Bad Left Hook - Hector Camacho dead at age 50 following shootingGlobal Boxing News and Commentaryhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47131/backingthepack-fave.png2012-11-24T11:59:59-05:00http://www.badlefthook.com/rss/stream/34382912012-11-24T11:59:59-05:002012-11-24T11:59:59-05:00Camacho dead at age 50
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<p>Hector Camacho has died this morning in San Juan, Puerto Rico following a shooting earlier this week. Camacho and a friend were shot while sitting in a parked car outside a bar this past Tuesday.</p>
<p>There were initially reports that Camacho had been pronounced dead right after the shooting, but those were quickly followed by reports that the bullet had not entered Camacho's brain and that he was expected to survive. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse and Camacho was declared brain dead and eventually taken off life support.</p>
<p>Camacho will be best remembered for his flashy personality and fights with Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad, Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard and his biggest rival Julio Cesar Chavez.</p>
<p>There will be better Hector "Macho" Camacho tributes written by men much more capable than me over the coming days and weeks.</p>
<p>So instead, I'll just leave you with this. One of the most memorable moments of a proud career:</p>
<p><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NLdgYjvJV_k" frameborder="0"></iframe> <br id="1353776252517"></p>
https://www.badlefthook.com/2012/11/24/3685552/hector-camacho-dead-at-age-50-following-shootingBrent Brookhouse2012-11-23T11:06:17-05:002012-11-23T11:06:17-05:00Camacho brain dead, taken off of life support
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<figcaption>Al Bello/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Hector 'Macho' Camacho has been taken off of life support in Puerto Rico following a shooting earlier this week.</p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.newsday.com/sports/boxing/doctor-puerto-rican-boxer-hector-macho-camacho-brain-dead-1.4254067">Hector 'Macho' Camacho has been taken off of life support</a> in Puerto Rico following a shooting earlier this week, with the fighter declared brain dead by Dr. Ernest Torres:</p>
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<p>"We have done everything we could," said Torres, who is director of the Centro Medico trauma center in San Juan. "We have to tell the people of Puerto Rico and the entire world that Macho Camacho has died, he is brain dead."</p>
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<p>Camacho, 50, was shot in Bayamon three days ago while in a car with a friend, who died in the shooting. He was one of the biggest boxing stars of the 1980s, winning world titles at 130, 135, and 140, and challenging for titles at welterweight.</p>
<p>Over his career, he faced the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya, Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Felix Trinidad, Ray Mancini, Greg Haugen, Vinny Pazienza, Howard Davis Jr, Jose Luis Ramirez, and many others. He last fought in 2010, losing a 10-round decision to Saul Duran.</p>
<p>Camacho's career record was 79-6-3, with 38 wins by stoppage. He was never stopped himself over his 30-year pro boxing career.</p>
https://www.badlefthook.com/2012/11/23/3682196/hector-camacho-taken-off-life-support-brain-dead-boxing-newsScott Christ2012-11-21T18:59:40-05:002012-11-21T18:59:40-05:00Update: Camacho has intermittent brain activity
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<p>Doctors now say that Hector "Macho" Camacho, who was shot yesterday in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, is showing intermittent brain activity, and will be tested again tomorrow morning at 6 am local time.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/primerahora">Primera Hora</a> said that he's showing 3-4% brain activity, and hasn't been ruled as "brain dead" yet. Camacho is said to have undergone changes "more negative than positive," but the 50-year-old champion is still fighting.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story?id=1664335">Julio Cesar Chavez spoke with ESPN Deportes</a>, saying that Camacho is "a great friend," and that even though they were rivals in boxing, he considers Camacho possibly the best friend he has of all the fighters he faced throughout his career.</p>
<p>Chavez defeated Camacho in 1992, winning a wide decision with the WBC junior welterweight title at stake.</p>
<p>We'll have more updates when there is anything available on the situation. Again, our thoughts and best wishes are with the family, friends, and loved ones, as well as Hector Camacho himself.</p>
