REMEMBERING THE MACHO OF BOXING
Everyone knew him as Macho, and most of the elders and boxing enthusiast that really enjoyed the art of boxing loved the fact that he represented Spanish Harlem, they knew that it wasn't an easy craft to master and for a young thug, car thief, street kid to dedicate himself away from the mean streets of El Barrio it was a blessing, but not many young male men felt the same as with this new fame & financial status came envy, jealousy & hate for Camacho, especially from the other street thugs and drug dealers in the neighborhood. He instantly became a threat to them on machismo and balls(Puerto Rican young men didn't dig that) & with all the women that struggled to get out of the hood, they normally turned to the money makers like drug dealers in the 1980's. The women came at Hector like free government cheese and that was an ultimate disrespect to haters in the hood. His confident personality and swag didn't help him none and as a result he became public enemy number 1 to the streets of Spanish Harlem. It never stopped him and he eventually moved his mother to Puerto Rico and she would later join him as he moved to Florida.
(May 24, 1962 – November 24, 2012)
We can look at his life as well as his tragic end and say to ourselves, "that's so sad" but Hector "Macho" Camacho would of not have seen it that way. You see, Hector had a pride larger than anyone I knew and he lived life to the fullest. That's what made his super hero character come to life in pro boxing as well as in his personal life. He was never cheated and he would have given all the struggles of being Puerto Rican in Spanish Harlem for the rags to riches story that was and became his reality and he would have done it all over again.
He represented the hardship and the fight for success in the "El Barrio" Reaganomic 80's era. My Father tells me that his mother Maria played bingo often with my mother, aunt Isabel, and cousin Francis and my dad would drive her home afterwards and all her concerns were about Macho getting in trouble out in the streets all the time. "She was always worried about Macho", she really loved her son and later was so proud of his success in the sport that he mastered over time.
The streets made him and the streets took him back but not without a bit of "Macho Time" in Between.
He knew that he had to take the fight game to another level and his off the wall antics that became his colorful trademark wasn't a gimmick as this was Hector Camacho even in the neighborhood prior to his introduction to the N.Y.C. Golden Gloves in the late 70's (in which he won from 1978 to early 1980 in 3 separate weight competitions - 112, 118, and 119lbs.). Shortly after becoming pro in 1980, I had the privilege of being introduced to Hector by a childhood friend, George "Bumpy" Marzan and "The Bronx Bomber" Juan Ramon Cruz (both boxed and trained at the gym where it all began on 108th street in NYC). Even then I could see the swag and confidence that any young fighter should have (eye of the tiger). Hector took it above and beyond as he used his street smarts, his speed and his style to become one of the greatest lightweight champions of all-time.
I ran into him again in 1983 several months after he won the Super Featherweight Title over Raphael "Bazooka" Limon and he was having the greatest time and moment in "El Barrio" (Pizzeria on 116th st. & Lexington Ave.) as mobs of people surrounded him and wanted to walk with him.
He became a local celebrity who still lived in Spanish Harlem (James Weldon Johnson Housing Projects, the locals"The Plaza").
Anyone who got a chance to see Ali sell himself the way he did understood that Camacho was going to be the bad boy of boxing and knowing that Ali was retired, boxing needed another Show. Hector Camacho was their resurrection and he did just that. Many came over the years wanting him to go down or even get beat up bad but he just kept talking trash and winning. He even allowed a curl to hang down his forehead like Superman as to taunt his opponents (it would later become a part of his trademark).
Like Sugar Ray Robinson & Leonard (in which he beat into permanent retirement) and a young Cassius Clay (Ali), speed, style, and over the years boxing skills made "Macho Time" a boxer to watch.
Over time the streets, people and demons would come back to haunt Hector.
"MACHO TIME"
video directed & assembled by John Rosario / Johnboy Productions for Unidos Magazine
Over time the streets, people and demons would could back to haunt Hector and those of us who personally knew him were not surprised. You see fame came early and riches came to soon for this man that wanted respect and props as a great boxer but never walked away from the jaws of the streets and the many people that surrounded him over time. I know he tried and there is no mistake about it, he lived his life to the fullest. Even during his later years as he went on a mission to show that it was "Macho Time" all the time.
When I turned on Univision and kept seeing him in all these shows (El Show Del Medio Dia, Super Sabado, Macho Time, El Gordo Y La Flaca, Mira Quien Baila, etc....) I realized that he was and will continue to be even after boxing, a true showman.
The losses to Chavez, Trinidad, De La Hoya and Haugen were nothing to him. and everyone knew that he was on the decline as a boxer. He had much more impressive wins when he was young, such as the win to Sugar Ray Leonard, the fastest punching boxer during that period. Some of the most impressive wins that I remember were against Roque Montoya, Jose Luis Ramirez, Vinny Pazienza, Freddie Roach, the second Greg Haugen fight, Raphael Solis, Cornelius Boza Edwards, Raphael "Bazooka" Limon, Ray "Boom-Boom" Mancini, Edwin "Chapo" Rosario (in which many critics thought Rosario should have won that fight). His most notable fights were with Sugar Ray Leonard and the two with Roberto "mano de peidra" (hands of stone) Duran but to his advantage both fighters were well past there prime and were not the great fighters they had once displayed during there youth.
When I heard of Hector's passing, it reminded me of another Hector we lost to the streets (Hector Lavoe/famous salsa singer). After father time, the fast life, clubbing and parties, women, drugs, the "Macho Time" show as far as boxing, slowly withered away but for Hector he wanted more than just the last dance and did it his way.
Hector always danced to the beat of his own drum but without it he would have just been another tough kid from the mean streets turn boxer and the world would have never noticed.
What did we really expect from Hector?
Love him or hate him at the end of the night his answer would have been "I made you look" or "you bought a ticket to see me though" He was the ultimate showman in and outta the ring.
Could he put on a show? YES!!
Could he box? Well his Hall Of Fame record speaks for itself "79 wins - 6 defeats - 3 draws and a 5 time world champ" ......I could picture it right now Emanuel Steward, Rocky Marciano, Edwin "Chapo" Rosario, Salvador Sanchez, Joe Frazier, Arturo Gatti, and all the greats on the other side having to hear Hector yelling out to all of them
"It's Macho Time"
RIP Hector, the next script has already started.
This story is dedicated to his family, friends & fans
by John Rosario