A fan-favorite in his native Puerto Rico, on this day in 1977, Wilfredo Gomez made his plans clear to take over his second division in boxing with another blistering win.
Gomez, who competed from as low as super bantamweight to as high as super featherweight during his illustrious career in the ring, is viewed as one of the best fighters to ever emerge from La Isla del Encanto by fans and pundits the world over.
Considered as one of the best super bantamweight fighters ever, Gomez hit the spotlight in 2007 when Oscar De La Hoya briefly utilized his Puerto Rico gym to prepare for his title fight with Floyd Mayweather.
And fresh from a WBC super bantamweight title fight win that same year against Yum Dong-kyun, Gomez continued his residency of fights in his home country, this time as part of a memorable run atop the division.
Wilfredo Gomez stops Raul Tirado to begin super bantamweight dominance
Enjoying a stellar stay at super bantamweight spanning three years, Gomez quite staggeringly fought on 15 separate occasions during that time.
And kicking off his tremendous run in his native Puerto Rico, Gomez — like many opponents facing him in the past — laid waste to foe Raul Tirado to defend his WBC super bantamweight championship on this day in 1977.
At the true peak of his strategic powers, Gomez would send a hurtling right uppercut to the midsection of Tirado as he circled from the corner in the fifth round, sending him to a knee on the canvas — leaving him unable to continue.
Wilfredo Gomez’s dazzling run at super bantamweight
Turning in one of the most notable five-fight runs in championship history, following his stoppage of challenger Tirado, Gomez would finish each of his next opponents.
And in that particular run, Gomez set the world alight in his native country — and in Asia, too — chalking up some of the biggest victories against the super bantamweight elite.
Stopping the late Royal Kobayashi’s resurgence in its proverbial tracks, Gomez then tackled explosive striker Sagat Petchyindee in a hostile trip to Thailand.
After another knockout win over Leo Cruz, Gomez faced a huge threat in the form of Carlos Zarate.
Just a year prior to their clash, Zarate had been awarded The Ring Fighter of the Year award, and had esteemed success as WBC bantamweight kingpin.
But for Gomez, his most impressive victory of that particular run would come against Zarate — ending his impeccable 52-fight unbeaten run with a fifth-round TKO win — on home soil, no less.