Hector Camacho-Oscar De La Hoya
LIFE & DEATH OF THE “MACHO MAN”
San Francisco, CA– Looking back at the career of Hector Camacho, you can see that he fought of a lot of fringe contenders. Guys like Freddie Roach, Sal Lopez, Pat Lawlor, names such as that make up the majority of Hector’s prizefighting resume.
TABLOID TV AND THE RAGS ALL OVER HECTOR
With more critics then Carter has pills, Camacho although admired for his skill, was also a favorite of tabloid news outlets. When Camacho showed up the post fight press conference, Hector was in a zone. And I don’t mean a drug zone. The kid from Spanish Harlem had just went 12 rounds without taking a serious punch from Jose Luis Ramirez, who had previously knocked out Puerto Rican rival Edwin Rosario.
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN HAD SPLIT HOUSE
It was fitting that the fight take place in the Mecca of boxing Madison Square Garden and in front of a nearly all Puerto Rican crowd that was split down the middle. The younger Puerto Ricans, many of those born here in the United States were for the “Macho Man.” Old-school Puerto Ricans and those living on the island were backing Rosario.
HECTOR’S PEAK LIKE SAND THROUGH THE HOUR GLASS
Camacho was flying high at the time and I don’t know whether it was Cocaine, or him enjoying his celebrity status as one of the best boxers in the world. Rosario had been exposed by Ramirez, whom he turned his back on in a form of pugilistic resignation.
PERFECT FOIL FOR STREAKING CAMACHO?
The late Edwin Rosario was slow and predictable, the perfect foil for the “Harlem Heckler.” Combine the pro Camacho weigh-in crowd with Hector humiliations, and well, Rosario was steamed.
LEFT HOOK THAT CHANGED HECTOR FOREVER!
With the late great Arthur Mercante being the referee, the judges were Tony Castellano, Stuart Kirschenbaum and Luis Rivera as the Garden was packed with not an empty seat in the house. Camacho opens up boxing beautifully. Rosario with his hands held high style was looking for the opportunity to check Hector’s chin.
HECTOR EATS BIG LEFT HOOK
When he got his opportunity and landed a left hook, one that shook Hector all the way down to his boxing boots, Camacho was hurt for the very first time as a pro. Although Hector would never admit it, the real “Macho Man” was retired that night in NYC. Even though he won a Split Decision 12 in a close fight, Camacho would never outlive being shaken by Rosario.
CAMACHO CANDID YET BLIND ON ROSARIO FIGHT
When I talked with Hector about a month and a half after the fight and asked him whether or not his stock value had dropped due to his performance against Rosario, he laughed. “Look, I won the fight. Did Rosario throw a really good punch? Yes, but so what, this is boxing and even on vacation, although I don’t want it to happen too often, the “Macho Man” has to take a punch. If Rosario wants a rematch we can do it again and I don’t care if it is San Juan or the Garden, I will beat him again and again. (Ray) Mancini, (Livingstone) Bramble, Pernell Whitaker, line ’em up.”
HECTOR STARTS TO DECLINE
The title defense against then then 28-1 Rosario would be Hector’s second to last as he closed out the lightweight (135 lb.) phase of his boxing career with a UD 12 over Cornelius Boza-Edwards three months later. After Edwards it was jr. welterweight (140) clash with 1976 Olympic champ Howard Davis Jr. and winning that contest convincingly across the board. Three fights and two and a half years later, Camacho meets ex-champ Ray Mancini in Reno, NV.
HECTOR VS. “BOOM-BOOM” LIKE FLOYD-MANNY TODAY!
Had this fight occurred in 1985 or 1986, preferably before Mancini lost a pair of fights to Livingstone Bramble, this clash would have been one of the biggest sporting events of the 80’s. Instead, it lacked the “pop” that people expected and after 12 rounds, no surprise, Hector Camacho had both out worked and boxed Ray Mancini.
“MACHO MAN” BURNED OUT EARLY
Even though some of his biggest fights were still in front of him, Camacho at the age of 27 had already hit his peak. I noticed his slipping in the Reyes Cruz fight. Camacho’s promoter Mike Acri was well aware that Hector’s skills were beginning to elude him. But not Acri or anyone else who confronted Camacho with the truths, the hard drugs and the fast lane of life, Hector was reduced to a mere shell of what he was.
TOMORROW PART 4 ON THE LEONARD FIGHT & MORE!
With at least two more installments, one Friday, the other Monday here at RingTalk.com Cocaine will be discussed at length as we close out this series of articles. Look for part 4 tomorrow here at RingTalk.com
READ PART 1 & 2
If you’d like to read Part 1 http://ringtalk.com/the-hector-camacho-story-part-i
Part 2 Click for Part 2 Hector Camacho Story
Pedro Fernandez
Note: Mr. Fernandez is an award-winning writer, TV commentator, radio talk show host, former San Francisco Policeman and four-time Golden Gloves champion. Comments regarding this submission can be left under the advertising below.
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THE HECTOR CAMACHO STORY PART 3