Héctor Camacho

Héctor Camacho
Camacho in 2009
Born
Héctor Luis Camacho Matías

(1962-05-24)May 24, 1962
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
DiedNovember 24, 2012(2012-11-24) (aged 50)
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Other namesMacho
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Reach67 in (170 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights88
Wins79
Wins by KO38
Losses6
Draws3

Héctor Luís Camacho Matías (May 24, 1962 – November 24, 2012), commonly known by his nickname "Macho", which also refers to strong men who do not show weakness. Camacho was a Puerto Rican professional boxer and entertainer. Known for his quickness in the ring and flamboyant style, Camacho competed professionally from 1980 to 2010, and was a world champion in three weight classes. He held the WBC super featherweight title from 1983 to 1984, the WBC lightweight title from 1985 to 1987, and the WBO junior welterweight title twice between 1989 and 1992.

In a storied amateur career, Camacho won three New York Golden Gloves tournaments, beginning with the Sub-Novice 112 lbs championship in 1978. During his professional career, Camacho had many notable fights against some of the biggest names in boxing, defeating Rafael Limon, Jose Luis Ramirez, Edwin Rosario, Ray Mancini, Vinny Paz, Greg Haugen, Roberto Durán twice late in Duran's career, and knocking out Sugar Ray Leonard. He also fought Julio César Chávez, Félix Trinidad, and Oscar De La Hoya, among others.

During his later years, Camacho expanded his popular role and appeared on a variety of Spanish-language reality television shows including Univision's' dancing show Mira Quien Baila and a weekly segment on the popular show El Gordo y La Flaca, named "Macho News". However, he also had much-publicized troubles with drug abuse and criminal charges. In 2005, was sentenced to seven years in prison for burglarizing a computer store, but the judge suspended six years, allowing him to serve one year under house arrest and two years of probation if monitored by Puerto Rican authorities. He also faced a separate drug charge after ecstasy pills were found in his hotel room. In 2011 he was shot at three times by would-be carjackers in San Juan, but was uninjured. In late 2012, Camacho was awaiting trial in Florida on charges of physical abuse of one of his sons.

On November 20, 2012, Camacho was shot and seriously wounded while sitting in a car outside a bar in his native Bayamón; the driver, a childhood friend, was killed in the shooting. Camacho died four days later; after he was declared clinically brain dead, his mother requested the doctors remove him from life support. After lying in repose for two days in Santurce, Camacho's remains were transported to New York for burial at the request of his mother.