Hector “Macho” Camacho
UP CLOSE & MACHO PART 2
San Francisco, CA– When it was announced in 2012 that the king of flamboyance Hector Camacho had been taken off Life Support and died after suffering a pair of heart attacks, thoughts of “Macho Man-Mania” raced through my mind. In case you didn’t know the original one and only “Macho Man” Hector Camacho died after being shot twice in the face in his hometown Bayamon, Puerto Rico in November 2012.
FACE SHOOTING CLUE IN ITSELF?
Having studied criminal science both as a Policeman and Investigator, getting shot in the face once can be accident. Twice, I would think not, unless of course the positioning was just right (or an automatic weapon was used) as Camacho sat shotgun (no pun intended) in a car of which the driver/owner (and Cocaine dealer) was also killed.
HECTOR WAS JUST “COLLATERAL DAMAGE”
Hector Camacho Jr. blamed it on something like “Random Killings & Violence In Puerto Rico.” Well, again speaking from a law enforcement perch, these murders were not an act of Random Violence. It was established later that Hector “was in the wrong place, at the wrong time” period. The shooter wanted the dealer/driver.
CAMACHO, MYSELF & RALPH KRAMDEN?
One of the most recognizable mugs in Puerto Rico, I was of the opinion that the shooter knew Camacho who, I know this is a stretch, but may have been mouthing off. For one thing Camacho, myself and “The Honeymooners” Ralph Kramden all have in common is a “BIG MOUTH.”
BIG MOUTH AND ON COLOMBIAN DUST
If you were to add Cocaine to the equation, the result might be verbal Diarrhea. Hector can be “calm and mellow” while buzzed, other times he was “off” the chain per se. This best describes Hector Camacho. Serene in one instance, before going apoplectic in the blink of an eye.
USA TUESDAY NIGHT FIGHTS 1988
In this, “The Hector Camacho Story Part II.” Let’s go back to an evening in June 1988 where Hector was paired with Dominican Reyes Cruz (37-2) in a jr. welterweight (140 lbs.) contest, this after breaking the clutches of promoter Don King by dropping his WBC 135 lb. (lightweight) belt.
DON NEVER ERRED LIKE THAT AGAIN
This was a rare instance in which the fighter, while representing himself for the most part, got the better of Don King.
USA CABLE “TUESDAY NIGHT FIGHTS”
This edition of USA Tuesday Night Fights featuring an unbeaten former two-division champion in Camacho was a step up for a network that had Samoan heavyweight Jimmy Thunder and Eric Griffin (who?) on so often, you wondered whose dirty pictures at USA Cable were in the hands of promoter Art Pelullu .
USA NETWORKS NUMBERS FOR BOXING
While talking with ex-USA Cable boxing guy Brad Jacobs a few years ago at a WBO Convention in Florida, Jacobs said the USA Tuesday Night Fights would draw on the average 1.5 million viewers.
DOMINICAN WAS DANDY AT TIMES
Reyes was bigger, both in height and body mass than Camacho who came into the ring wearing skirt like trunks something close to the color turquoise. The trunks came into play as Hector was dropped/pushed/shoved to the canvas and his britches were near bare as he lay horizontal for an instance.
HECTOR GOT CALL DESERVED OR NOT
Although Camacho was still unbeaten (32-0) with the win here, albeit a tad controversially, and with razor close scores of 96-95 (5-4-1 in rounds) twice & 97-95 (6-4-1).
POST FIGHT CAMACHO OBLIVIOUS TO SLIDE
We went to a party late that night in which Camacho was feted. Talking with him about the fight, he didn’t give a spit on the fight or it’s closeness, just as long as he won. He teased about being pushed and not knocked down. In short, Hector Camacho couldn’t see the writing on the wall as he was slipping as a fighter and yet didn’t know it.
WORKED A ROOM BETTER THAN……..ALI?
Hector was ultra-personal going around the room introducing himself to people he didn’t know and or recognize. The most down to earth Camacho I had ever been around, and yes it appeared he was cruising on Colombian Dust.
PHONED MY EX-WIFE ONCE DID HECTOR!
After my then soon to be ex-wife Olga and I had a telephone exchange that was contrite, not polite, Camacho happened to call that AM and said he would call the wife and straighten things out (as if that was ever a possibility). But Hector was her favorite fighter and he did call the former Olga Orepeza (who was star struck) and invited us both to his next fight.
“MACHO TIME” WAS COOL TIMES!
That never happened, but Hector did ask me the next time I saw him in Las Vegas, if she was present. As likable a guy as there can be, Hector had his demons but that didn’t prevent Hector from being the benevolent one with people.
PART 3 TOMORROW RETIRING “SUGAR RAY”
Look for part 3 tomorrow here at RingTalk.com If you’d like to read Part 1 http://ringtalk.com/the-hector-camacho-story-part-i
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 2