Héctor Camacho
Encyclopedia
Héctor Camacho nicknamed "Macho Camacho", is a Puerto Rican
professional boxer
. His son, Héctor Camacho Jr.
, is also a boxer.
, but his family moved to Spanish Harlem
when he was a child. He ran into trouble there as a teen, getting into fights and landing in jail at 15. He also learned boxing and karate
as a teenager, and since he demonstrated talent as a boxer, he chose that sport as a career. He is the first fighter to win in seven different divisions.
Camacho won three New York Golden Gloves Championships. Camacho won the 1978 112 lb Sub-Novice Championship, 1979 118 lb Open Championship and 1980 119 lb Open Championship. In 1979 Camacho defeated Paul DeVorce of the Yonkers Police Athletic League in the finals to win the title, and in 1980 Camacho defeated Tyrone Jackson in the finals to win the Championship. Camacho trained at the LaSombra Sporting Club in New York.
and Eusebio Pedroza
. However, Sanchez died when Camacho was still coming up in the ranks.
In the Junior Lightweight division, he defeated top contenders Irleis Cubanito Perez, Melvin Paul, John Montes and Refugio Rojas (Both Montes and Rojas lasted one round, and Rojas would later last seven in a world title challenge of Julio César Chávez
for Chavez's world Jr. Lightweight championship).
refused to go to Puerto Rico
to defend his title against Camacho, the WBC
declared the world championship vacant, and the man Chacon had taken the title from, Rafael Limón
, fought Camacho for the vacant title. It was the first time Camacho was in a ring with a former world champion, and he didn't show any lack of experience, scoring knockdowns on Limón in the first and third rounds before the referee stopped the fight in the fifth round.
His first defense also came in San Juan
where he met fellow Puerto Rican
Rafael Solis
, whose family included former world bantamweight champion Julian Solís
. Camacho got tested in this fight for the first time, and was shaken in round three by a Solis uppercut, but he flattened Solis with a right to the chin in round five, knocking him out to retain the title.
, Camacho beat the Mexican
defending world champion, José Luis Ramírez
in Las Vegas
to win the world Lightweight championship. Camacho dropped Ramirez in round three and went on to win the fight by a unanimous twelve round decision.
The two other reigning world champions in his division at that time, Livingstone Bramble
and Jimmy Paul
, were reluctant to unify the crown with Camacho. Instead, he beat Freddie Roach before his next fight of importance came along, ten months after beating Ramirez.
He met Edwin Rosario
at Madison Square Garden
in New York
, once again on HBO. In a famous fight, Camacho dominated rounds one to four, but had to hang on for dear life in rounds five, six and seven when he felt Rosario's power. He came back to take rounds eight and nine, but Rosario came back taking the last three rounds. It was a close fight but Camacho won the title by split decision. After this fight, Camacho's style changed into a defensive style that seemed more intent on avoiding punishment than winning a fight.
Camacho then retained his title vs former world junior lightweight champion Cornelius Boza Edwards
in Miami in a unanimous decision before going up in weight again. After a few fights there, he met former world lightweight champion Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini
, who had a record of 29-3 with 23 knockouts coming into this fight, for the vacant WBO Light Welterweight title. Camacho was the fresher of the two and ended up winning a unanimous twelve round decision, joining that exclusive group of world champion boxers who have become three-weight world champions.
Camacho next met Vinny Pazienza, winning on points again. His next challenger was Tony Baltazar
, from Phoenix
. Baltazar was another points victim on an HBO televised bout. Camacho saw his undefeated streak come to an end and lost his world championship to the former world Lightweight champion Greg Haugen
. This fight would have ended in a draw if it were not for the fact that the referee deducted one point from Camacho for refusing to touch gloves with Haugen at the start of the 12th round. After the fight, an unidentified substance was found in Haugen's urine, and a rematch was ordered. Camacho regained the title, beating Haugen in a close split decision.
In 1992 Camacho met the legendary Mexican Julio César Chávez
for a showdown with the undefeated 81-0 champion. Camacho entered the Las Vegas ring dressed in an outfit based on the Puerto Rican flag for a fight televised by Showtime's Pay Per View. During the bout Camacho was criticized for his retreating tactics as Chávez kept pushing the fight and constantly harassed him with hard punches to the body. The highly anticipated bout ended with a victory by unanimous decision for Chávez.
Among Camacho's notable bouts since 1992 were two victories (by points) over Roberto Durán
, (one in Atlantic City, the other in Denver
). In 1997, he knocked out Sugar Ray Leonard
in 5 rounds. This loss sent the forty-one year-old Leonard into permanent retirement, putting an end to his third comeback attempt six years after a loss to Terry Norris
in 1991. Camacho fought for the World Welterweight Championship against Félix Trinidad
(in 1994) and Oscar De La Hoya
(in 1997), losing both matches by unanimous decision.
