This junior welterweight title fight between Hector “Macho” Camacho vs Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini took place on March 6, 1989 for the WBO world junior welterweight title…..as Camacho became the 1st ever title holder in this new WBO division…..after winning a very close split-decision fight in Las Vegas. This fight featured one of the “great boxers” of the golden age of boxing at the end of his career…..as this was Ray Mancini’s next-to-last fight of his outstanding career….a career of 29 wins 5 losses that ended with four straight losses to damper an otherwise brilliant career…..while fighting in the extremely competitive lightweight division of boxing
Mancini’s opponent, Hector “Macho” Camacho was in the middle of his outstanding career of 79 wins 6 losses 3 draws with 45 KO’s….entering the ring against Boom Boom at 34 wins and no losses…..for Macho would continue to fight another 21 years…..becoming one of the “super great boxers” of the golden age of boxing (1964 -1995)….by becoming the first boxer to be recognized as a septuple champion (7 championships).
This fight was aired on USA Network with boxing commentators Steve Albert and Sean O’Grady providing the color and analysis for what turned out to be an absolutely outstanding title fight….for this was a fight that should have happened 5 or 6 years prior when both fighters were lightweights…..but like many boxing matches that happened somewhat later than during the boxer’s prime….but even still, this was an awesome fight that is well worth watching over and over again.
