On This Day 27 Years Ago, Bruiser Brody Was Murdered

27 years ago on July 17, 1988, Frank Goodish, best known as Bruiser Brody died from stab wounds inflicted the night before by Jose "Invader I" Gonzalez in the shower room before his match with Dan Spivey in Bayamón in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The story goes that Brody entered the shower stall and a few minutes later a scuffle ensued, followed by two groans, loud enough for the entire locker room to hear. Tony Atlas ran to the shower and saw Brody bent over and holding his stomach.

Atlas then looked up at González and saw him holding a knife. When the paramedics arrived, Atlas carried Brody downstairs to the waiting ambulance, as, due to Brody's enormous stature, paramedics were unable to lift him. Brody's last words (as told to Atlas) were, "Tell my little son I love him, and tell my wife I love her, too."

In January 1989, González was acquitted on all counts, citing self-defense.