https://www.badlefthook.com/2012/11/21/3677776/hector-camacho-update-intermittent-brain-activity-doctors-boxing-newsScott Christ2012-11-21T12:27:34-05:002012-11-21T12:27:34-05:00Camacho on life support, condition worsens
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<figcaption>Holly Stein/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Despite reports that he was expected to pull through, Hector Camacho's condition has worsened after last night's shooting in Puerto Rico, and the star fighter is now on life support.</p> <p><b>UPDATE:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.boxingscene.com/camachos-condition-worsens-declared-brain-dead--59603">According to BoxingScene.com</a>, Camacho has been declared brain dead.</p>
<p>The Los Angeles Times reports that despite earlier belief that Hector "Macho" Camacho would pull through following his shooting last night in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, the 1980s superstar fighter is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-hector-camacho-20121121,0,3510299.story">now on life support</a>.</p>
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<p>A friend of boxer Hector "Macho" Camacho says the former world champion's condition has worsened and he could be taken off life support.</p>
<p>Camacho was shot in the face Tuesday in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. A friend with him was killed. Doctors initially said the boxer was in critical condition but was expected to survive.</p>
<p>Ismael Leandry, a friend of Camacho's, told the Associated Press that doctors are waiting for Camacho's mother to decide whether he should be taken off life support.</p>
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<p>It looked late last night as if Hector had cleared the biggest hurdles, but this is obviously not the news anyone wanted to hear today.</p>
<p>We'll keep you updated on the situation when more news comes in. For now, our best wishes are with Hector Camacho, his family, and his loved ones.</p>
https://www.badlefthook.com/2012/11/21/3676014/hector-camacho-update-life-support-shooting-puerto-rico-boxing-newsScott Christ2012-11-21T10:27:08-05:002012-11-21T10:27:08-05:0010 Reasons: Why Hector Camacho makes the HOF
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<p>After hearing the news of Hector Camacho's life threatening gun shot injuries I felt compelled to convey to the world why I'm pretty sure he'll make the International Boxing Hall of Fame some day. Let's see if you agree.</p> <p>Hector Camacho Sr, <a href="http://www.badlefthook.com/2012/11/20/3674256/hector-camacho-shooting-update-expected-survive-boxing-news" target="_blank">who was just critically wounded by a drive-by shooting</a>, will be eligible for the IBHOF in 3 more years. Although "Macho" Camacho's skills began to erode in the early 1990s, he didn't have his final fight until 2010 when he dropped a decision to Saul Duran. Considering the Duran fight came 30 years after Camacho debuted, no one cares that Macho lost. To be honest no one should really care about any of his losses from the 1994 Felix Trinidad fight onward. I don't care that he just beat Sugar Ray Leonard before he fought Oscar De La Hoya in 1997. Leonard was nearly 41 years old and hadn't fought since getting his butt whooped by Terry Norris 6 years earlier.</p>
<p>However, whether or not you recognize Macho's greatness should come down to how much you respect his wins rather than criticizing his losses. Camacho was given split decision victories over the likes of Edwin Rosario, Ray Mancini, and Greg Haugen. Anyone who actually agrees with all those verdicts would be highly irrational to deny Camacho enshrinement at Canastota's boxing hall of fame. Obviously those wins alone don't merit the hall of fame, but when you group them with the rest of Macho's resume, there is no doubt. And without further ado, I present my 10 reasons:</p>
<p>1) Defining all of Hector Camacho's world titles is a bit complicated. I suppose most would say he's a 4 time world champion in 3 weight classes. He won the vacant WBC super featherweight title against Rafael Limon in 1983, the WBC lightweight title from Jose Luis Ramirez in 1985, the vacant WBO light welterweight title against Ray Mancini in 1989, and the WBO light welterweight title again from Greg Haugen in 1991. In Camacho's later years he additionally picked up International Boxing Council (IBC) titles in the welterweight, middleweight, and junior middleweight divisions. Do I recognize the IBC? No. But no one recognized the WBO when Camacho held their title in the junior welterweight division, either. Now they do. So who knows what the history books will read 100 years from now when I'm long dead. No matter how they want to look at it, it's still a feat very few fighters have ever accomplished. I'm fairly sure there are currently less than 40 fighters that have been major world champions in 3 different weight divisions. From eyeing the following <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_boxing_triple_champions" target="_blank">list composed by Wikipedia</a>, most of the ones not yet in the hall of fame are expected to make it once they become eligible. And can you honestly rate Hector Camacho below any of the ones unlikely to get in?</p>
