico City the morning of August 12, 1982. Boxing fans across
Latin America mourned the tragedy. Gomez, who was training to defend
against Mexican Roberto Rubaldino only five days later, took a quick
trip to Mexico to offer Sanchez flowers and then returned to Puerto
Rico the same afternoon. He beat Rubaldino by knockout in 8 rounds
and made one more title defense against the Mexican bantamweight world
champ Lupe Pintor in the Carnival of Champions in New Orleans, winning
by knockout in 14 rounds. The Pintor contest was the only time a Gomez
fight was showcased on HBO, which at the time exclusively showcased
the largest boxing fights, much like the Pay Per View system does
currently.
By the time he was done with the Junior Featherweights,
Gomez had established a division record of 17 defenses, and a world
record of most defenses in a row by knockout, all his defenses finishing
before the established distance limit.
Featherweight division
He
then re-tried winning the Featherweight title and this time, he achieved
his dream, winning his second world title by dethroning Juan Laporte,
a fellow Puerto Rican who had won the title left vacant after Sanchez
died. He beat Laporte by a 12 round unanimous decision. This time,
however, it did not last that long. Ahead on all scorecards, Gomez
was the victim of a rally by Azumah Nelson of Ghana who knocked him
out in 11 rounds in San Juan, December 8, 1984.
Gomez wanted
either a rematch with Nelson or a shot at WBA and Lineal Junior Lightweight
world champion Rocky Lockridge of New Jersey, whichever came first.
Lockridge was first to offer Gomez a try, and the 2 battled a closely
scored 15 round bout in San Juan, with Gomez being given a unanimous
15 round decision, which many experts have said Lockridge deserved,
but also which in the opinion of most who saw it live, was a justified
decision.
This reign also came to an end quick, Gomez being
handed his 3rd loss at ht hands of young Alfredo Layne by knockout
in 9 rounds. Layne lost the title in his own first defense to south
Africa’s Brian Mitchell, and it became obvious Gomez’s best years
had gone by, so he retired after this fight.
Last fights and
retirement