WBA Hails Wilfredo Gómez as Greatest Puerto Rican Boxer

A rest in peace message was issued for Wilfredo Gómez, also known as “Niño de Las Monjas.” The WBA considers Gómez the greatest Puerto Rican boxer of all time, surpassing the records of Carlos Ortiz, Esteban de Jesús, Alfredo Escalera, Félix “Tito” Trinidad, Wilfred Benítez, Héctor “Macho” Camacho, Miguel Cotto, Edwin Rosario, and Iván Calderón.

The WBA also stated that Gómez’s numbers at super bantamweight compare favorably with those of Naoya Inoue, strengthening the case for him as the greatest 122-pound fighter in history. Alí Ramos said, “His name is Wilfredo Gómez, and he will become a world champion.”

Gómez won the WBC super bantamweight world title by knocking out South Korea’s Dong Kyun Yum in the 12th round in San Juan. He recorded 17 successful defenses of the crown, all ending inside the distance.

His only professional defeat came at featherweight against Salvador Sánchez. Sánchez defeated Gómez in the eighth round after catching him with a left hook that sent him to the canvas.

Gómez retained his 122-pound title after the loss and defended it successfully four more times. His final defense of the 122-pound title was a 14th-round knockout of Lupe Pintor.

When Gómez vacated the title, his record stood at 38 wins, one loss and one draw, with all 38 victories coming by knockout.

Gómez knocked out Cuba’s Luis Jorge Romero in the bantamweight final at the 1974 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Havana at age 17.

Gómez drew with Jacinto Fuentes in his professional debut in Panama on November 16, 1974.

Which fighter on the WBA’s list of Puerto Rican greats do you rank highest, and why?