On December 5, 2003, Camacho recovered from a first round knockdown (the third against him in his career) to defeat Craig Houk by knockout in round three.
Camacho won, on July 4, 2004, a unanimous ten round decision over Clinton McNeil.
On January 6, 2005, Camacho was arrested by police
in Mississippi
on charges of trying to burgle an electronic goods store and carrying ecstasy on him.
On July 9 he returned to the ring, in Tucson, Arizona
, beating Raul Muñoz by decision after ten rounds. A small riot ensued, both inside and outside the ring and old rival, Julio Cesar Chavez
, had to be escorted out of the arena where the fight took place by security. Police are investigating this case.
Camacho returned to boxing on July 18, 2008, competing against Perry Ballard for the World Boxing Empire
's Middleweight championship. The fight lasted seven rounds. Camacho won when Ballard's corner threw the towel. Before this fight, Camacho was trained by Angelo Dundee
.
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http://ringsidereport.com/rsr/news.php?readmore=1994. In 2010, Camacho participated ¡Mira Quien Baila
! a reality show airing on Univision
in the United States. The show is the American/Spanish-Speaking version of Dancing with the Stars
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
professional boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. His son, Héctor Camacho Jr.
Héctor Camacho Jr.
Hector Camacho Jr. is a professional boxer. He is the son of legendary three time world champion Hector Macho Camacho.-Boxing career:...
, is also a boxer.
Early life and amateur career
Camacho was born in Bayamon, Puerto RicoBayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
, but his family moved to Spanish Harlem
Spanish Harlem
East Harlem, also known as Spanish Harlem and El Barrio, is a section of Harlem in the northeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. East Harlem is one of the largest predominantly Latino communities in New York City. It includes the area formerly known as Italian Harlem, in which...
when he was a child. He ran into trouble there as a teen, getting into fights and landing in jail at 15. He also learned boxing and karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
as a teenager, and since he demonstrated talent as a boxer, he chose that sport as a career. He is the first fighter to win in seven different divisions.
Camacho won three New York Golden Gloves Championships. Camacho won the 1978 112 lb Sub-Novice Championship, 1979 118 lb Open Championship and 1980 119 lb Open Championship. In 1979 Camacho defeated Paul DeVorce of the Yonkers Police Athletic League in the finals to win the title, and in 1980 Camacho defeated Tyrone Jackson in the finals to win the Championship. Camacho trained at the LaSombra Sporting Club in New York.
Professional career
After a stellar amateur career, Camacho began a quick rise through the professional rankings, first in the Featherweight and then in the Junior Lightweight division. He was so confident that he claimed he could beat World featherweight champions Salvador SánchezSalvador Sánchez
Salvador Sánchez Narváez was a Mexican boxer born in the town of Santiago Tianguistenco, Estado de México. Many of his contemporaries as well as boxing writers believe that, had it not been for his premature death, Sanchez could have gone on to become the greatest Featherweight boxer of all time...
and Eusebio Pedroza
Eusebio Pedroza
Eusebio Pedroza is a native of Panama who holds two records in boxing: His 19 defenses as world featherweight champion are a record for that division, and his seven years as world champion non-stop are a division record too...
. However, Sanchez died when Camacho was still coming up in the ranks.
In the Junior Lightweight division, he defeated top contenders Irleis Cubanito Perez, Melvin Paul, John Montes and Refugio Rojas (Both Montes and Rojas lasted one round, and Rojas would later last seven in a world title challenge of Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
for Chavez's world Jr. Lightweight championship).
Junior Lightweight division
When World Junior Lightweight champion Bobby ChacónBobby Chacon
Bobby Chacon is an American former, two-time, world boxing champion.-Career:Chacon turned professional in 1972 and won his first 19 fights, including a win against former champion Jesus Castillo...
refused to go to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
to defend his title against Camacho, the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
declared the world championship vacant, and the man Chacon had taken the title from, Rafael Limón
Rafael Limon
Rafael Limón is a Mexican former boxer who was a world champion in the Super Featherweight /Jr. Lightweight division twice.He is better known as Bazooka Limón. Limón shares his nickname, Bazooka, with at least two other known world boxing champions: Puerto Rico's Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gómez and...
, fought Camacho for the vacant title. It was the first time Camacho was in a ring with a former world champion, and he didn't show any lack of experience, scoring knockdowns on Limón in the first and third rounds before the referee stopped the fight in the fifth round.
His first defense also came in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
where he met fellow Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
Rafael Solis
Rafael Solis (boxer)
Rafael Solis is a former light middleweight boxer from Puerto Rico. He was raised in the barrio of Camito...
