By Pedro Fernandez

THE METEORIC RISE OF HECTOR CAMACHO

 

When Hector Camacho made headlines last week in Mississippi for allegedly breaking into-and then stealing items from a store, I wasn’t surprised as much as I was bothered.  Training for a January 21st fight in Biloxi, Miss, the now 42-year old product of Spanish Harlem was also in possession of ten tablets of the illegal street drug Ecstasy.  And while some of you have got a problem with his using Dope, I do not as a lot of people get high.  But I must also say that the majority of folks who dabble do not commit crimes like breaking and entering followed by theft.

 

TRACKING THE “HARLEM HECKLER” FROM THE GLOVES ON!

 

The first time I remember hearing about Camacho was after the man I dubbed, “The Harlem Heckler” won the New York Golden Gloves.  Flashy, articulate, and witty, the fighter who started as a jr. lightweight before moving to 135 lbs., where he would peak soon thereafter, Hector was the guy to watch!  Without the aid or backing of Network TV, Hector burst on the scene with a Decision win in four rounds over David Brown some 24 years and three months ago!  I’m almost positive that the legendary scribe Malcolm “Flash” Gordon, that he had raved, touted, and overly hyped the professional debut of Camacho, which was something Flash just didn’t do!

 

BEING HAILED AS THE “NEXT MUHAMMAD ALI!”

 

But given the circumstances, in this young Hector Camacho you may have very well been looking at the fighter who could take Muhammad Ali’s position on the dais.  And get this, Hector wasn’t even 18 years old yet!  After racking up wins over nondescript foes and moving his slate to 11-0 with six KO’s, Camacho faced his first test in a tough Native American named Blain Dickson.  Coming into this 12-round NABF title affair, Camacho had just 12 months of professional experience under his belt.  After thirty-six minutes of one-sidedness, Camacho was the NABF champ.

 

1982 WAS A VERY”MACHO” YEAR FOR SURE!

 

After some more “Work Fights,” the now 15-0, the Billy Giles’ managed fighter began a roll in late 1982 that convinced me Camacho was the real thing!  Lining up and knocking out 15-0 Louis Loy & 18-5 Johnny Sato, these were significant wins, especially the drilling of Sato who could fight a bit!  In October he handled unbeaten (15-0) Melvin “The Tank” Paul on points in a Dime.  Closing out the year, Camacho met the 30 & zip Greg Coverson and out dazzled the quick-fisted Coverson who could fight over ten heats. 

TAKING EVERY CHANCE TO GET WORK!

Compared with today’s era and fighters getting work every four to six months, Hector Camacho wasn’t asking people to take notice of him, he was making them!  After his 1982 run, Hector soon became the talk of the boxing industry.  With Ray Leonard retired at the time, there were no glib superstars and the game needed a spokesperson!  The savvy folks that ran Network TV knew this and all of a sudden Hector Camacho was being courted by all of the TV big boys in ABC, NBC, & CBS. 

 

FIRST WBC TRINKET WAS A “PAPER”TITLE!

 

After slapping “Bazooka” Limon around for the 130lb. WBC trinket in August of ’83, Camacho rolled over once beaten (15-1) Louie Burke, before going 12 with Roque Montoya.   Insiders were saying Hector would be in for the roughest night of his life when he faced WBC lightweight guy Jose Luis Ramirez come August of ’85.  Did I say in rough?  Well, that wasn’t the case as Hector shut the Mexican champion out over 12 one-sided heats in Las Vegas.  Looking back at the Camacho career, this win over Ramirez was truly his zenith! 

LIKE RICKY NELSON PRIOR, THERE WAS NO GARDEN PARTY!

After a non-title dime win over Freddie Roach, Hector got exposed!  In what was his first defense at home, the now 29-0 Camacho would meet fellow Puerto Rican Edwin Rosario (28-1) in Madison Square Garden.  After jabbing his way into the lead, Hector looked like he would win easily.  In or around the 8th round, Rosario landed a solid-well timed left hook that brought about a metamorphosis in Camacho.  Entering as the “Macho Man,” Hector left the ring a controversial Split Decision winner sans the stones he supposedly had upon entering.