<p>2) Camacho retired with a record of 79 wins, 6 losses, and 3 draws (2 of which were technical and could have easily been no contests in other states). In those 88 fights over his 30 year career he fought big to monstrous punchers the likes of Rafael Limon, Jose Luis Ramirez, Edwin Rosario, Ray Mancini, Julio Cesar Chavez, Felix Trinidad, and Oscar De La Hoya. Whether he was in his prime or shot to pieces NOONE ever stopped the Macho Man. 30 years. 88 fights. Fought the best. Never stopped. To be honest I don't think anyone can say this. Harry Stone might have had 220 fights without ever being stopped but he didn't last 30 years and he damn sure didn't fight the level of opposition that Camacho did. For <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/132536/james-toney">James Toney</a> or Bernard Hopkins to break this record both will need to fight until 2018. Hopefully both retire and get into the hall of fame on the 1st ballot before then. They won't actually retire that "soon", but I hope they do...</p>
<p>3) Camacho defeated at least 9 former, current, or future world champions: Rafael Limon, Jose Luis Ramirez, Edwin Rosario, Cornelius Boza-Edwards, Ray Mancini, Vinny Pazienza, Greg Haugen, Roberto Duran, and Sugar Ray Leonard. Granted Camacho beat better non-champions than the heavily faded versions of Duran and Leonard, Camacho was still pretty faded himself and naturally smaller. It also helps that Duran and Leonard are arguably among the 10 greatest fighters ever.</p>
<p>4) Camacho gave 5 fighters their first loss: Louis Loy, Melvin Paul, Greg Coverson, Irleis Perez, and Gary Kirkland. None were legitimate world champions but you have to at least respect Paul and Perez. Paul would later narrowly fall short of winning the IBF lightweight title against Charlie "Choo Choo" Brown while Perez would have the same luck against Jimmy Paul for the exact same title...</p>
<p>5) Generally fighters that start as young and last as long as Camacho don't have substantial amateur careers. Camacho on the other hand compiled an amateur record of 96 wins and 4 losses with 3 New York Golden Gloves championships and 2 Intercity Golden Gloves championships. Amateur credentials do influence hall of fame inductions. How else do you think Laszlo Papp got in?</p>
<p>6) Edwin Rosario is already in the hall of fame. A quick look over Rosario's resume will tell you he's less accomplished than Camacho and Camacho beat him. So I suppose this comes down to whether or not you agreed with that decision if you can support Rosario in the hall and not Camacho. Personally I scored the fight 116-113 Macho but find a 115-113 Rosario card perfectly reasonable. I thought rounds 3, 4, 7 and 8 could have gone either way. I scored them Camacho, Rosario, Camacho, and even respectively. Either way I felt the fight was close enough that I would respect the decision even if I thought Rosario won. But while we're on the subject of relevant questionable decisions that Camacho got, let's keep it real on the Ray Mancini and Greg Haugen fights. Camacho should have won all of them (including the 1st Haugen fight that he officially lost due to the bogus point deduction in the last round). But feel free to disagree...</p>
<p>7) As Camacho represents Puerto Rico it's important whether or not he lowers the bar for his nation. Can you honestly tell me Jose Torres is a greater fighter? I think not... While Camacho may have gone life and death with the likes of a prime Edwin Rosario, Torres did the same with 40 year old Eddie Cotton. I also scored the fight for Cotton as did the great Joe Louis who was on commentary that night. Will Eddie Cotton ever get into the hall of fame? No!</p>
<p>8) Before Camacho was about 157 years old in boxing years he had only clearly lost to Julio Cesar Chavez Sr (arguably Mexico's greatest fighter of all time), Felix Trinidad, and Oscar De La Hoya. Chavez got into the hall of fame on the first ballot and Trinidad and De La Hoya most likely will too. Camacho fought all of them in their best weight class (or at least the one they get the most acclaim for). Camacho on the other hand peaked in the lightweight division. The point is the deck was stacked against him.</p>
