Hector Camacho won world titles at three weight divisions. His best wins include Rafael Limon, Jose Luis Ramirez, Edwin Rosario, Cornelius Boza-Edwards, Ray Mancini, Vinny Pazienza and Greg Haugen. Camacho only lost 5 times in 86 fights - and was NEVER stopped despite still fighting at the age of 46 up at lightmiddleweight (154), when he had started out as a superfeather (130). Two of these losses were when he was past-prime and up at welterweight, facing two of the best fighters in the world, Felix Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya. Camacho went the full distance with both up at their weight, not something that many fighters managed in the 1990s. Another of the losses was at middleweight when Hector was 43. Camacho never lost at superfeather or light, his first loss came at 140 when he dropped a split decision to Greg Haugen, after having a point deducted for refusing to touch gloves with Haugen. He avenged this loss by beating Haugen three months later. Hector's other loss was against Julio Cesar Chavez, where he was convincingly outpointed and beaten at the age of 30 in 1992. Camacho is widely credited as being one of the fastest boxers ever for his exploits in his younger days, the Limon fight in particular was where he exhibited truly sensational pace. His wins over the skilled veteran Ramirez (90-5, three years before his contentious win over Pernell Whitaker) and the feared puncher Rosario (28-1, one year before JC Chavez beat him) in 1985-86 were the peak of an excellent boxer. Do you view Hector Camacho as one of the best 100 boxers ever, or do you think he falls short of that standard??
Never liked the guy much myself, and felt that he did a bit more running than actual fighting. But, yes he was a top 100 on a p4p basis.
Just a correction, if I can recall from the first Haugen fight, it was Camacho who wanted to touch gloves at the end and Haugen who absolutely refused to touch gloves. Camacho was upset at this, shrugged it off, and leaped in with a punch and was stopped by the referee and deducted a point.
Cheers for the info mate, their first fight is one of Camacho's that I haven't seen in full. What's your opinion on Camacho, do you think he is a top 100 OAT guy?
I think Edwin [rip] and much of the boxing fancy may beg to differ..... I always figured Camacho a fraud post Rosario; but he redeemed himself some what ironically in his first undisputed defeat, when he lived up to his nickname and took his beating like a man against Chavez. Then he found a soft spot in my affections by knocking down Ray Leonard with a jab, a few years later.
Camacho was a good fighter...He doesnt get much love because of his style and demeanor outside of the ring but he was a fast as you can get and would be hell for anyone at 130-135. I think him being in the top 100 is reasonable..I didnt slot him in mine but he was a guy I considered..He probably deserves to sneak in at the end.
One of the fastest punchers I have ever seen, was very popular, a great showman, I think he's at the very bottom or just outside top 100. Chapo (R.I.P.) ranks higher than Macho in my opinion.
He suffers from a few extremely close calls that many feel he lost because of his actions outside of the ring. Rosario, Mancini, the first Duran fight... But having him inside a top 100 wouldn't be unreasonable at all in my opinion.
Hector Camacho and Mike Tyson are very similar in my opinion. I am not speaking of their styles, but of their missing ingredient. The Will to WIN at all cost is what keeps these fighters from being the best ever in any of their respective weight classes. Both of these fighters are more talented, and more skilled, than most every other fighter. The problem is that both of these fighters tend to begin going through the motions, rather than trying to win, when the going gets tough. When you are as talented as Hector Camacho and Mike Tyson, going through the motions is most often enough. Going through the motions is not enough to get you to "best ever" status.
A fighter who fought to survive rather than win, I think to this day he still hasn't been knocked out, The Golden Boy was the closest to almost KO Camacho in my opinion that was a massacre.
Camacho's list of quality wins over prime fighters is about as deep as the straw-weight division is historically. Maybe if you are really high on him as far as head to head value goes you could have him towards the bottom end i suppose.