Hector Camacho

Guide Note

Hector Camacho, also known as "Macho" Camacho, is a retired professional boxer from Puerto Rico. A three-time World Champion, he’s known for a style reminiscent of Muhammad Ali.

Born in Puerto Rico he moved to New York in 1967, with his family. As a teen became interested in karate and progressed to training as a boxer at a local school. Naturally right handed, he learned to box left handed. As an amateur he won three Golden Gloves Championships.

Camacho's natural talent and work ethic would allow him to capture his first World Championship at age 17, becoming the second youngest World Champion in boxing history. Camacho boxing career started in the featherweight division and progressed to the junior lightweight division. It was as a junior lightweight that he defeated Rafael Limon with a technical knockout (TKO) in the fifth round of a title bout to win his first World Championship.

In his first title defense he defeated Julian Solis by a knockout (KO) in the fifth round. Moving up to the Lightweight division he defeated Jose Luis Ramirez by a decision in a 12-round bout to capture the Lightweight championship. Camacho would win his third World Championship by defeating Ray Mancini in a 12-round unanimous decision. However the world welterweight championship would eluded him twice, once in 1994 losing to Felix Trinidad and again in 1997, losing to Oscar De La Hoya.

In a well publicized fight against Julio Cesar Chavez in September 1992 Camacho would suffer a 12-round loss, on points. He would defeat future Hall-of-Fame boxer Roberto Duran twice on points. In 1997, Camacho won with a fifth round knockout of Sugar Ray Leonard, who was returning to the ring after a six-year absence.

Since his retirement, Camacho has had his share of legal problems, having been charged with burglary, drug possession and assault all on different occasions. He was sentenced to one-year of house arrest and six years probation for the burglary charges, the drug possession charges were dropped; and sentencing on the assault was suspended pending judicial review of his trial. Camacho's son, Hector Camacho Jr. is also a professional boxer.

Fast Facts

1. Name: Hector Luis Camacho
2. Born: May 24, 1962 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico
3. Nickname: Macho Camacho
4. Reach: 69“
5. Stance: Southpaw
6. Trainer: Hector Roca
7. Career: Wins - 78; Losses - 5; Draws - 2; KOs - 37

World Championships

1. 1981: Won NABF Super Featherweight title
2. 1983: Won WBC Super Featherweight title
3. 1985: Won NABF & WBC Lightweight titles
4. 1990: Won WBO Light Welterweight title
5. 1992: Won WBC Light Welterweight title
6. 1994: Won WBF Welterweight title
7. 1995: Won the International Boxing Council's (IBC) Welterweight title
8. 2001: Won National Boxing Association (NBA) Super Middleweight Title