His illustrious career spanned several decades as he compiled a record of 79 wins, 6 losses and 3 draws. He knocked out 38 of his opponents while becoming world champion in three different classes - super featherweight, lightweight and junior welterweight. To become champ in so many classes and maintain excellence in boxing for such a long period of time is nearly unheard of, in fact, Macho fought his last fight in 2010 at the age of 48!
Camacho was born in Puerto Rico but as a small child his mother moved him to the U.S. into a tough neighborhood in Spanish Harlem. At that time Spanish Harlem was a crime infested neighborhood and young Camacho seemed to find trouble frequently. Juan Laporte was a fellow boxer and friend. Here are some things he had to say about Hector.
Former featherweight champion Juan Laporte, a friend since childhood, described Camacho as "like a little brother who was always getting into trouble," but otherwise combined a friendly nature with a powerful jab.
"He's a good human being, a good hearted person," Laporte said as he waited with other friends and members of the boxer's family outside the hospital in San Juan after the shooting. "A lot of people think of him as a cocky person but that was his motto ... inside he was just a kid looking for something."
Laporte lamented that Camacho never found a mentor outside the boxing ring.
"The people around him didn't have the guts or strength to lead him in the right direction," Laporte said. "There was no one strong enough to put a hand on his shoulder and tell him how to do it."(Source)
I think that it's easy for most of us who have grown up in very stable homes to make judgments about the personal lives of people like Camacho. He had constant run-ins with the law and a dismal record in his personal relationships. He did many questionable things throughout his life that most sanitized Americans would never do. But I did read a small snippet about a time in his life when Hector Camacho in an interview with Dan Hernandez, Ringinsidereport.com, said that he was a "new born Christian". There are a lot of things to remember about Macho like his 3 titles, epic fights against Mancini, Chavez, Duran, Leonard and De La Hoya and his one of a kind style. But I am going to cling to the statement that he made to Dan Hernandez in an obscure interview. I am going to anticipate a future chance to meet Camacho on the streets of gold because we both trusted Christ as our Savior. I know that at this point the Pharisaical lordship salvationists will come out of the cyber woodwork and point out all the sin and failure in Camacho's life. Let the cockroaches do their best! I will point to the grace of God and the simplicity of the gospel and revel in what the Lord has done. You see, the real question now is not Macho Camacho but you Dear Reader. Have you become a newborn Christian by trusting in what Jesus did on your behalf? If not then I encourage you to read "Eternal Life For You" or watch the short video in the right sidebar on how to be forgiven in 3 minutes. The bell will ring for the final round of our life much sooner than we think. We must be prepared to answer the call. Trust Christ!
