Hector “Macho“Camacho was a Puerto Rican professional boxer and entertainer….who was known for his quickness in the ring and flamboyant style in a professional career that lasted 30 years from 1980 to 2010….while compiling a career record of 79 wins 6 losses and 3 draws….and was a world champion in three different weight classes….wherein 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.
Moving up to lightweight, Camacho won the United States Boxing Association title against Roque Montoya with a twelve-round decision…..then in his victory in the next fight, broadcast on Home Box Office (HBO), made him a two-time world champion…..when he beat the Mexican defending world champion, José Luis Ramírez in Las Vegas to win the WBC world Lightweight championship. Camacho dropped Ramirez in round three and won the fight by a unanimous twelve-round decision.
The two other reigning world champions in his division at that time, Livingstone Bramble and Jimmy Paul, were reluctant to unify the crown with Camacho….so, instead, he beat Freddie Roach before his next fight of importance came along, ten months after beating Ramírez….when he met Edwin Rosario on June 13, 1986, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The fight was notable for the shifts of dominance between the men….as Camacho dominated rounds one to four….but had to hang on in rounds five, six and seven, when he felt Rosario’s power…..but came back to take rounds eight and nine….after which Rosario came back to take the last three rounds. It was a close fight, but Camacho retained the title by a split decision of the judges.
Camacho then retained his title against Cornelius Boza Edwards, a former world junior lightweight champion, in Miami on September 26, 1986….in a unanimous decision, after dropping Edwards in the first round.
Cornelius Boza Edwards was the former WBC Super Featherweight Champion of the World….as Boza Edwards was a Ugandan….who fought in both the Super Featherweight and Lightweight divisions. Edwards emigrated from Uganda to England….where he lived for a long period. He currently lives in the United States, where he trains other boxers.