, whose family included former world bantamweight champion Julian Solís
Julian Solis
Julian Solís is a former boxer from Puerto Rico. He was born in the San Juan area of Río Piedras, but because of the closeness of his birthplace to Caguas, he often trained at the Bairoa Gym in Caguas...
. Camacho got tested in this fight for the first time, and was shaken in round three by a Solis uppercut, but he flattened Solis with a right to the chin in round five, knocking him out to retain the title.
Lightweight division
Next came a move to lightweighthe won the United States Boxing Association title with a twelve round decision of Roque Montoya. His next fight made him a two time world champion. Fought on Home Box OfficeHome Box Office
HBO, short for Home Box Office, is an American premium cable television network, owned by Time Warner. , HBO's programming reaches 28.2 million subscribers in the United States, making it the second largest premium network in America . In addition to its U.S...
, Camacho beat the Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
defending world champion, José Luis Ramírez
José Luis Ramírez
José Luis Ramírez is a retired Mexican boxer. He was a two-time World Lightweight Champion.-Career:A native of Huatabampo, Sonora and a resident of Culiacán, Ramírez made his professional debut on March 25, 1973 at the age of 15. He climbed slowly but steadily on boxing's rankings...
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
to win the world Lightweight championship. Camacho dropped Ramirez in round three and went on to win the fight by a unanimous twelve round decision.
The two other reigning world champions in his division at that time, Livingstone Bramble
Livingstone Bramble
Ras-I Alujah Bramble is a boxer. However, Bramble was raised on Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. He became the first world champion from Saint Kitts and Nevis. As of 2005, Bramble is still active in professional boxing...
and Jimmy Paul
Jimmy Paul
Jimmy Paul was an American boxer in the lightweight division. On April 6, 1985 he beat Harry Arroyo to become the IBF Lightweight Champion. Paul successfully defended the title four times. On December 6, 1986 Paul lost the title to Greg Haugen. Paul retired in 1999 with a professional record of...
, were reluctant to unify the crown with Camacho. Instead, he beat Freddie Roach before his next fight of importance came along, ten months after beating Ramirez.
He met Edwin Rosario
Edwin Rosario
Edwin "El Chapo" Rosario was a Puerto Rican boxer. He was the WBC world lightweight champion from 1983–84 and the WBA world champion in 1986–87 and again in 1989–90...
at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, once again on HBO. In a famous fight, Camacho dominated rounds one to four, but had to hang on for dear life in rounds five, six and seven when he felt Rosario's power. He came back to take rounds eight and nine, but Rosario came back taking the last three rounds. It was a close fight but Camacho won the title by split decision. After this fight, Camacho's style changed into a defensive style that seemed more intent on avoiding punishment than winning a fight.
Camacho then retained his title vs former world junior lightweight champion Cornelius Boza Edwards
Cornelius Boza Edwards
Cornelius Boza Edwards was a Ugandan boxer in the Light Welterweight division and the former WBC Super Featherweight Champion. Edwards emigrated from Uganda to England, where he lived for a long period of time...
in Miami in a unanimous decision before going up in weight again. After a few fights there, he met former world lightweight champion Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini
Ray Mancini
Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini is a retired Italian-American boxer. He held the World Boxing Association lightweight championship from 1982 to 1984. Mancini inherited his distinctive nickname from his father, veteran boxer Lenny "Boom Boom" Mancini, who laid the foundation for his son's career...
, who had a record of 29-3 with 23 knockouts coming into this fight, for the vacant WBO Light Welterweight title. Camacho was the fresher of the two and ended up winning a unanimous twelve round decision, joining that exclusive group of world champion boxers who have become three-weight world champions.
Camacho next met Vinny Pazienza, winning on points again. His next challenger was Tony Baltazar
Tony Baltazar
Antonio Baltazar is a former Mexican-American boxer. He competed in the Lightweight division. After an amateur career where he won various titles, he turned professional in the late 1970s, and has boxed the likes of Robin Blake, former world champion Roger Mayweather, Hector Macho Camacho and...
, from Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. Baltazar was another points victim on an HBO televised bout. Camacho saw his undefeated streak come to an end and lost his world championship to the former world Lightweight champion Greg Haugen
Greg Haugen
Greg Lee Haugen is a retired American boxer. Haugen was champion at both the Lightweight and Light-welterweight classes.Haugen turned pro in 1982 and won his first 17 fights before challenging for a world title...
. This fight would have ended in a draw if it were not for the fact that the referee deducted one point from Camacho for refusing to touch gloves with Haugen at the start of the 12th round. After the fight, an unidentified substance was found in Haugen's urine, and a rematch was ordered. Camacho regained the title, beating Haugen in a close split decision.
