Along with boxers like Mohammed Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler, he’s
ranked as one of the greatest fighters of all times. He holds nine world titles, and
with a record of 88-4-1, according to the Rochester Boxing Hall of Fame, has yet to
ever be knocked out in the ring. While he hasn’t spent much time in the public eye
lately, Camacho claims he has never really been retired. Once he won five or six
world titles, he had far surpassed his goals.
On December 3rd, Camacho will take on Chris Walsh at the Mississippi Gulf Coast
Coliseum for yet another championship belt. He may be getting older but his career
is certainly not dead. In normal circumstances, a boxer would have to fight a
ranked top-10 seat just to get to this championship but due to Camacho’s legacy,
they sanctioned him automatically. As a member of the Rochester Boxing Hall of
Fame, he recently received the 2004 Special Courage Award.
“Now I want the tenth title. I want to top the record and make sure that no one will
ever be able to break it. Ten world titles in ten world-class divisions,” he said. “At
the age of 42, I’m still fighting like a young boy. I still fight younger and faster than
a lot of the young guys I see out there.Which I still beat!”
Héctor Luis Camacho, whose “macho” nickname is simply derived from Camacho, is
one of the most flamboyant characters the boxing world has ever seen. During the
80s and 90s, his antics, costumes and pre-bout hype had taken boxing from a
simple spectator sport to a whole new level of entertainment. Camacho, like
Mohammed Ali, Roy Jones, Jr. and Jorge Paez, is more than just an athlete, he’s an
entertainer. When he fought Julio César Chávez in Las Vegas in 1992, he paraded
his way into the bout dressed as Captain America. A huge necklace with a “macho”
pendant often dangles from his neck and when he wants, he puts on a real mean
glance, something his manager refers to as his “macho face”. Everyone knows that
when Héctor Camacho steps in the ring, it’s “macho time”.
“I’m still here. I just go all out,” he said. “I want to come out explosive in this fight.
I’m the same wild guy and I haven’t changed. Of course, we get wiser and better.”
Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico in 1962, Camacho and his family moved to the east
side of Manhattan in 1967. Spanish Harlem was, and still is, a place where young
boys could easily find trouble. In such an environment, wits and courage are just as
important as an education. Around the age of eight, Camacho became a Bruce Lee
fanatic, heavily interested in fighting styles and weapons of the martial arts. While
he would occasionally have to use his skills on the streets, he honed it into
legitimate fights as well. Earning his first black belt by the age of 10, he would
eventually go on to become a second-degree black belt in American Go-Ju.
“I always was a fighting machine,” he added. “I was on the streets basically doing
nothing and now people know who I am, admire me for what I am. It’s given me
the courage to go after ten world titles.”
He fell into boxing at a local school around the age of 11 and eventually went on to
become a three-time Golden Glove Champion, securing the World Champion- ship
at age 17 and making him the second youngest World Champion in boxing history.
After an impeccable amateur career, he quickly moved up the professional ranks in
the Featherweight and Junior Lightweight divisions.
In 1983, when World Junior Light-weight champion Bobby Chacón refused to travel
to Puerto Rico to defend the title against Camacho, Rafael “Bazooka” Limón stepped
in. Despite a lack of experience and the fact that he was boxing against a world
champion for the first time, Macho annihilated Limón. He dropped him in rounds one
and three and by round five, the referee put a stop to the fight. A champion was
born and Camacho would go undefeated for more than 11 years, eventually beating
formidable opponents such as Ray “Boom-Boom” Mancini, “Sugar” Ray Leonard and
Roberto Durán. The Macho Man lost a few fights along the way, most notably to
Oscar de la Hoya, but he has yet to be knocked out.
“But stuff happens. Look at Sugar Ray Leonard. He never got knocked out until I
knocked him out. I just keep my eyes open and fight the fight,” he added.
In an attempt to take boxing to a new level, Camacho is now using his fists for not
just cash but for a cause. Proceeds from his upcoming productions and fights will go
to foundations for cancer and environmental research, animal rights organizations
and the boxing retirement federation. The idea is to bring social awareness to
fighters and possibly draw new fans to the sport.
“Many people come into fighting with an attitude and so much of that attitude keeps
them down. We’re trying to show younger fighters that there’s a lot more to life,”
said Camacho’s manager and trainer Gary DiLegge.
Héctor “Machito” Camacho, Jr., 26, the eldest of Macho’s four children is quickly
following in the footsteps of his father. Machito turned pro in the mid-90s and has
learned much of what he knows from the Macho man himself. At the age of eight,
he caught the public eye when he mock-sparred with his father before the fight
against Edwin Rosario.
“He learned a lot from me in and out of the ring.He learned the good and the bad
and he’s putting the good things to use,” Macho said.
Like most fighters, Camacho has an overwhelming sense of pride that is hard to
keep at bay. Next to extensive training, courage and heart, a big ego can be a
valuable tool to a boxer. From his flashy dress and sharp looks to his ringside
flamboyance and burning desire to be the best, Camacho lights up the room with
confidence and pride.
“I was always proud. How can you not be proud of yourself? I treat myself well and
I expect people to treat me well. As I get older, I refuse to have people disrespect
me and talk me down,” he added.
Boxing fans and boxers themselves know very well the fury, drive and
determination of Latino fighters. From the amateurs like those who fight at the Main
Event in Metairie to world-class champions such as Oscar de la Hoya and Julio
César Chávez, it seems as if Puerto Rican and Mexican boxers (who are often
rivals) don’t even understand the concept of quitting.
“Most of us (Puerto Ricans) are a little crazy,” Camacho said. “We do come from a
hot island. We’re all show offs and have that attitude.”
Camacho’s boxing style hasn’t changed very much since his heyday when he was
known for his lightning-quick speed and his barrage of punches. He credits his
success to a martial arts mentality and his speed, power and agility but admits that
he’s learned a lot after more than 20 years in the ring.
“Before, I used to throw all my punches in locomotion.Now, I’m more of a
masterful, thinking, counter-puncher,” he said.
But big ego doesn’t always equal big attitude. Camacho’s sincerity and
thoughtfulness shines through to those who meet him and in his native Puerto Rico,
he is revered as a compassionate humanitarian. He remains a gypsy at heart,
frequently traveling between the United States and Puerto Rico but for the
meantime, he’s fighting and training out of Biloxi, Mississippi.
Whether he takes his tenth title or not, Camacho’s body can only take the rigorous
training and abuse that a boxer suffers for so long. He’s already established himself
as a motivational speaker and plans to play an important part in his son’s career
but would eventually like to delve into acting.
After all, Camacho already considers himself an actor in the ring.
“When I’m 50, I’m not going to be able to do this anymore, I’ve got to do it while I
can. One last hurrah,” he said.
