Saturday, November 24, 2012

Flamboyant Hector Camacho Dead At 50

Champion Boxer Dead After Life Support Removed

CLEWISTON, FL. -- Héctor Camacho Matías  died today in Puerto Rico at age 50 after being taken off life support at the request of his mother. A champion boxer, he was popularly known by his nickname "Macho Camacho." 

He was a champion boxer in the lightweight and junior lightweight divisions. Camacho's son, Héctor Camacho Jr., is also a boxer. During his 30-year career, Camacho was known for his flamboyant style.

He was arrested in Clewiston, Florida in February 1988 on charges of possession of cocaine and assault with a deadly weapon after an arrest in front of Clewiston High School. 

Glenn Mickey, Clewiston Chief of Police at the time, said describing the incident after some teens allegedly heckled Camacho, "Hector came over, started an altercation and then pulled out a gun and threatened to kill the juvenile.''

Camacho was traveling with a musical group and signing autographs in Clewiston at the time

In 2005 he was arrested and plead guilty for burglary. In 2011, he was shot at three times by would-be carjackers, but was uninjured. In the fall of 2012, Camacho was awaiting trial in Orlando, Florida on charges of abuse against one of his sons.

On November 20, 2012, he was shot in the jaw and severely injured while sitting in a car outside a bar in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The driver, a childhood friend, was killed in the shooting. .

Camacho won three New York Golden Gloves beginning in 1978. He won four titles throughout his professional career: Camacho also had fights defeating Panama's Roberto Durán twice, and knocking out Sugar Ray Leonard, sending Leonard into permanent retirement. He also fought against Julio César Chávez, Félix Trinidad, and Oscar de la Hoya.

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