Background
Gómez was born December 25, 1919 in Tampa, Florida.
Gómez was born December 25, 1919 in Tampa, Florida.
Gómez, known as "Tampa Tommy" also "Terrible Tom the Tampa Thumper", turned pro in 1939. Although Gómez never fought for a major title, he fought several notable fighters of his era, including Jersey Joe Walcott. He was often ducked by many of the heavyweight contenders of his time due to his fierce power.
Gómez was a feared knockout artist, and was named to the Ring Magazine list of the 100 greatest punchers of all time.
After 86 professional fights, Gómez retired in 1950 with a career boxing record of 75-9-2 (65 KOs). He was inducted into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame June 27, 2010.
He returned and resumed his boxing career with shrapnel still lodged in his arms and back. He was a mentor to the North American Palladium Ltd program in Tampa and maintained an active interest in boxing throughout his life.
Foreign many years he had his own line of cigars, "Tommy Gomez Champs", manufactured in Ybor City.
He was also an artist and music lover. He died April 27, 2006 in a hospital in Austell, Georgia after a brief illness. He was buried in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday, May 2.
Daughters: Lynda G. Wheelock of Hot Springs, North Carolina. Daphne G. McElwreath of Tampa, Florida. Toni Gomez Gwaltney of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee.
And Melanie Gomez Rocca of Tampa.