Héctor Camacho

Héctor Camacho (born May 24, 1962), nicknamed "Macho Camacho", is a boxer. Carrier of Muhammad Ali's flamboyance, and personal, controversial style, Camacho became a three time world champion, yet he always lacked the support of boxing writers. Some claim that he was treated very unfairly by boxing critics and experts around the world.

Personal troubles and the start of decline

Camacho's personal life ran into trouble after the Rosario fight, being charged with possession of drugs. However, the charges were later lifted and Camacho could resume his boxing career.

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Camacho then retained his title vs former World Junior Lightweight champion Cornelius Boza Edwards in Miami on 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 version of the world Junior 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 time world champions.

Related Topics:
Cornelius Boza Edwards - Miami - Ray Boom Boom Mancini - WBO

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Camacho next met Vinny Paz, winning on points again, then challenger Tony Baltazar, from Phoenix. Baltazar was another points victim on an HBO televised bout, but then Camacho lost his undefeated record and world championship to the former world Lightweight champion Greg Haugen. However, as an unidentified substance was found on Haugen's urine, a rematch was ordered and Camacho regained the title, beating Haugen on a close but unanimous decision.

Related Topics:
Vinny Paz - Tony Baltazar - Phoenix - Greg Haugen

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This set the table for his showdown with Julio Cesar Chavez, in Las Vegas in the year 1992. Camacho, dressed as Captain America coming into the bout, lost a unanimous decision on HBO's Pay Per View leg that night.

Related Topics:
Las Vegas - 1992 - Captain America - Pay Per View

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Camacho has spent the last few years winning a handful of smaller organization titles, while getting a couple of shots at world titles. Among his notable wins since 1992 there are two over the legendary possible future hall of famer Roberto Duran, beaten on points twice, once in Atlantic City and another time in Denver. He lost title tries for the world welterweight championship vs Félix Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya, both by unanimous decisions. After each of those fights, he kept fighting and winning but seeing as title shots are now hard to come by for him, he seems to be currently semi-retired.

Related Topics:
Roberto Duran - Atlantic City - Denver - Félix Trinidad - Oscar De La Hoya

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Camacho hasn't officially announced his retirement, but nowadays, he is more visible as a trainer of his son, Junior Welterweight prospect Hector Machito Camacho Jr..

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On December 5 of 2003, and in preparation for a possible rematch with Chavez, Camacho recovered from a first round knockdown (the third against him in his career) to defeat Craig Houk by a knockout in round three.

Related Topics:
December 5 - 2003 - Craig Houk

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Camacho won, on July 4, 2004, a unanimous ten round decision over Clinton McNeil. He hopes for a world title try against Daniel Santos, the WBO's world Jr. Middleweight champion.

Related Topics:
July 4 - 2004 - Clinton McNeil - Daniel Santos

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On January 6, 2005, Camacho was arrested by police in Mississippi on charges of trying to burglarize an electronic goods store and carrying ecstasy on him.

Related Topics:
January 6 - 2005 - Police - Mississippi - Ecstasy

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Ismael Leandry, Camacho's manager, told El Vocero newspaper that Camacho had been offered a computer by a store representant the day before he got arrested. Camacho, who was in Mississippi for a fight, allegedly bought the computer and went into his hotel room, where he tried to hook it up. The computer, according to Leandry's allegations, did not work, and Camacho went early in the morning the day he was arrested to trade it for a new one. When he saw that the store was not opened, according to police records, he broke into the store and took a brand new one. Leandry said that Camacho left the one he had originally purchased from the vendor, grabbed a new one and left his room's telephone number in case someone from the store had a question. Camacho was excarcerated soon after the arrest.

Related Topics:
El Vocero - Newspaper - Hotel - Telephone

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This case is still pending, and the fight in Mississippi went on as scheduled.

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On July 9 he returned to the ring, in Tucson, Arizona, beating Rauul Munoz by decision after ten rounds. A small riot ensued, both inside and outside the ring http://www.fightnews.com/henry_06.htm|1 and old rival Chavez had to be escorted out of the arena where the fight took place by security. Police are investigating this case.

Related Topics:
July 9 - Tucson, Arizona - Rauul Munoz

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Camacho has a record of 79 wins, four losses and 2 draws, with 38 wins by knockout.

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Héctor Macho Camacho is possibly a future member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame.

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