 

LEFT HIS “MACHO-NESS” & STONES IN THE GARDEN RING!

 

The Rosario fight turned out to be victory #30 for Camacho.  From that point onward, Hector fought “Scared” anytime he was in a real fight.  Losing to J.C. Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad, the only “Names” Hector would beat of note afterwards would be an aged Roberto Duran, and an injured Ray Leonard.  Outside of that pair, Hector has made a living at this point fighting “C” fighters, or worse for Promoter Mike Acri. 

 

MY LAST GO-AROUND WITH THE “HARLEM-HECKLER!”

 

When I televised Camacho vs. Jorge Vaca in his native Puerto Rico in late 1999, Hector was flying high on Cocaine the night before!  So off the ground was Hector that Hotel Security had to intervene and then remove a female from his quarters.  Looking like he was still under the influence when he entered the ring 18 hours later, Hector was getting whipped on by the ancient Vaca, literally getting beat from pillar to post!

 

MOST BLATENT “HEAD BUTT” I’VE EVER SEEN!

 

With a loss looking so immanent, Camacho speared Vaca with an intentional head butt that made the crimson gush out of Jorge like an uncapped oil well!  Thus, the fight was stopped and ruled a Technical Draw in the third round.  Returning to the hotel, Hector again started in with the Colombian Dust and within an hour, you guessed it, Hotel Security was banging on his door!

 

FORCED TO BORROW $2,500 FOR A BAIL BOND!

 

Remembering the days when Referee and ace financial advisor Marty “The Shark” Sammon was handling Hector’s monies, I was chagrined to learn that Camacho who made in excess of $20 million, that he had to borrow $2,500 to get out of jail with the aid of a Bail Bondsman.  When I called Marty Sunday to inquire about Camacho’s finances, he had bad news!  “Some woman he was with took the money I was working with and did what she wanted with it.  He made good, steady money with me.  Had he allowed me to continue, Hector would be set for life and not broke!”

 

SPEAKING OF BOXERS IN JAIL!

 

Former middleweight and light heavyweight titleholder Reginald Johnson, AKA “Sweet Reggie Johnson” has been thrown in the Houston County Jail for a five-month stretch because he failed to pay Child Support on one of his many children!

 

HAVE YOU (OR GREG) SEEN THE NAVARRO FIGHT VIDEO?

 

Not only were we first at getting you the Katsushigie Kawashima-Jose Navarro fight in its entirety on Video, I threw an English voice over that drowns out the sound of the Japanese announcers.  Now being fully aware that the sunken-chested dweeb that runs Boxing Talk intended to charge his readers for this same programming come January 15, I have to admit that we are once again Guilty of showing Greg Leon up!  If you’d like a ringside seat for Kawashima-Navarro, return to and enjoy every minute of one hell of a 12-round fight!

 

CELEBRITY MATCH WITH LOSER TO SHUT UP!

 

Think about Greggie-poo!  Three rounds of boxing between you and me!  Call it what you want Greg, but the loser shuts the puck up and gets out of town!  I’m of the opinion Greg Leon is only a tough guy when he’s sitting in front of his computer! Boxing fans now know Mr. Leon that you have been challenged, and at the same time had your manhood questioned!  I thought about a battle of wits, but Greg’s only half-prepared!

CLIFF “24-KARAT” ROLD TO APPEAR WEDNESDAY!

 

Unless something big breaks, I’ll return Thursday as Cliff “24-Karat” Rold will be front and center for Wednesday morning!

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Pedro Fernandez

Note: Mr. Fernandez is not your average boxing writer. A four-time Golden Gloves champion who spent eight honorable years with the San Francisco Police Dept., Pedro Fernandez is a schooled Journalist who has had a byline for better than three decades!  He can be reached with your comments at Pedro@RingTalk.com