When this 1983 WBC Super Featherweight Championship Fight between Hector “Macho” Camacho vs Rafael Solis took place….it was two fighters from Puerto Rico who simply did not like each other….as Camacho entered the ring, after defeating Rafael “Bazooka” Limon for the WBC title in his prior fight, with a record of 22 – 0….he faced off against a fellow countryman who despised Camacho with his “arrogant ways and flashy style” and was a pretty darn good boxer in his own right.
Rafael Solis is a former junior lightweight/super featherweight boxer from Puerto Rico….who was raised in the barrio of Camito and trained at the Caimito Gym….whose brother was the former world bantamweight champion Julian Solís…..for Rafael Solis had a successful boxing career, fighting in many Latin American countries, such as Venezuela, Dominican Republic and others.
On October 2, 1982 Solis won the Fecarbox(Central American Professional Boxing Federation) super featherweight title a KO of Aquilino Asprilla in the 6th round….then on November 18, 1983….he challenged Héctor “Macho” Camacho for the WBC World Super Featherweight Title….in a boxing match that only for the 2nd time, featured two Puerto Rican fighters boxing each other for a world title….as the first time was Wilfred Benitez vs. Carlos Santos in 1981.
Solis lost to Camacho by knockout in 5 rounds at Roberto Clemente Coliseum ….but that did not detract from the war that took place in the first 4 rounds….cuz these cats simply hated each other….as evidenced by every punch thrown.
Solis last boxed in 1995 and retired with a record of 30 wins (20 by knockout), 13 losses (11 by knockout), and 2 draws….while Camacho went on to become one of the boxing legends of the golden age of boxing (1864 – 1995) by winning another 6 world titles in 5 more weight divisions than his super featherweight title…..ending his career with 76 wins 6 losses 3 draws with 38 wins by KO and 41 by decision.