In 1992 Camacho met the legendary Mexican Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
for a showdown with the undefeated 81-0 champion. Camacho entered the Las Vegas ring dressed in an outfit based on the Puerto Rican flag for a fight televised by Showtime's Pay Per View. During the bout Camacho was criticized for his retreating tactics as Chávez kept pushing the fight and constantly harassed him with hard punches to the body. The highly anticipated bout ended with a victory by unanimous decision for Chávez.
Among Camacho's notable bouts since 1992 were two victories (by points) over Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán Samaniego is a retired professional boxer from Panama, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. A versatile brawler in the ring, he was nicknamed "Manos de Piedra" during his career....
, (one in Atlantic City, the other in Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
). In 1997, he knocked out Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
in 5 rounds. This loss sent the forty-one year-old Leonard into permanent retirement, putting an end to his third comeback attempt six years after a loss to Terry Norris
Terry Norris
Terry Wayne Norris is a retired American boxer and a three-time world champion in the light middleweight division. Originally from Lubbock, Texas, he fought out of San Diego.-Early boxing career:...
in 1991. Camacho fought for the World Welterweight Championship against Félix Trinidad
Félix Trinidad
Félix 'Tito' Trinidad, Jr. is a Puerto Rican professional boxer, considered one of the best in Puerto Rico's history. After winning five National Amateur Championships in Puerto Rico, he debuted as a professional when he was 17. He won his first world championship when he defeated Maurice Blocker...
(in 1994) and Oscar De La Hoya
Oscar de la Hoya
Oscar De La Hoya is a retired American boxer of Mexican descent. Nicknamed "The Golden Boy", De La Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games shortly after graduating from Garfield High School. De La Hoya comes from a boxing family. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother...
(in 1997), losing both matches by unanimous decision.
On December 5, 2003, Camacho recovered from a first round knockdown (the third against him in his career) to defeat Craig Houk by knockout in round three.
Camacho won, on July 4, 2004, a unanimous ten round decision over Clinton McNeil.
On January 6, 2005, Camacho was arrested by police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
on charges of trying to burgle an electronic goods store and carrying ecstasy on him.
On July 9 he returned to the ring, in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, beating Raul Muñoz by decision after ten rounds. A small riot ensued, both inside and outside the ring and old rival, Julio Cesar Chavez
Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
, had to be escorted out of the arena where the fight took place by security. Police are investigating this case.
Camacho returned to boxing on July 18, 2008, competing against Perry Ballard for the World Boxing Empire
World Boxing Empire
The World Boxing Empire is a boxing sanctioning body founded in 2001, then under the name World Boxing Syndicate . Its inaugural title fight took place in Annandale, Virginia, on March 9, 2002, between Mitch Green and Danny Wofford...
's Middleweight championship. The fight lasted seven rounds. Camacho won when Ballard's corner threw the towel. Before this fight, Camacho was trained by Angelo Dundee
Angelo Dundee
Angelo Dundee is an American boxing cornerman. He is best known for his work with Muhammad Ali , and has worked with 15 world boxing champions, including Sugar Ray Leonard, José Nápoles, George Foreman, Jimmy Ellis, Carmen Basilio, Luis Rodriguez and Willie Pastrano.-Professional career:Born in...
.
Major professional championships
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Personal Life
On an interview published on the website, Ringsidereport.com with Dan Hernandez, Camacho proclaimed himself a newborn ChristianChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
http://ringsidereport.com/rsr/news.php?readmore=1994. In 2010, Camacho participated ¡Mira Quien Baila
Mira Quien Baila (U.S.)
¡Mira Quien Baila! is a reality show airing on Univision in the United States. The show is the American/Spanish language version of the show from Spain's TVE TV Espanola's show of the same name and a spin-off of Come Dancing in England, a series that dated back to 1949.During this first season of...
! a reality show airing on Univision
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
in the United States. The show is the American/Spanish-Speaking version of Dancing with the Stars
See also
- Hector Camacho versus Edwin RosarioHector Camacho versus Edwin RosarioThe Héctor Camacho versus Edwin Rosario fight took place on June 13, 1986, at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.- Background :Televised in the United States by HBO Boxing and in Puerto Rico by WAPA-TV , the fight garnered wide media attention, specially in Puerto Rico: It was the fourth...
- List of boxing triple champions
- List of boxing quadruple champions
- List of boxing quintuple champions
- List of boxing sextuple champions
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of lightweight boxing champions
- List of Puerto Rican boxing world champions
- List of WBC world champions
- Notable boxing familiesNotable boxing familiesThis is a list of boxing families with two or more notable boxers. Many families have had multiple members become famous in the sport of boxing with some having had multiple world champions.-Argentina:The Corros:*Hugo, world Middleweight champion...