<p>9) Five out of six of Camacho's first round KOs came at lightweight or below. Two of the five came against legitimate contenders Refugio Rojas and John Montes. Camacho was the only fighter to stop Rojas or Montes in 1 round. Pernell Whitaker, Julio Cesar Chavez, Rocky Lockridge, and Edwin Rosario all failed to replicate.</p>
<p>10) Camacho's extended resume includes the likes of Howard Davis Jr and Tony Baltazar. Each easily could have been a world champion if they followed a different career route or just had better luck. More importantly they're just better than some of the faded world former champions that Camacho beat. Ultimately Camacho defeated over a dozen credible fighters that boxing fans should know and respect. Now go look at hall of famer Barry McGuigan's resume and tell me if you can come up with half of that.</p>
<p><b>Previous Editions of 10 Reasons:</b><br><a href="http://www.badlefthook.com/2012/10/8/3473836/10-reasons-arturo-gatti-hall-of-fame-boxing" target="_blank">10 Reasons why Arturo Gatti will make the Hall of Fame</a><br><a href="http://www.badlefthook.com/2012/11/14/3646036/10-reasons-pongsaklek-wonjongkam-hall-of-fame-boxing" target="_blank">10 Reasons why Pongsaklek Wonjongkam should make the Hall of Fame</a></p>
https://www.badlefthook.com/2012/11/21/3675430/10-reasons-hector-camacho-sr-hall-of-fameRyan.Bivins2012-11-20T23:44:03-05:002012-11-20T23:44:03-05:00Update: Camacho expected to survive
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<p>Hector Camacho is expected to survive a shooting in Puerto Rico, according to the latest reports.</p> <p>The Associated Press reports tonight that hours after <a target="_blank" href="http://www.badlefthook.com/2012/11/20/3673712/hector-camacho-shot-puerto-rico-bayamon-boxing-news">his shooting</a> in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/8658399/hector-macho-camacho-shot-expected-survive">Hector "Macho" Camacho is now expected to survive</a>, according to his doctors.</p>
<p>From the report:</p>
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<p>The bullet apparently struck him in the jaw but exited his head and lodged in his right shoulder and fractured two vertebrae, Torres said. The doctor said the boxer, who was trailed by drug and alcohol problems during a career that included some high-profile bouts, was at risk of paralysis from the shooting.</p>
<p>Camacho representative Steve Tannenbaum said he was told by friends at the hospital that the boxer would make it. "This guy is a cat with nine lives. He's been through so much," he said. "If anybody can pull through it will be him."</p>
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<p>The good news is it looks like Camacho will pull through this, after early rumors that he had passed due to a bullet being lodged in his brain. Obviously, it's still a tragedy that this is a man who may never walk again, but the potential worst appears to have been cleared.</p>
<p>We'll keep you posted if there are any more updates, but for now, Camacho looks to have cleared some major hurdles.</p>
https://www.badlefthook.com/2012/11/20/3674256/hector-camacho-shooting-update-expected-survive-boxing-newsScott Christ2012-11-20T21:44:23-05:002012-11-20T21:44:23-05:00Hector Camacho shot in Puerto Rico
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<p>Former three-division world champion Hector Camacho has been shot in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and early reports are that he has a minimal chance of survival.</p> <p>Former three-division world champion Hector Camacho has been shot in the head in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and early reports are that he has a minimal chance of survival. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.primerahora.com/gravehectorelmachocamachotrassertiroteadoenbayamon-725211.html">Primera Hora had the initial reports</a>, but later it was reported that a bullet did not enter the brain, as was the initial belief.</p>
<p>Camacho, 50, was one of the most colorful and memorable boxing stars of the 1980s, and has fought as recently as 2010. He was reportedly shot in the face and neck in a car-to-car shooting tonight on Highway 167. Further reports from Primera Hora indicate that if he does survive, chances are he won't walk again.</p>
<p>Camacho has a career boxing record of 79-6-3 with 38 knockout wins, and over his career fought the likes of Roberto Duran, Oscar De La Hoya, Julio Cesar Chavez, Sugar Ray Leonard, Felix Trinidad, Ray Mancini, and Greg Haugen, among many others.</p>
<p>We'll be here all night to report on any developments in the story. Our best wishes go out to the family and loved ones, and of course to Hector "Macho" Camacho himself.</p>
https://www.badlefthook.com/2012/11/20/3673712/hector-camacho-shot-puerto-rico-bayamon-boxing-newsScott Christ